roots from white to black after watering? (new plant dendrobium just potted)

[littleone]

Hello,

I got my first orchid for valentine's day. It's still blooming and I also got a new one from a store that is much smaller (only two little leaves) . this new one is called a dendrobium helix . I repotted it when I got home into a small pot with some orchid bark from the brand "better grow". The bark is small to medium sized - it drains really extremely well. After I repotted it I watered it in the sink for alittle while until the bark was moist then I let it sit for 2 days now . The bark is barely moist now but the roots are now black instead of white like they were when I bought the plant.

Did I do something wrong with repotting? The leaves still look fine (two of them) but the roots are black. The roots are definitely not sitting in water or anything like that. But I'm not sure what to do now and I don't want it to die. I did get some fertilizer to use but have not used it yet since I noticed the black roots. If someone has any suggestions I would really appreciate it!

edit - i am not sure how to post a picture to this thread however I created an album from my member profile and uploaded a picture of it there. from there you can see the small roots and their color.


http://www.orchidboard.com/community...312-00211.html
*edited to add link to photo* WR

[Zoi2]

Were the white roots firm when you repotted it?
Joann

[WhiteRabbit]

It looks very dry - tho that might be just the roots visible at the top. If the bark is still moist below the roots in pot may be ok.

Did you soak the bark before potting?

I'd recommend a smaller pot, if you can do that

[lepetitmartien]

The pot is way way too big. Orchids like it tight.

[james mickelso]

This looks like a cattleya. The roots look either old or dead. There looks to be an older dried up pbulb on the right at media level. This can stay in this pot but it needs more watering with the size of the bark. the reason most of us put our orchids in small pots is because we don't want the media to stay wet around the roots. This won't happen in this size media. Water every few days and see what happens. This looks like someone grew this and then sold it.

[littleone]

the roots were not too firm when i repotted but I will try to water more and see how it goes.

How do i "soak" the bark? Am I supposed to do that before I pot the plants?

Thanks for the ideas and comments

[Nexogen]

is not a dendrobium helix, could be lindleyi or
jenkinsii.

[littleone]

thanks. I have only had this for maybe 5 days now. Do you think it could've died because I repotted it? =(

I watered it today in the sink so I will see if it improves this weekend.

I bought this little plantling at an orchid store and the tag stick on it said dendrobium. Not sure if I can do anything about it now since I already bought it though, even if it wasn't the right plant.

[Nexogen]

I'm sorry for you but Dendrobium jenkinsii (aggregatum) has a reputation of being difficult

[james mickelso]

Let it alone for a week. Quit watering it until next week. let it dry out. Once dry then water it and let dry before watering it again. The important thing here is not what's there right now but what will grow from the base of these two pbulbs soon.