Help: root damage in transit!

[miniprof]

Hello, I'm new to the forum and new to orchid care, so please forgive me for ignorance or mistakes!

I just received my first jewel orchid in the post (a macodes petola), from a seller I've used before for succulents and other plants. Usually they're very good at secure and safe shipping. But this time, the orchid arrived nearly falling out of its pot, and when I removed it to repot I found that just about all of the roots had been snapped off. I've taken care of the obvious and sent the seller a complaint, but I'm also harbouring the hope that there is some way of saving my new orchid.

I did my best to take pictures of the damage, but the ones I got are somewhat obscured by soil. But you can see there's a nice healthy-looking plant there, just with nothing much on the bottom.





At the moment I've got it potted in some sphagnum moss, but if anybody has suggestions or recommendations, I'd really like to try and regrow the lost roots. Any advice? Thanks so much!!

[Leafmite]

I don't have any advice as I have limited experience with jewel orchids but if they are anything like the jewel orchids I have, they should root easily. I would even plant the roots if they are thick and fleshy (sometimes they sprout new growth). Good luck!

---------- Post added at 12:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:23 PM ----------

By the way, welcome to the Orchid Board!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Place on top of moss for the time being, in a warm area with plenty of light and very high humidity. Give it about 1 - 2 months and hope it pulls through.

Good luck, hope it makes it. They're really cool plants.

Note: When I said plenty of light, I don't mean give it so much light that it will burn, I mean a good amount of light that it can handle to make the thing grow.

[silken]

I only have one jewel orchid and don't know much about it. But seaweed solution really helps stimulate roots so you could soak them in that or use it when you water the plant for the next few waterings. Looks like a nice plant.

[miniprof]

Thanks for all the replies! I feel more optimistic now about its chances -- I'll make sure to keep it somewhere sunny and humid, and I'll let you all know how it goes!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Bright shade to low end of moderate indirect light is adequate. They naturally grow on the forest floors of limestone forests in leaf litter

[Dave S.]

If you are going to lose roots, doing so by physical damage is probably best, as your plant will likely keep putting out new roots without much effort if your growing conditions are right.