Weird Hausermann Orchid Situation

[derv88]

So I've had a large C. Memoria Harriet "Glendale Heights" catt for over a year that has just been thriving in its pot, so I broke my customary repot-when-get-home routine for this one exception.

Well, new growth and roots are pushing it out of its pot, so I decided to see what I can do about it today.

When I removed it from the pot, the bark was like mush - completely disintegrated, so the older roots were pretty shaggy. Anyway, as I was cleaning it up, it felt like the rhizome was falling apart...as I looked closer, it actually looks like either the plant somehow divided itself, or Hausermann crammed three different plants in the same pot because it came apart in 3 pieces!

I am just getting my feet wet with Catts and have had a decent collection for about a year now, so I am a rookie at best with them. But I know Hausermanns well and this just seems odd.

THoughts? Was this intentional to put these plants together in the same pot, or has the plant somehow divided itself?

BTW, since the plants more or less separated themselves, I did plant them in 3 separate pots with new media. Hopefully I made the right choice.

See photos. Thanks in advance!

[reliablefool]

Really not sure about what happened here, but it IS possible it was a natural division...particularly if it is growing in multiple directions and the older parts die. Could be what happened and could also be 3 from the start =\

[Leafmite]

From the one picture, it looks as though there was a natural division. I do not know about the third. I have gotten an extra orchid a few times from Hausermann's and other vendors. I am always thrilled to get that free bonus orchid.
Why does this happen?
1) If Hausermann's has automation, the machines do not give one time to look over the plants too closely as a person moves them from one pot to the other.
2) If Hausermann's doesn't have automation, there are so many plants to re-pot that, at the end of the day, people might be a little dazed and tired and miss seeing the other orchid.

[silken]

I've had 2 and 3 seedlings in a pot from Cloud's. I asked them about it and he said when they are potting them up from compots, rather than break roots, they will sometimes leave several seedlings together. Also sometimes they just don't realize it is more than one if the roots are all tangled at the time.

[jocierk]

I recently ordered 5 new Catts from Hausermanns and 3 of them were actually multiple orchids all stuck in the same pot. They are in good shape so I am not complaining, it just struck me as odd also.

[Leafmite]

Getting so many is odd. I would expect it to happen on occasion but not that frequently. That likely costs them money.

[silken]

It means you have extra to sell or give away. What would concern me is if I paid for a many lead, mature plant when it was really 2 or 3 younger seedlings that weren't even near bloom size. I sometimes prefer to pay more and get a bloom size plant.

[jocierk]

The largest plant was a 6 inch pot and it did have a very small but clearly not back bulbs catt stuck in with it. It was still a huge plant though so no worries. One of them was a 4 inch pot and was actually 2 slightly smaller plants smooched together (does anyone else always feel like a 4 inch plant from Hausermanns is actually a 5 or 6 inch plant when you try to repot it?). the third was a 2ish inch pot and it was actually two plants both with two pbulbs, I left this one together and potted it as one plant.

None of them were disappointing because Hausermanns plants are usually larger than they advertise, if they had been true to size and then actually multiple plants I wouldn't have been so happy.

[Leafmite]

I have bought many seedlings from Hausermann's and they are always very healthy and just what I expect. I have yet to be disappointed by them. I just recently ordered what I thought would be a seedling only to be sent an orchid in bud. They are a good, honest business.

[CA2FLxplant]

So funny, (funny weird, not funny ha-ha) I just placed an order with them yesterday...crossing my fingers because I'm thinking that at this point in my orchid keeping, I won't know whether what I got is good or not-so-much.

I ordered some from someplace else that seemed highly recommended and was a little disappointed - plants were MUCH smaller than I thought they'd be. So perhaps with that experience, I'll be *more* pleased this time...wish me luck!

And best of luck with your situation, derv88! I hope they all find themselves happy in their new homes.