need help with new cattleya

[emg53]

I found some liquid kelp at Home Depot and soaked the roots for an hour. The dilution was 2 tbs per gallon. I didn't use that much water so I put 1 tsp in about a quart of water. Now I just have to wait and see how it does.

[silken]

Originally Posted by emg53

I found some liquid kelp at Home Depot and soaked the roots for an hour. The dilution was 2 tbs per gallon. I didn't use that much water so I put 1 tsp in about a quart of water. Now I just have to wait and see how it does.

It sounds like a start. Once it is potted up, you can put some in your fertilizer water for a few times to help it along. Then don't use it for a week or two as it shouldn't have it all the time. I find if I let the media get dry (even if it is root challenged) it maybe makes the plant grow roots in search of water. I don't let them stay dry for long, especially if it is stressed. But just let it get dry before watering. This will also prevent root rot. Good luck with it.

[emg53]

Just wanted to update. I have at least 5 roots stating to emerge from the youngest pseudo bulb with the sheath. So using the kelp really did a good job.:

[silken]

Glad to hear. Sounds like it is well on its way to recovery.

[bil]

Originally Posted by silken

I find if I let the media get dry (even if it is root challenged) it maybe makes the plant grow roots in search of water. I don't let them stay dry for long, especially if it is stressed. But just let it get dry before watering. This will also prevent root rot. Good luck with it.

Yeah. My concern is that if you have a damaged plant, and you pot it in a moist media to encourage roots, that works fine, but later on, you get root rot. IMO best to pot in the media it should have when its roots are developed.

[mtorchid]

The roots are definitely starting to rot, good thing you caught it now. Echoing what others have said - just to emphasize the importance: Kelp extraxt (high in auxins) is fantastic when combined with fertilizer. The auxins help with the roots' intake of water and the nutrients from the fertilizer.

It only takes a few seconds for the roots to soak up available moisture (like they do in nature). Soaking longer is just a way to saturate the medium. Most Catts like to dry a bit between waterings and if they don't, the roots start to look like the ones in your pictures. Good luck!

[Paphman910]

I suggest you pot it in a clay pot with medium bark and lava rock at the bottom as drainage.

The kelp may or may not help but I think that after the flowers fall off, the newest pseudobulb will put out a flush of new roots. Some species of Cattleya do this.

Since there is lack of roots, Please make sure you keep the humidity high and have good air movement. I would not water it much as the roots could rot even more. I would just spray the plant the surface of the medium.

You should soak the roots in some fungicide for a few minutes just in case the rot spread up the roots.

Keep an eye out for new roots from the new pseudobulb. If you see new roots coming, you better water the plant and let it dry out between watering. During active growth Cattleya likes to have more frequent watering esp during summer.

[emg53]

It's been a month and the roots are growing really well. There are at least 8 roots that I can see and maybe more underneath. I think the kelp water worked!!!

[emg53]

This catt is doing real well. It produced four flowers on one p-bulb. It now is full of roots.

[silken]

Congrats on such a great recovery! Well bloomed and gorgeous!