Help needed with Cattleya

[mexicowpants]

Originally Posted by estación seca

I suspect some questionably healthy plants were stuck into pots with some potting soil some time before you got them.

Certainly seems that way... I've been speaking with another local supplier/friend who has sourced several plants from this nursery recently - she, too, has been resoundingly underwhelmed - poorly potted plants, deliveries of damaged plants, plants supposedly in button arriving with the final flower wilting... SO crossed off my list now. Crazy thing is that a year or so ago they were one of the most reputable orchid nurseries in the country. :mad:

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[stonedragonfarms]

Originally Posted by mexicowpants

Certainly seems that way... I've been speaking with another local supplier/friend who has sourced several plants from this nursery recently - she, too, has been resoundingly underwhelmed - poorly potted plants, deliveries of damaged plants, plants supposedly in button arriving with the final flower wilting... SO crossed off my list now. Crazy thing is that a year or so ago they were one of the most reputable orchid nurseries in the country. :mad:

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If you haven't already, I'd definitely let the nursery know how the plants have been. It may very well be that they have new help or themselves have recently switched suppliers. By no means meant as an excuse, but when a nursery has had a solid rep in the past, I like to give them a chance to take action on their end.
Just my 2¢,
Adam


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[bil]

As long as the water doesn't stop air getting to the roots, and there is good drainage, I don't think you can overwater them.

[campchi]

Your plant still have a good chance to recover as i can see some good eyes start poking its way out. Just remember to keep high humidity.

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[Leafmite]

Over the years, I have gotten many Cattleyas in the same state (or, recently, due to trying LECA, created this sort of mess). What I do is fill a pot up with red lava rock/basket pot and stake/wire the Cattleya on top of the rock. You want the new roots to start above the rock and grow down into it (the rock is rough so this keeps them from harm). I water the rock (no roots so the water helps with the humidity) when I water the rest. When the roots hold the orchid firm, I remove the stakes/wire, usually in autumn.
The ones that are currently recovering are just starting new growths and some of the new growths already are starting roots. Now that it is finally going to be warm, the Cattleyas should really start to grow.
Captan is a great product (we use it for the fruit trees) and to keep the Cattleyas healthy, adding Calcium helps.
Good luck!

[judith_arquette]

Originally Posted by bil

How interesting. I had mine on trays, and I watered them every day, twice a day in the summer, and they developed root mats that were half a metre long.

I'm packing up my orchids and moving in with you. I'll need ur address, u can pm it to me if you don't feel comfortable posting it on the open forum

[wintergirl]

Sometimes roots can rot quicky. I got a package of a catt I ordered off Ebay and I could not believe how heavy it was. They had watered where the media was saturated/ heavy then shockingly shipped it. The plant had beautiful roots that were all starting to breakdown during shipping. I always repot, so luckily I saved it.

[mexicowpants]

Thanks for all the advice guys... Think I'm gonna go with the terracotta pot method, simply because it sounds slightly less labour-intensive. I'll let you know the progress as and when there is any. Would you recommend a quick dip in super thrive once a week?

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[mexicowpants]

Update: just over 24 hours in terracotta in the shade, and already seeing 2 root nubs on the smaller division!
Thanks for the help, I think this one's salvageable!

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[Nexogen]

That is the life cycle of the plant. Do not disturb plant, neglect.
Many people believe that if a cattleya is potted should be treated like any ordinary plant, is an illusion imposed by visual memory.