Orchid Cattleya warneri var.Alba

[charlesf6]

Okay where do I go from here? Received in the mail after work this evening.
How does it look? Do I need to repot it immediately?
Water, feed it?



Leave it alone, let it rest after long trip in the mail?

[pipsxlch]

Really? Someone had the gall to sell you that sad thing?

It's not hopeless, but it'll be work and what you'll have will essentially be a tiny seedling if you succeed. With a single pseudobulb division, you have to hope that the eyes weren't damaged and that you still have a good one left. The roots look desiccated to me, and the pbulb rather emaciated. I'd soak it a couple hours in KelpMax if you have it, plain water if not, then repot it (you can use that pot) in well saturated mix- your bark is fine. Tenting it or putting it in a very humid location would help. Let the mix get fully dry before you water it again, but only just- you don't want to let it dry further, rather beef up that pbulb. Watch and hope for that good eye- your roots don't look totally shot, you do have a chance. I'd baby it until you are up to 3 pbulbs total, then move it up with the big boys.

If it were mine, I'd add a twist of sphagnum loosely to the top of the pot. You can't let it stay damp at the bulb base though! For what it's worth, I have grown up single bulb Catt divisions, but it takes time and watching, and doesn't always work.

[Tetra73]

Well, even the Lowes's Orchid in a bag would look better....you know yours is really bad. Yeah, the root is too dry. The pseudobulb should be firm and big...not dry and with winkles.

Where did you order it? If you really want a Cattleya on the cheap, try your local Lowes. They are selling them for $13. Just get one with light green leaves with bigger and firmer pseudobulb.

I got this Cattleya from Lowes 2 days ago...on the left. Cattleya and Dendrobium by vracing, on Flickr

[charlesf6]

this is how the plant it was listed and pretty much what I got:

Orchid Cattleya Warneri Var Alba | eBay

[Tetra73]

Originally Posted by charlesf6

this is how the plant it was listed and pretty much what I got:

Orchid Cattleya Warneri Var Alba | eBay

I won't say the seller misled you but he or she assumes you didn't know better. The seller has another Cattleya for sale too. Same condition and charging $12.

[charlesf6]

Originally Posted by Tetra73

I won't say the seller misled you but he or she assumes you didn't know better. The seller has another Cattleya for sale too. Same condition and charging $12.

Her response to me:


Ok, please return the plant and I will refund you.
Almost all orchid plants from nurseries come bare with dry roots, but they are all alive.

[Tetra73]

Originally Posted by charlesf6

Her response to me:


Ok, please return the plant and I will refund you.
Almost all orchid plants from nurseries come bare with dry roots, but they are all alive.

Is up to you if you want to return it...there is the hassle in boxing it up and mailing it out. Is just me but I won't order common, easily available orchids online. I would check your local Lowes or Homedepot and maybe your local nurseries first.

See what they have and go google it first or asking here. You may have to pay a second visit. You want to know if there are any root rots but the roots are buried inside the pot and you can't see them. So, you have to look for other signs.

Light green or lime green leaves indicating the orchid is getting enough sun. Dark, dark green means it isn't getting enough sun. Sometimes you could see roots coming out. If they are very white and dry looking, the orchid has not been getting enough moisture. Black marking on the tips of the leaves is a sure sign of root rot.

[charlesf6]

Originally Posted by Tetra73

Light green or lime green leaves indicating the orchid is getting enough sun. Dark, dark green means it isn't getting enough sun.

Does this hold true to all orchids or Cattleya only?

[bil]

Originally Posted by charlesf6

Her response to me:



Almost all orchid plants from nurseries come bare with dry roots, but they are all alive.

That is complete bullcrap. I would demand refund of what you paid plus the cost of posting it back. I regard this as essentially fraud. The idea of sending a single pBulb in a dodgy state is criminal. I would SLATE her on ebay for this and give her a lousy review.

My advice is, never buy cheap orchids, and stick to reputable dealers. Google orchid nurseries and spend some time studying what's available.

Better luck next time.

[katrina]

I would like to point out that the seller sent the plant in the picture so I don't understand how anyone can say that he/she was being dishonest.

The general consensus is 3 pbulbs (or more) is always going to be better and IME, that is true. However, it's not like the seller pulled a bait and switch. I would never sell something that looks like that but I have been gifted single back-bulbs from other growers and while it takes a very long time for them to do anything...if they had viable eyes, they did eventually grow.

If that were mine...I would not spend the money to send it back. I would simply stick it in a pot w/a few strands of sphagnum in the bottom. Just set it in the pot and rest it against the side and/or secure it a bit so it doesn't wobble around because if it does begin to grow roots you don't want to accidentally damage the new growing tips because if they get damaged they can stop growing. I would give it some water a couple/three times a week and wait and watch to see if it's going to do something. Bright light but no direct sun. If it has a viable growing eye then there is a strong chance it will grow on. But expect a long wait. If it does have some viable roots, some fert and kelp would also be beneficial.

When I first started growing orchids I bought some pretty sad looking plants...it's part of the learning process and you shouldn't feel bad. If nothing else, this could be a great learning experience. It was cheap so you aren't out much but you might gain a lot of experience for that $7.

In the future, best to stick w/3 or more growths on plants so you have a better start. Any orchid that has multiple growths always do better when you start w/3 or more pbulbs...the energy stored in those backbulbs help to push the new growth.

EDIT - adding - as for the dark vs light green leaves...there are many orchids that have exceptionally dark leaves when they are getting enough light. As an example - C perrinii and many of it's offspring have leaves that are so dark they are almost purple...and that is at the highest end of their light limits. Rlc glauca and digbyana have fairly dark leaves...even when grown in full sun. Many phals have naturally darker leaves and more sun will only burn them. The color thing is a decent base start but don't take it as a solid rule for all orchids.