Another one of my poor little orchids. Rootless miltoniopsis

[Irisha99]

Ok, so here is another one of my unfortunate orchids. This time it's my miltoniopsis which my husband purchased for 35$ at a fair. Needless to say it was not such a good bargain as he had thought. All roots were rotten and I had to cut them off. So after about 3 weeks of being in and out seaweed extract solution, I got a few small but nonetheless live green roots. So my question is - should I keep it in the solution 24/7 or continue to take it out and put it back in as I have been doing? Any other suggestions about how to make it a happy plant? Thanks !

[rbarata]

I would keep it in the solution untill the roots are a little longer or, alternatively, as the rrots started to grow already, I would out it inside a bag with moist moss. Let's see what others have to say about it?

[Dollythehun]

I agree w rbarata. It should take off...and I personally would pot it in a moss mix.

[Irisha99]

I thought the roots should be a bit longer to successfully survive potted on its own ? Or you think sphagnum will keep it nicely moist and will promote growth of those little roots? Thanks guys for your input.
I am fussing around them like they are some kind of babies

[Dollythehun]

They are.

[Irisha99]

Dollythehun, They are too small you mean? Keep them in solution? Thanks

[Dollythehun]

They are your babies.

[Ray]

Assuming your seaweed solution is chemically active, the hormones in it should begin working on the plant after a single, appreciable dose. Repeating the treatment is a waste of effort.

The auxin-cytokinin cycle in plants is ongoing, and with the treatments, we temporarily "kick it into high-gear", and it takes anywhere from 10-20 days for the rate to return to normal. The treatment is like flipping a light switch. Once it's on, it's on, so pushing up on the switch does nothing to make it brighter!

I recommend a soak and three successive waterings with KelpMax to insure that treatment is thorough.

For the subject miltoniopsis, I would soak some sphagnum in the root-stimulant solution, then squeeze the moss to get rid of the excess, then fluff it up, pot up the plant with it, and invert a clear plastic bag over the plant and pot to simulate a greenhouse. Keep it shady, and don't let the moss dry out, and the plant should bounce back nicely.

[Irisha99]

Ray thanks! Thanks for clarifying how KelpMax works. I thought that every time I put it in the solution, it does its magic at promoting root growth... I guess I was wrong. Would the same method work for miltonia orchid?

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Irisha99

Ray thanks! Thanks for clarifying how KelpMax works. I thought that every time I put it in the solution, it does its magic at promoting root growth... I guess I was wrong. Would the same method work for miltonia orchid?

Absolutely.

If you overdo the hormones, it can oversttress the plant, actually resulting in stunted growth and deformed flowers. Fortunately, it take a LOT to OD them (1/4 cup per gallon at every watering would do it), and it is reversible.