Black pearl catasetum - root rot survival - now what?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by bunnylotus

Thanks! This was very helpful. I appreciate it.

We have a pecan tree outside, I could put it under.or behind the porch column in front of our house by my hibiscus. It is over 100 here (I’m in texas) will that be okay? It might get to be 110 with humidity (kill me!).

Would kelp max be useful at all in this circumstance? And, should I water it?

Just a note, isurus79 is also in Texas (Austin) so his advice is based on knowing a lot about your conditions.

I'll let him jump in on the specific advice... but I would expect that you should not water, since there are no roots to speak of. (If you water, you will rot whatever is left) Your hope is for the plant to grow some new ones - that again need to get to that 3-4 inch length before you give them water. Those big pseudobulbs are the reserves that the plant will depend upon to generate the strength to survive. Catasetinae generate roots in ANTICIPATION of rain, not in response to it. So that is why they have a very different cycle than other orchids, and why the roots are so vulnerable until they are well-developed. They have to grow big first, BEFORE they experience moisture.