Plants in PET knocked off counter

[greenhouseFrog]

I just got these plants and they’re containerized using the PET method. Long story short, they got knocked off of the counter and it was a total mess—bot plants landed head first, roots up, emptying the cups of moss and expanded clay all over . About a quarter inch of the top point of one of the Fredclarkeara back bulbs snapped/got smushed and the crown of the new growth on the Catasetum took quite the bruising to the newest leaves in the crown(the Fdk. is definitely heavier/had more force behind it when it fell). Both plants have roots that have broken. How likely is it that these plants will survive this kind of trauma?

[estación seca]

They might survive. Put them back in the containers and hope for the best. In a talk Fred Clarke showed plants growing on the ground that might have fallen out of trees.

[rbarata]

Just so that you know... with time, probably it will happen again.

[greenhouseFrog]

@estación seca-Thank you for giving me hope! I’ve been working on getting these for over 2 weeks and they spend no more than 4 hours in my care and this happens. We will rise again!

@rbarata-If I could have my way, I would mount them just so they couldn’t be in anyone/anything’s way! I guess my environment isn’t as safe as I once thought…

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by greenhouseFrog

@estación seca-Thank you for giving me hope! I’ve been working on getting these for over 2 weeks and they spend no more than 4 hours in my care and this happens. We will rise again!

@rbarata-If I could have my way, I would mount them just so they couldn’t be in anyone/anything’s way! I guess my environment isn’t as safe as I once thought…

Just a thought: do you have cats? Don't give up on your plants. They will often surprise you.

[greenhouseFrog]

Originally Posted by Dusty Ol' Man

Just a thought: do you have cats? Don't give up on your plants. They will often surprise you.

Unfortunately no pets, just people and it is a trend. I literally have to rope off areas that I’m working in, I can’t leave tools out or projects undone, and if things are not secured(like epoxied to the counter tops), they’re getting shoved out of the way. At some point I figured out that my plants are going to be safer mounted in trees than living around the house; I mounted a Phal like 2 weeks before a category 5 hurricane with nothing but the elastics from a COVID mask and NOTHING has happened to it since but blooms.

Thanks for your words of support; these plants really mean a lot to me!

[isurus79]

The plants will be fine, but might get set back. I like to use zipties to synch the plants down in case something like this happens. It doesn't eliminate damage, but definitely reduces it.

[greenhouseFrog]

Originally Posted by isurus79

The plants will be fine, but might get set back. I like to use zipties to synch the plants down in case something like this happens. It doesn't eliminate damage, but definitely reduces it.

I’ll take setbacks over dubious survival any day! I appreciate your feedback here and your various resources elsewhere; your Catasetinae instructional series is great!

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by greenhouseFrog

I’ll take setbacks over dubious survival any day! I appreciate your feedback here and your various resources elsewhere; your Catasetinae instructional series is great!

Thank you! Feel free to shoot me questions if you have them!