Help me save my Cattleya :-(

[estación seca]

Something I didn't see mentioned... when you sunburn your next plant, don't cut off anything right away. Wait until the dead areas have completely dried to paper, like a dead oak leaf in Fall. It looks bad for a very long time, but you can't be sure what's actually going to die.

[bunnylotus]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Something I didn't see mentioned... when you sunburn your next plant, don't cut off anything right away. Wait until the dead areas have completely dried to paper, like a dead oak leaf in Fall. It looks bad for a very long time, but you can't be sure what's actually going to die.

Yeah I head heard that/watched that on the Miss Orchid Girl youtube channel. The problem was the burn was...severe...some of the leaves were entirely black. And some of the leaves I did leave even with the black spots, (what you guys are seeing in the photos are round 3 of chopping). Pretty quickly the black turned mushy, and then yellow rings formed around the black spots and started spreading, so I had to cut pretty quickly. Nothing really turned to dry paper, unfortunately. I don't really know why, other than guessing that i just really murdered the plant leaving it outside like that. If it hadn't been so bad I wouldn't have bothered to cut, because the appearance didn't really bother me it was more the fear of it becoming infected seeing the yellow rings and mush appear.

---------- Post added at 07:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:50 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Roberta

Sure! Also... when you repot, look at where the newest growth(s) are coming out, and where the old part is. Put the OLDEST part of the plant against one side of the pot, so that the new growth(s) have a maximum amount of space. If you have growth in more than one direction, this can be a guess. But the habit of a Cattleya is to grow along that rhizome (or might have more than one if it has already branched into a "V" so it's very "directional". Aesthetically, you might think that the center of the pot is the place, but it's not going to stay there... so place it for the maximum growing room going forward.

Thanks for the tip! I feel like I usually put things in the middle, but that makes sense especially considering the growth pattern of Cattleyas. It looks like most of my growths are on 'one end' of the rhizome or one side at least, so i'll be sure to make sure that part has the most space in the pot like you said.

I used to have a Cattleya that was growing in every direction, which was very frustrating from a potting perspective. Sadly, he got left behind in Boston with my old roommate. Hopefully she's kept him alive!!

[bunnylotus]

Originally Posted by JScott

Yes, you have it right. Soak it in 2tbsp per gallon at first, then water every other week with 1tbsp per gallon. After roots have grown and the plant has returned to relatively decent health, or is at least on the road to recovery, you can reduce KelpMax application to once a month at the regular concentration (1tbsp per gallon). You should treat all of your plants once a month with KelpMax at regular concentration. You will visibly notice a change in your plants and their increased vigor. It really is amazing stuff.

I received my Leca, new pot, and the Kelpmax all on one day - today will be a real treat! I was re-reading everyone's comments on my next steps as I get ready to prep the plant, and wanted to confirm. With the Kelpmax do you just soak the roots in the 2TBS / gallon solution or really the whole plant?

Thanks everyone and I will be sure to post back any updates on the plant!

Carolyn

[estación seca]

The yellow part was tissue that had died, but took longer to show it. It's OK to leave mushy sunburned leaves on the plant as they dry out to paper. The reason not to cut early is because you can't really tell where the dead part stops, and it's better to leave as much healthy tissue as possible.

I personally don't ever cut the sunburned dead parts after they dry up. The dead leaves help shield the rest of the plant from the sun. I don't take sheathing bracts off of pseudobulbs, either, for the same reason. That's why the plant makes those sheathing bracts.

[bunnylotus]

Well everyone, I can report that the Cattleya has been repotted in its new 8in pot (clear/white with drainage slits along the sides). I've used the leca medium, placed the rhizome closer to the top and placed the cattleya to the edge of the pot versus the middle. The pseudobulbs that have the most eyes / growths are facing outwards so that it has majority of the pot space per Roberta's suggestion.

Before repotting I soaked the plant, (minus the leaves because i couldn't find a plastic tub big enough), in the 2TBS/Gal kelpmax solution for about 3 hours, potted the plant, and then watered the plant in the leca pot with the solution again. The plant has been staked and feels pretty sturdy in there. I have now placed the plant in its final resting home in my office by my window, (indirect light through filtered blind). I will keep everyone posted on any growth / progress!

Thanks for the help!

[bunnylotus]

ALL!!!!! I am THRILLED to share an EXCITING update on my Cattleya!!!!!

I picked her up today for her watering and noticed what looks like flower spikes growing/coming through the bud sheaths on the new growths!!!!! I screamed so loud like a lil lady winning the lottery i was so happy to make this discovery!!!! You can see the shadow of one inside the sheath, and the second one starting to form in the other. :-O

This will be THE FIRST TIME in the HISTORY of my orchid life that I will have gotten a Cattleya to bloom, let alone successfully save one!!!

AND THAT'S NOT ALL! I can report that the KELPMAX WORKED! I have MANY new green and fleshy root tips just looking for nutrients to fuel this baby back to health!

THANK YOU ALL MORE TO COME!!!!!!

[Roberta]

Whoo-hoo! Great save! Looking forward to your photos of the flowers. It will be a challenge to wait for them...these can tease you for quite awhile. But it's looking great so be patient.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by bunnylotus

I screamed so loud like a lil lady winning the lottery

I don't think you should have screamed like that. You should have screamed louder ..... like better than winning the lottery. A massive congrats in advance. Make sure to put some nice flower pics when the flower(s) opens.

[estación seca]

Great!

[bunnylotus]

Another UPDATE!10 days later and the buds are growing like crazy! They're already so much bigger. I am so excited!!!! You can see the one inside the sheath in that second photo. I had to backlight it so you can see how much it has grown!!!

Still have a ways to go, but look at that!! When it is in bloom it should look like that third pic attached!