Why are all Roots on Big Cattleyas Dead?

[realoldbeachbum]

Hello OB.

It seems that every time I unpot a big Cattleya there are either: (1) NO roots in the center of the pot or (2) if there, they are only DEAD STRINGS. This is the case with 99% of newly purchased plants, AND the ones that I have raised from seedlings!

Is this unique to large Catts? Is there anything I can do to my current Catt seedlings that will prevent this from happening as they grow into mature plants?

All advice is appreciated. ROBB

[Ray]

That suggests to me that the potting medium + container + watering regimen is not appropriate for your conditions, and/or they’re not being repotted often enough.

[Paphluvr]

I think it could be a number of things. The plant could be keep too wet, the potting mix is too fine (holding too much moisture and not enough air), the potting mix is starting to break down, etc.

[Roberta]

I have pretty much given up growing Catts in pots.. they seem to do so much better in baskets - where they can dry out. In fact, they seem to grow best once they escape even from the basket - with roots running free in the air.

[DirtyCoconuts]

short answer is what Ray said...i find that even the dead looking roots in the air can and do regrow all the time...set them free and they thrive!!!

you should look into huge bulb pots- terracotta, like 8-12 inches...fill with any rock (or nothing) and they love it in our humidity.


i believe from personal trips to alabama that it is MORE humid where you are than where i am and that is serious

[realoldbeachbum]

Thanks, Ray. Based on your input, it must be a watering issue.

For the seedlings that I have grown, the pot should be correct (plastic with lots of ventilation), and media (Orchiata) is relatively new. That leaves a watering problem -- maybe too often.

I will tone down watering and see if that helps. Thanks so much!

---------- Post added at 08:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:41 PM ----------

Thanks, Paphluvr! I didn't even think of media being too small and retaining more water. It is 3/8" Orchiata with a little charcoal mixed in. No spagh. Thoughts?

---------- Post added at 08:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:43 PM ----------

Thanks Roberta. Hummm - I tried slat baskets once and they dried out too quickly. It was working me to death!

However, I will try once more -- that would alleviate them staying wet too long.

[Roberta]

For larger Catts, I use the largest size Orchiata... the 3/8 inch size is fine for 5 inch pots or less (and the only additive I would use is perlite - the larger the better, to help keep the mix open). Another trick if you feel the need to use pots... in the center of the pot invert a smaller pot (plastic s fine), creating an air pocket (and taking up some of the volume) As you go to bigger pots, remember that the surface area increases as the square of the radius, the volume increases as the cube of the radius - so you quickly get into a situation, with larger plants, of having 'way too much volume, creating a wet, airless center of the pot.

[realoldbeachbum]

DC - Terracotta. That is an idea. Maybe I will try a few and see how they progress.

How do you get rid of the white residue on the outside of the pots? Drives me crazy. That AND the fact that I cannot see root growth is why I don't grow in terracotta. (I am a root person!)

[thefish1337]

Originally Posted by realoldbeachbum

DC - Terracotta. That is an idea. Maybe I will try a few and see how they progress.

How do you get rid of the white residue on the outside of the pots? Drives me crazy. That AND the fact that I cannot see root growth is why I don't grow in terracotta. (I am a root person!)

you can minimize salt build up by fertilizing at low rates and regularly with a lower pH. also select the right type of ceramic. depending on the type of ceramic you will also get microbial mats that form on the surface. many people misinterpret salt build up when its actually a combination. I have different types of ceramic and the more porous the more different types of molds, bacteria and fungi grow on it. the farther up the salts will "wick". if you have hard water and fertilize heavily with calcium you will not be able to avoid this at all and even if you have good water sometimes things can grow on it.

[itzi]

When you say different ceramics, do you mean the orange clay pots that you can get from garden stores, and they all have different compositions? Or something else?