How do you keep bag babies growing straight - Orchid Board

Lilly B · #1 10-23-2010, 06:55 PM

I purchased 5 Cattleya bag babies last January. They have all produced a new leaf since I purchased them and have nice healthy roots. The only "issue" I am having is making them grow in an upright fashion. Two of them I was able to keep straight with the growing medium but the other three I wasn't able to accomplish this. I don't want to bruise them so I don't want to push the medium against the bulbs or leaves. Is there a secret to having them grow straight?

CTB · #2 10-23-2010, 07:13 PM

When you first plant them, stake them, they have been growing mushed up in that bag and need a little help. Seems to work fine for me.

Lilly B · #3 10-23-2010, 07:41 PM

CTB, sorry for my ignorance but how do you stake them? Like a spike on my phals? If so, what do I attach, just above the bulb?

BikerDoc5968 · #4 10-23-2010, 08:11 PM

"Growing straight", do you mean the new pseudo bulbs are growing more lateral and out rather than upward? If this is the case, you can very gently use ties and attach the new growth to an older more stiff pseudo bulb and slowly "direct" it upward. You have to allow the new growth to lengthen somewhat. This process takes a week or so. But be careful as it is very soft and can snap in a heart's beat.

Lilly B · #5 10-23-2010, 08:32 PM

I will take pictures in the morning so I can show you, which I think will make more sense to you. I am probably explaining this poorly. Instead of the leaves being vertical, they are leaning at about a 90 degree angle. I will post the one I think I am growing correctly and those that I feel are leaning. The other problem is since they are "bag babies" there really isn't any older stiff pseudo bulb.My friend said not to buy them since she's never had any survive but I love a challenge and I guess I got what I asked for. All 5 do look healthy though so I don't feel too badly about the experience so far.

RobS · #6 10-24-2010, 02:55 AM

Most orchids have the tendency to grow towards the light this is called phototropism (Phototropism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). I have he same issue with several of my orchids the only thing that helps is turning them around so that the new growth of flowers are not always on the same angle towards the main light source (sun).

CTB · #7 10-24-2010, 06:19 AM

I have had very good luck with bag babies. They all are growing robust and seem to explode with new growth as soon as they are free of the bag. Vandas, Catts, Brass, beallaras, epis, potinaras. I look the bag over carefully, looking for healthy, green leaves, and good root systems. The new growth is what you will be training. Six months and you'd never know they were rescues from the bag life.

stefpix · #8 10-24-2010, 08:33 PM

put the pot so the new groth is opposite to the window so it will straighten up growing towards the light.

All plants grown on a windowsill grow at some angle as the light is not above but coming from the side

Call_Me_Bob · #9 10-24-2010, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CTB

I have had very good luck with bag babies. They all are growing robust and seem to explode with new growth as soon as they are free of the bag. Vandas, Catts, Brass, beallaras, epis, potinaras. I look the bag over carefully, looking for healthy, green leaves, and good root systems. The new growth is what you will be training. Six months and you'd never know they were rescues from the bag life.

ive had the same experience! one i got about a month ago has 3 new growths since i got it and one new growth that it ha when i bought it

tucker85 · #10 10-24-2010, 11:50 PM

My favorite device is a ring stake. The shortest ones are the best. You attach it to the side of the pot and place the orchid in from the top. If you want to tie part of the orchid to the ring you can do that. After several months you can remove the ring stake if you want to but I often just leave them in place. I use ringstakes on every orchid I transplant.