New cattleya shoots no new roots

[tbadams]

Hello I am new to the board and was hoping to get some input.

I recently purchased some large cattleyas from lowes. Upon getting them home i repotted them as they were overwatered. most of the roots had to be removed. Meanwhile 4-6 new shoots are growing on each plant. one plant they are almost 2 inches long and the othe 1 to 11/2 inches long. no new roots are forming like on my other cattleyas.

Is this normal? Should i worry? Is there anything i can do or should do?

They are:
BLC. Burdekin Wonder 'Lake Land'
BLC. Hsinying Flash 'Fire Flame'

[Leafmite]

Yes, for some of my catts, this is perfectly normal. One doesn't get roots until it is blooming. I also have the ones that put out roots very quickly. Nothing to worry about. The backbulbs should sustain it until new roots appear. Good luck and welcome!

[WhiteRabbit]

Roots will come. Some plants, the new growth is pretty big before they start roots.

[tbadams]

Thanks for the reply. that was fast.

I just worry cause most of the roots rotted off from being overwatered in the store.

Backbulbs are pretty shriveled but not slowing new growth yet.

I only mist 3 times a week as to not ror the plants is this ok. and water every other week

[Wynn Dee13]

If you just repotted the plants in new medium I think you need to water more. What kind of medium did you use? Cattleyas like to dry out between waterings but you don't want them to be dry for long periods. Water as soon as the plants dry out. This could be every couple days or longer. It depends on your humidity levels, temperature, and light levels you grow your plants in. New medium also dries out a lot faster than older medium. How many roots do the plants have? You mentioned you had to cut most of the roots off. If the plants only have a few roots keep them in high humidity until they grow new roots. Also if they don't have really any roots, keep them a bit shaded until they grow some new ones. Good luck!

[camille1585]

My first Catt ever also had nearly non existant roots when I got it. I simply potted it up, kept it anchored witha rhizome clip and then put it somewhere warm and shady. Within a few weeks it start to root. Catts are really tough plants, and those new leads should put out roots in no time at all.

[james mickelso]

In my experience, once roots rot on mature growth it won't make anymore roots. Instead the pbulbs will put their energy into making new growths. If these older pbulbs have very few if any roots, just keep the humidity as high as you can. Warmth is good too. But what you want is the new growth. That is the future.

[isurus79]

Yes, you will definitely need to water it more often. Maybe keep spraying 3x per week and water thoroughly 1x per week.

[james mickelso]

I'm sitting here looking at my cattleya intermedia that just finally lost it's flowers. 5 each on 4 inflorescences.
The plant has a total of 10 pbulbs all in a 4 inch plastic pot. Intermedias are around 12 inches tall. The flowers were open on the table here for 6 weeks. As soon as the flowers started fading the pbulbs started growing new roots. These are not for the pbulbs that flowered but are the new roots for the new buds growing at the base of each pbulb that flowered. That is the habit of most cattleyas. The new buds grow to maturity, then flower, then produce new buds which trigger new root growth. That is the time you start watering. Lightly at first and more as the new roots elongate. the old pbulbs don't require a lot of water because they are not growing themselves but just giving up the energy stored in them. If you water too much you will induce rot. Also the more air movement the better. Your BLC's, when they put out new buds, should be starting to put out new roots shortly. I'd love to see some pictures.

[tbadams]

thanks all that replied.

james i have pictures but have no idea how to post here.