Buyer alert - DancingdogOrchids Cattleya purchase!

[sskmaestro]

Hi,

Recently bought a Cattleya orchid. Seller advertised that it’s a big division of Cattleya. I went ahead as it is a big division.

Received the plant, and it has 12 pseudo bulbs. With multiple growth points. Was happy looking at the plant. Leaves are very healthy.

Fast fwd 3 days..... I generally and randomly micro observe my orchids (like most of you). My other Cattleya is starting to recover after a repot and giving new roots.

I thought, let’s closely observe this new big-division Cattleya. There are new roots emerging for this one as well from 2 end points.

Then I thought, it’s right time to repot this new one as new roots are starting to emerge.

I opened the 4 inch pot. Firstly, there is a huge pile of decomposed bark! To my surprise there is a decaying ball of spaghnum moss in the center of the orchid.....

I can see many mushy roots...... I started cleaning them and pulling off the mushy matter of the roots......

Fast fwd 30 minutes, the orchid started to wiggle up and move freely in the center. Slowly the tangled roots started to come out and it showed up the true face! It’s a 2 orchid combo and not a large division as advertised!

OK! 2 orchids now means, chances of multiple spikes....... now started to clean the roots of plants individually. Finally I have to clean up 85-90% of the roots!

Sprayed hydrogen peroxide..... and again planted the 2 plants in the same pot. But with 100% charcoal as medium. (Cannot dare to add spaghnum moss after seeing the sorry state of the roots)

Attached the pictures.

This is the sorry story of the whole orchid business in the world! Only the initial cultivator who started these as seedlings in a flask has some love and care for them.

Poor things, they move from place to place, shop to shop and finally end up to one orchid hobbist!

It’s the cultivators and the hobbists who shower love and life on them!

Btw, the name of the orchid is BLC Blanche Aisaka Yuki Cattleya!