Rescue Cattleya

[Newoptions]

I recently rescued a no ID Cattleya from a big box store. It is shriveled rootless and the leaves look pretty sad but it has a small new growth coming up that is trying to put out roots. I am looking for suggestions on anything that might help it along to get it rehydrated. it is doing pretty well but it is been very slow going so far! I really hope it makes it because I'm curious to see what the flowers might look like!

[rbarata]

I would keep it with high humidity (relative humidity, not watering). Maybe put it in someplace warm and inside a plastic bag or some kind of transparent container.

I really hope it makes it because I'm curious to see what the flowers might look like!

That's why I don't mind buying big box stores orchids...you never know what you get and sometimes there's surprises.

[YYSRojas]

I love Cattleya rescues, ok so here is what I do with mine. I get a plastic container and chop of the top leaving enough space so that the roots aren't underwater( of course that doesnt matter if it doesnt have roots) I add a couple of pieces of small bark at the bottom and then add moss, the orchid and then a lit bit of more moss( see pic attached.) I then put it in front of a frosted window. The example I'm showing you has been in there for 2.5 months and in that time the leaf finished developing, new roots has developed and there seems to be a new bud that is showing its head. I mist the moss every 2 days unless the day is really hot, so basically I don't lets the moss dry out completely. Now mine you my environment here is a constant spring like, avg humidity of 70F and temp of 75ish, nights can go down to 60. So adjust accordingly. There are a couple of more things but this should get u started nicely.

Good luck,
J

[Orchid Whisperer]

What usually works for me is temporarily mounting the plant on a small piece of wood with a pad of sphagnum underneath the growth where roots are emerging. I have rescued quite a few rootless and withered Cattleyas this way.

Just curious, does your plant have a tag with a name?

[estación seca]

By the time they get to this stage the old roots usually don't function much. If the plant is to survive it must depend on the older pseudobulbs to supply water until the new growth has enough roots to absorb water. This is why people tend to put them in a humid environment with just-damp medium near the new roots.

If you let it dry out and kill the newest roots, a plant in this condition seldom recovers. But if you keep it too wet, it rots.