NoIDs guessing game

[bballr4567]

Probably a little under two years ago I got a NoID orchid when I worked at Lowe's. It was a rather large one and the flowers were on the downswing. Needless to say, the roots were horrible but I left the spike alone and the orchid developed a keiki. Well, after a while I separated the two.

Now, guess which is which.









The smaller one Ive struggled with for a long time. A root will grow a good 2-3" and then just die. I've tried drier, wetter, different medium along with mounting it, light levels, humidity and so on but its freaking picky! The larger one just grows and grows. It has about 2 feet of good roots under the moss (helps with humidity perfectly) and its developed 3 leaves this summer.


Sadly, I dont even remember what the flower looked like! Would you guys keep up the efforts on the unresponsive one?

[lostonthebeach]

I would keep up the efforts on the unresponsive one. I consider it a free learning experience. You can experiment all you want and have nothing to lose.

[WhiteRabbit]

I don't usually give up on anything til it's good and dead

[bballr4567]

Yea, I've given up on two. One was a dend that was just too advanced for me and another is an Onc. that was DOA from the day I got it over a year ago.


Im just surprised at how well one has done compared to the other. Im hoping to see a spike from one of these guys this year.

[Bud]

try changing the media and get a smaller pot....the mounted one dries gradually in its beautiful cactus bone that maintains the right moisture for the roots; while the plastic potted one must be constantly moist in the center since the pot is a bit big for it....you are playing with root rot roulet

[bballr4567]

The roots dont even get a chance to root actually. They generally shrivel up before they hit the media! Its like it aborts them. It has one great root running straight through the middle of the pot but that is it. If I put it in a smaller pot the only root doesnt fit. lol

Its a catch 22 with this one. I know it needs a smaller pot but it wont fit unless I trim it and Im not going to do that to its one good root. It does have lots of styrofoam peanuts in there so the media is maybe in 40-50% of the pot.

[Bud]

try giving it seaweed mix....it will root like crazy....I know you are an advanced grower and you know your Phal culture ....as long as it isnt dead then you are doing your end of the bargain: its up to the plant to fend for its own with all the love that you give it
* the color of the leaves is the exact shade it should be=meaning you got the light down pat.....

[bballr4567]

Ive been giving it a little over 500:1 mix from rays Kelpak for almost 6 months. Its the ONLY one that hasnt responded to it at all. Its quite frustrating.

[AnonYMouse]

Is that a cholla skeleton?

Where does one get a cholla skeleton if one does not live in the SW desert?

I wouldn't give up but I would get a new plant so I don't obsess with the problem chid.

[bballr4567]

I bought my cholla wood on eBay. Lots of choices on there.