dormant or recuperating?

[Aki_James]

Well I would say with not much root left that would be common for the leaves to get like "elephant skin" they require quite a bit of moisture so this would be a result of the plant not having enough root to get the water it needs to keep its leaves plump...Not to mention if it is still trying to flower I would say it using all its energy to try and reproduce at the sacrifice of the leaves.

I would suggest removing the flower spike ( it sucks I know but I find the plant will usually not throw out any new roots if it in "flowering mode") and making a tent for it and setting it on a dish of gravel with a bit of water in it to raise the humidity up. I also would increase the temp a couple degrees while its in the tent.

I have a heirloom Cattleya from my grandmother that was near death because she decided to pot it in regular potting soil after 10 years and killed all the roots!!! I did this about 3 weeks ago and its just begun to throw out a ton of new roots and plump back up its leaves (the plant still looks ugly and shrivelled but I think it is going to make it) It was also in a dormant stage after flowering which makes it all the more challenging.

Good Luck

[hanzy08]

Originally Posted by Aki_James

Well I would say with not much root left that would be common for the leaves to get like "elephant skin" they require quite a bit of moisture so this would be a result of the plant not having enough root to get the water it needs to keep its leaves plump...Not to mention if it is still trying to flower I would say it using all its energy to try and reproduce at the sacrifice of the leaves.

I would suggest removing the flower spike ( it sucks I know but I find the plant will usually not throw out any new roots if it in "flowering mode") and making a tent for it and setting it on a dish of gravel with a bit of water in it to raise the humidity up. I also would increase the temp a couple degrees while its in the tent.

I have a heirloom Cattleya from my grandmother that was near death because she decided to pot it in regular potting soil after 10 years and killed all the roots!!! I did this about 3 weeks ago and its just begun to throw out a ton of new roots and plump back up its leaves (the plant still looks ugly and shrivelled but I think it is going to make it) It was also in a dormant stage after flowering which makes it all the more challenging.

Good Luck

oh wow.. yeah i guess im just gonna have to cut the spike and let it rest. it was a very healthy plant when i got it.. thank you!

[quiltergal]

With only one root left you will want to make sure it is in the smallest pot that root will fit in. Otherwise you risk it rotting too. Good luck!