My Mom's Orchid Identification

[Dollythehun]

How often is it watered and what light had it been given? Does it always sit in that spot? It looks very dehydrated.

[Tazenman]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

How often is it watered and what light had it been given? Does it always sit in that spot? It looks very dehydrated.

Yes it always sits in that spot. It usually gets a lot of light without direct sun light in this spot. It has been very cloudy and rainy here the past couple of days. Like I said in my original post I would put it in the sink, fill the sink with water and let it soak for an hour then drain. I would do this every 2 weeks.

In the picture of the roots, they are moist and the bark around them are damp.

[Dollythehun]

Perhaps you told us where you are located and I missed that. I'm in the dreary Midwest. Even sitting directly in a south window is not enough light for my Catts, I have to supplement. Also, soaking every two weeks might not be as good an idea as watering by pour through more frequently (assuming that pot has a drainage hole). I water mine at least twice a week. I am not an "expert" but through the OB, I have learned to grow and bloom my Catts successfully.

[Optimist]

These are plants that like nearly full sun. So far away from the window is maybe where I would put a phalaenopsis. They also need far more water than people say if you are in a dry part of the country with low humidity. Photosynthesis (sun, water, and micro-nutrients) creates the "filling" inside of the stems (called pseudobulbs) and makes good strong leaves. The plant shows a real lack of the required raw materials to photosynthesize (sun of a certain strength, water, and fertilizer). It also needs fast draining, but it looks like that is okay with the large chunk bark you are using.

This plant can still be saved. New roots will grow and new leaf growths. As soon as possible you can put it in a window, put a grow light over it as well (a bulb in a lamp for instance), and give it some additional humidity (with a vaporizer, for instance).

Cattleyas only put out a small amount of leaves each year. Orchids are extremely slow growing because most of them evolved to live in trees where they must get all of their raw growing materials from the rain that falls, or the mist, and of course, sunlight that will not burn them. Hope this helps.

[Tazenman]

Optimist and everyone here, thank you for your help and advise. I found a really neat youtube channel, Miss Orchid, and I have watched about 20 of her videos. She is in the UK, I think. I think I am on the right track now. Here are the things I did wrong;
1. Not enough sun.
2. too much water/not enough drainage.
3. no ventilation for the roots
4. not paying attention to the plant.

This caused half of the plant to literally die and the roots to rot. I have cleaned up the roots and have the plant in my office now (warmer, more sun light, and more attention). I currently have it in a clear glass bowl with a wet micro cloth until I can get some moss to get the roots to grow again, yes all the roots were dead and rotting. the plant is sitting on top of the cloth/moss and I will make sure this stays damp/semi dry until the roots are several inches long. Then I will CAREFULLY repot in a clear pot with lots of ventilation holes using bark medium.

If anyone has any other suggestions I would really appreciate them! I am new to this and VERY dedicated to saving my Momma's Orchid!

[Leafmite]

When you see new roots just about to begin (little nubs), stake it on top of the medium. The root tips are so delicate that it is best to let them go into the medium on their own. Good luck!

[Tazenman]

Leafmite, Thank you for that information! BTW Do you know how long it might take to get the roots started?

[Leafmite]

It is difficult to say when you will see new roots. First you will get new growth. When this happens will depend on the ancestry of your Cattleya. I have some Cattleyas that are sprouting new growth already and some that are still waiting to do so. I have had them start new growth as late as June...every year like clockwork. It just depends on the genetics.

Once the new growth begins, some Cattleyas will bloom first, then produce new roots and some will produce roots as soon as the new pseudobulbs are an inch or two in size. Again, it all depends on the genetics your Cattleya has inherited. So...just be patient and know that, eventually, it will happen.

What is nice is that your Cattleya will usually do the same thing at the same time every year so, next year, you will know what to expect (unexpected events in culture/conditions can change this pattern, though). Some Cattleyas put out new growth twice and bloom twice a year spring/fall or summer/winter and some only once a year.

I wish you much success!

---------- Post added at 03:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:29 PM ----------

I actually am going through something similar with a Cattleya that was a freebie through my Orchid Society. It is a tiny miniature Cattleya with only one mature growth and two very small, older growths. When I took it home from the November meeting and unpotted it, I discovered all the roots were dead. So, I filled a small two-inch basket pot (it is a very small Cattleya) with red lava rock mixed with egg shells (for calcium), removed all the dead roots from the Cattleya, staked the entire thing on top, and stuck it in my terrarium. It has been just sitting there, not doing much. As it is new, I do not know exactly when it will start the new growth and get roots. In my experience, Cattleyas all go through a growth period during spring so as long as I can keep it from deteriorating until the new growth has put out roots, it will be fine.

[babbysorchids]

This is not expert comment but this looks like a cattleya to me, so read up on how to care for cattleya orchids. They are common so it should be easy. This one is in the wrong pot - buy an orchid pot, maybe terra cotta, an inch or two larger than it's present home. Get a good orchid mix. Several good YouTubes on repotting. Keep in bright light-no direct sun or it'll burn the leaves. Water when dry. Feed it according to orchid fertilizer directions. Read, read, read. Good luck!

[CJ Green]

Originally Posted by Tazenman

Optimist and everyone here, thank you for your help and advise. I found a really neat youtube channel, Miss Orchid, and I have watched about 20 of her videos. She is in the UK, I think. I think I am on the right track now. Here are the things I did wrong;
1. Not enough sun.
2. too much water/not enough drainage.
3. no ventilation for the roots
4. not paying attention to the plant.

This caused half of the plant to literally die and the roots to rot. I have cleaned up the roots and have the plant in my office now (warmer, more sun light, and more attention). I currently have it in a clear glass bowl with a wet micro cloth until I can get some moss to get the roots to grow again, yes all the roots were dead and rotting. the plant is sitting on top of the cloth/moss and I will make sure this stays damp/semi dry until the roots are several inches long. Then I will CAREFULLY repot in a clear pot with lots of ventilation holes using bark medium.

If anyone has any other suggestions I would really appreciate them! I am new to this and VERY dedicated to saving my Momma's Orchid!

Just wanted to add some words of encouragement--it sounds like you are on the right track. I'm a beginner myself, but I've had some success growing some plants from a nearly rootless state using sphagnum moss and a lot of patience. I also personally like clear pots because I like seeing the roots! And I agree about the light--cattleyas need a lot. The original photos you posted are gorgeous--what a special plant! It may take awhile but I bet it will recover.