Vanda crown/leaf regrowth

[emily1990]

Hello, I'm new to the forum, but not really new to orchids. I have a collection of 20 orchids, with a range of types. However, I've encountered an issue that I can't find any information on, so I'm hoping someone here will be able to help. I have a Vanda that suddenly got really sick. I've never figured out what happened. It was happy and growing a brand new root, then overnight the entire plant shrivelled. I really thought it was going to die. I managed to save it. It now has green roots that appear healthy, but I've had no luck with new leaves. The plant lost all of it's leaves, it's crown and most of it's roots when it got sick. Is it capapble of growing a new crown to grow leaves from and is there anything I can do to help it along? Thanks in advance!

[CR7cristiano]

Originally Posted by emily1990

Hello, I'm new to the forum, but not really new to orchids. I have a collection of 20 orchids, with a range of types. However, I've encountered an issue that I can't find any information on, so I'm hoping someone here will be able to help. I have a Vanda that suddenly got really sick. I've never figured out what happened. It was happy and growing a brand new root, then overnight the entire plant shrivelled. I really thought it was going to die. I managed to save it. It now has green roots that appear healthy, but I've had no luck with new leaves. The plant lost all of it's leaves, it's crown and most of it's roots when it got sick. Is it capapble of growing a new crown to grow leaves from and is there anything I can do to help it along? Thanks in advance!

If i am understanding correctly what your saying is there are no current leaves left on the plant? If there is root growth you should watch it for a while and see if it makes any progress. I also hope you isolated it from your other orchids as well as sprayed a fungicide/bactericide/insecticide solution on it prior.

You may be lucky enough for it to send up a new keiki at the base; well now basically whats left of the orchid. But it may be a while for you to see any activity besides root growth.

Or there is the unfortunate reality that you might have to write it off as gone.

[emily1990]

It took months for the roots to come back. They aren't new roots, but the old roots have turned green again and seem healthy. This happened in early winter and it's just been in the last month that I'm sure the roots are ok. I'm just not real sure what else to do with it or if I'm wasting my time with it. Thanks for the reply.

[CR7cristiano]

Originally Posted by emily1990

It took months for the roots to come back. They aren't new roots, but the old roots have turned green again and seem healthy. This happened in early winter and it's just been in the last month that I'm sure the roots are ok. I'm just not real sure what else to do with it or if I'm wasting my time with it. Thanks for the reply.

Well it can't hurt to have it under observation in the background while you continue to grow your other orchids.

Let me know if you see new root growth from the center stem. If you do see this then that usually suggests the plant is progressing. In the meantime if you can, fertilize every day with either 20-20-20 or one high in minerals for leaf growth remember what the numbers aid in LRB Leaves-Roots-Blooms so maybe even a 30-10-10 fertilizer at 1/2 tbsp to a gallon. Remember to wet the roots of your orchids with water prior to fertilizing. And lastly, once a week water with an epsom salt solution. This also goes for all of your orchids. 1 tsp to a gallon of water.

[Bud]

pictures would have been great...what is unbeleivable is: overnight the falling leaves and almost death to the plant...it might be a bacterial infestation...they can be really fast
soak the whole thing in fungicide/bacteriacide...for 5 min and let it dry in a warm shaded place bareroot hang it on a wire hanger under a tree or near the window

next week soak it in superthrive
there might still be hope for your vanda if you say the roots turned green again

[emily1990]

This might be stupid, but I've never heard of using salt. What does it do for the orchids?

[emily1990]

I did soak it and I don't see anymore evidence of the disease. I'm just not sure how long I should give it to recover. As soon as it got sick, I started treating it and that was back in November. It's my one and only vanda...not really my specialty.

[Paul Mc]

Epsom salt isn't table salt if that's what you are thinking. I use Epsom and all of my tropicals for its nitrogen.

[CR7cristiano]

Originally Posted by emily1990

I did soak it and I don't see anymore evidence of the disease. I'm just not sure how long I should give it to recover. As soon as it got sick, I started treating it and that was back in November. It's my one and only vanda...not really my specialty.

I agree with Bud, soak it in a fertilizer mix with a dbl dose of Superthrive in it as well. So thats about 2 drops or 1/2 a teaspoon.
And all you can do is watch and wait and water & feed.

I am a all orchid guy but Vandaceous is what i specialize in. So I hope you do get another Vanda/Ascocenda/Vasco/mokara! I will help with any question on caring for them.
So will Bud

[CR7cristiano]

Originally Posted by Paul Mc

Epsom salt isn't table salt if that's what you are thinking. I use Epsom and all of my tropicals for its nitrogen.

And Magnesium mainly shhhhh you didnt hear it from me!