Project 2015 Spring [main]: Amesiella monticola

[RandomGemini]

Mine's still in quarantine. I should probably relocate it to the spot I intend to grow it in, but I can't decide where it will get the water and humidity it needs. It seems happy where it is. New root growth. No new leaf growth yet though, and I wonder if it needs more light than it's getting now to grow better. Hrm...

[Leafmite]

Originally Posted by theloyalplum

I wish mine would do anything but lose roots.

What exactly is happening? Did you get rid of the mites? From where did yours come? I would call your vendor and tell them about the mites and explain how the orchid has been struggling ever since. Ask them what they recommend you do.

[theloyalplum]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

What exactly is happening? Did you get rid of the mites? From where did yours come? I would call your vendor and tell them about the mites and explain how the orchid has been struggling ever since. Ask them what they recommend you do.

Mine came from Ray. I'd like to give him the benefit of the doubt when it comes to these things; the mites if the ID was right feed only on dead/dying plant matter, so the root tip was done for before I got it. The roots have been fine-ish, but are slowly turning brown. The only green root tip was presumably gone before I went crazy and went for a full repot and hyper sanitized everything. It doesn't show any major signs of decline but no signs of improvement either. It's one of those slowly declining things that gives you a glimmer of hope that may something will happen.

Culture-wise, I let it dry to a light dampness before giving it a drink of its own personal bottle of seaweed extract and light fertilizer which happens to be every 3-4 days. Light is filtered and has bottom heat from a seedling mat. Temps range from a 65F night low to 75-78F day. Air flow is mediocre, enough to not have mold issues for the most part. Net pot with sphag and bark to encourage maximum airflow with good moisture and humidity.

"I'm giving it all she's got, Captain!"

Everything else in the window is doing fine, minus a couple!

[My Green Pets]

I'm wondering if you shouldn't stop using fertilizer and decrease watering until you see some new root growth.

[Leafmite]

I would skip on the fertilizer, too. Use the kelp or whatever it is if it is the stuff everyone says encourages root growth.
I have heard that Ray is very nice and he will probably send you another plant. You should let him know, though. He seems to really care about customer satisfaction. Like many vendors, he got them from somewhere else so it really isn't his fault but he would want to know.
As for orchids with root problems, there are two ways to encourage roots. I have not tried the seaweed stuff but NZ sphagnum moss is great stuff for encouraging roots. (I know you are using it). What I like to do for method 1 is to take a basket (I have a bunch of plastic Vanda baskets but the strawberry ones will do--just soak it in bleach first, then rinse well), line it with about an inch to an inch and half of sphagnum moss and set the orchid on top. I use florist wire, sometimes, if I need to stabilize the orchid. I keep the moss damp with distilled or rain water. No fertilizer or anything else. In the summer, you won't need warmth (rooting is best at 80'F+).
The other method, the one I use most of the time is to fill my pot up with red lava rock or LECA and just stake the orchid on top of it. I keep the medium moist for humidity. Sometimes I put a little bed of NZ sphagnum moss underneath the orchid, to be removed later when the roots have gone down into the medium.
For this orchid, I would most likely go with the first option. Remember, use rain or distilled water until you have some healthy roots.
Good luck!

[Tim P.]

I personally would try sphag and bag. From what I have read these are to be taken care of much like phals, and that has really worked well for me. Mine thrives in bark on negligence.

[theloyalplum]

Thanks Guys! I actually ran out of NZ Sphag quite recently, so I ordered in some take-out... I mean Sphag to get here asap. I'll cut down on fertilizer and everything else! We'll see how it goes!

[AussieVanda]

Here's a photo update on mine. Bottom leaves have yellowed but new leaf starting and acceptable root growth

[No-Pro-mwa]

I will be putting up some new pics soon. I do believe my new leaf it came with is growing and also a new root yahooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!

[My Green Pets]

All right! I also unpotted mine the other day to thin out some sphagnum and found two new root tips. It looks like things are moving forward