Lava Burst needs urgent help!!!! - Orchid Board

simple-3 · #1 05-21-2009, 01:45 PM

I have a small Hwra Lava Burst Plant. If i don't get help, it will be surely on its way to orchid heaven, where i sent an oncidium already. The leaves are a healthy green but the root are brownish in colour and well those that were brown are starting to get brown. I am starting to get really paranoid because i do not know how to proceed. I dont want to become a serial killer. PLEASE HELP!!!!

RosieC · #2 05-21-2009, 03:39 PM

Can you post a pic of the roots?

I don't know much about this orchid, but hopefully others will chime in.

Sun rm.N.E. · #3 05-21-2009, 06:50 PM

I agree a picture of the bottom of the bulbs, the area where the new growth will emerge would help. If there is sign of new growth, no matter how small, it will probably make it once you clean off the rotting roots.

Let us know whether you grow your plant in a pot or mounted so someone who is experienced in that method can give more detailed advice.

Tommyr · #4 05-21-2009, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simple-3

I have a small Hwra Lava Burst Plant. If i don't get help, it will be surely on its way to orchid heaven, where i sent an oncidium already. The leaves are a healthy green but the root are brownish in colour and well those that were brown are starting to get brown. I am starting to get really paranoid because i do not know how to proceed. I dont want to become a serial killer. PLEASE HELP!!!!

What media is it growing in and how often do you water it?

camille1585 · #5 05-21-2009, 09:25 PM

Brown does not necessarily mean that they are dead, since some potting mixes can somtimes stain them. Are those brown roots firm or mushy?
And like Rosie says, a photo would be very helpful!

simple-3 · #6 05-22-2009, 12:15 AM

I hope the links connect. Uploading the pics are taking so long. I had the plant potted in a clay pot with a mix comprised of charcoal, coconut husk, chips of clay blocks and pebbles. I had it hanging under my grapefruit tree. I watered it maybe twice for the week only if necessary because it was really hot. However the rains came. I realized that leaves began to turn yellow and mushy and fall. I then check the roots and saw what i described earlier. The roots are not mushy. Well most of them are not. Today i removed the plant and let it dry out.

quiltergal · #7 05-22-2009, 04:59 PM

Looks like you basically have no roots. That small of a root system is not big enough to support a plant. Can you tell if it's sending up any new growths? If it is then there is hope. New roots almost always emerge after a new growth begins.

I bought one in Hawaii in December against my better judgement. The pbulbs were all wrinkled and it was wobbly in the pot. When I got it home it had pretty extensive root rot. I cleaned it up and repotted into small CHC. It looked pretty bad for a month or two then it sent up 2 new growths. Now it's shooting out new roots like crazy. So I think you can turn yours around.

Sun rm.N.E. · #8 05-22-2009, 08:32 PM

It looks to me that the plant has enough strength to survive.

I grow mine in the house with varying humidity sometimes very low and this is my sturdiest and fastest growing plant. It even grew very well in water culture which I tried initially to clean up rotting roots (just in a glass as you can see if you go to my gallery) and it bloomed beautifully. I do clean off all rotting material with hydrogen peroxide.

If your humidity is high I would be even more concerned about removing all dead sheats and rotting material and treating the black parts with hydrogen peroxide 3% ( this is the common Peroxide our drugstores sell here). Then I would pot it up in clean material of your choice. Mine are kept moist constantly in leca and grow very fast.

I hope this might help

simple-3 · #9 05-22-2009, 10:37 PM

There was a new growth but unfortunately it died Clean off the rotting roots n replant then. My concern is would the plant survive with a diminished root system? I'll clean it up tomorrow. Would hanging it under a tree be ideal after i do this and how often should i water? I grow my C. and Lc's there. Would the sunlight be too much after the surgery?

Gin · #10 05-23-2009, 05:02 PM

I have a big one in a basket they like to drink and dry out fast if kept wet for a length of time the roots go bad . I had another one given to me with no roots I mounted it and it did well . That is what I would do with yours just tie it to a mount and shade it until it recovers .. Good luck with it . Gin