Random stuff - Orchid Board

Cheddarbob14 · #1 05-30-2017, 10:55 AM

I have a few random experiments/rescues. 2 of which are my fault, the last was just a result of my mother in law not knowing much about orchids other than "just adding ice".....smh. She gave me a noid phal, in really bad shape, leaves wilted, not 1 standard root, about 9 air roots ranging in 1-4" long. I soaked the air roots in water with kelpmax and a probiotic for about an hour, then started my 1st full water culture orchid. This was about 5 months ago and I'm blown away with how good it seems to be doing. The air roots slowly turned green, 2 new leaves have sprouted, a few new roots have emerged. I'm seeing signs of a potential spike also.

My Brassidium Yellow Star 'Golden Gambol' was purchased about a year and a half ago. When repotting it, 1 of the biggest pbulbs broke off. It was brown and soft at its base, and had no roots to speak of. I decided to brace it upright and put it in semi hydro just to see what would happen. Eventually a new growth popped, and some roots started to grow. After seeing what happened with my experimental phal, I decided to try the same fwc method with this 1. When pulled out of s/h, it had 3 or 4 nice long roots. Gave the same hour long soak as before and put it in a mason jar with water. All of my fwc orchids have about 20-25% of their roots completely submerged full time. Once a week they get a full root, 1/2 hr soak with fertilizer at about 25ppm, once a month I leave out the fertilizer and use kelpmax and probiotic. The root growth has exploded on my Brassidium, and another new growth has formed since the translation on 3/19/17.

The last "mistake" was when repotting a recently purchased Miltassia Shelob 'Okika', I again knocked off a single pbulb. It was about 3.5" (not including the leaves), and quite firm and plump. I put it in a mesh basket with about an inch of sponge rock, which then went into a Ziploc bag with a damp paper towel. Barely left a little crack in it. This was also done on 3/19/17. I will be transferring to fwc once the root(s) get at least an inch long.

Dollythehun · #2 05-31-2017, 08:54 AM

Good lesson, Cheddarbob. I'm zipping up a rescue as soon as I'm done here except, I used damp spag.

Mountaineer370 · #3 05-31-2017, 02:17 PM

Nice rescue work! They're all looking good. The Phal and the Brassidium look especially happy what with all the new root growth. I admit to being envious of those of you who have the space to have lots of plants and try the various growing methods to see what you like and don't like, what works and what doesn't.