new cycnode cane beginning to droop.

[kindrag23]

This is my cycnode Jean E. Monnier 'Marty'. This is technically not the plant I was supposed to get on friday. Well technically same plant in name and breed wrong plant that its not the one pictured. That one is supposed to be here tomorrow. I was told I could keep this one.

So I got it friday I un boxed it and the seller was not kidding when they said it was not settled...potting mix went EVERYWHERE...when I un taped it. It was in a small bark mix but I could tell the roots were not that great and I smell a musty decomp odor. My best guess is this came from over seas recently and they had not gotten this one repotted and settled in like the one I was to get. I also noticed some of the bottom pieces of theix were larger and had some mold spores on them.

Now when I got it it was up right and strong....today I nocticed it starting to lean and the cane was a little soft. I also noticed where it was leaning it was wrinkling. The back cane in 3 days has shriveled up so fast it is unreal. Its in a covered west facing window (I open the window from early morning to mid to late afternoon by 5 I shut my window b/c the sun coming in will fry the plant I fear.) until it acclimates to my blazing sun here in Texas. I am hoping it is just shock and nothing more. But after the year I have had I dont want to take a chance. B/c this one could be a great Christmas gift!

I did physan spray it for a preventative going by the booklets instructions. I let that dry then watered it with food and a small amount of technaflora.

[reliablefool]

Is it getting enough water? My experience with plants in this family are that they almost can't be overwatered when they are in their growing season, so it could be something as simple as too little water. I am by no means an expert, so I hope others chime in.

[kindrag23]

I watered it really well when I first got it. And we have storms all around us and the humidity is awful right now. I also use the skewer method to check it. I am going to follow the care for my other cycnode I have. I was just petrified this could be a virus. I will water and feed again tomorrow when it will prob need to be watered. I checked today and skewers still wet and so were the roots up higher.

Thanks for the input. I hope it is just stress from the trip/ God awful heat we have been having the last 3 or 4 days. Yesterday I wwent out to move water in my yard and felt my scalp burn each time I went outside to move the hose.

[katrina]

Looks like it doesn't have any decent roots...am I seeing that right? If so, then that's your problem. No roots = nothing to take up water = dehydrated plant. If the newest growth is strong enough it could produce some additional roots but all the root watering in the world won't help if it doesn't have roots.

W/out roots, try spraying the back of the leaves w/a mild fert solution at least once a day...early in the morning if possible...before the day heats up.

If the new growth doesn't produce roots it will likely parish but if the oldest growth is strong enough then it will most likely produce another growth. I've removed old, shrunken back bulbs from this group of orchids and they've sprouted new growths...they are very tough.

Good luck!

[kindrag23]

Thanks yeah not great roots at all. But semi decent I wondered about that 2. It does ha e a little yellow spot of a nub coming out at the base that I am hoping is a root.

@Katrina what would you recommend the spray mix be?

[kindrag23]

All right heres my beast cycnode and um...is the back cane/phulb ROTTING! This one has better roots MUCH BETTER. I just unpotted so you can see there is some break down. But the lower leaf is yellowing and that back phulb cane (1 of 2) has me worried....

[katrina]

No, I don't believe it's rot...it's just being consumed in order to provide energy for the newest growth. This group of orchids typically produces very rampant roots and even w/a huge mess of roots the older growths are sacrificed when the new growths are growing/maturing. Even w/my healthiest Ctsms, I typically lose the oldest growth each year when the newest growths are taking off. Just part of the process.

I think both plants will be fine over the long haul. Give them as much light as you can w/out burning them up...this will help push as much growth as possible before they go dormant. The one w/stronger roots...water well and I would fert w/a weak dose at every watering...again to help push as much growth before it's time for it to start into dormancy.

As for the fert solution...I'm not sure that what you use is as important as just using something. At a weak dosage, of course. You can pick up Better Gro fert at most any HD or Lowe's...if you can't find that, even some Miracle Grow would do the trick for a foliage feeding. Again, weak dosing...and I would spray the foliage every day until it starts pushing more roots. Hoping it'll push more roots.

[kindrag23]

Hurray! Thanks very much Katrina and @ reliable fool. Its a covered west facing window. Until they adjust to our heat and un clouded sun.