Sunburned orchid - and a potting issue ...

[Lichenthrope]

Hi,

I think this might be a tricky one.

I have inherited an orchid, pictured below.



Yes, it's a bit of a mess. It did have leaves at the crown at the right when I got it. The leaves discoloured and dropped off. One of the last ones to go is on bench, just near the pot.

I am told it was my grandmother's first orchid - possibly around 50 years old? It has probably been in that pot for over a decade, and I doubt whether the succulents are doing it much good. There is soil in with all those roots.

It looks like the stem died off many years ago, but it is now supported by roots which are hopefully still alive.

I know next to nothing about orchids, so this will either make or break me as an orchid fancier.

All advice would be greatly appreciated. Should cut the stem back? Repot it? All of the above?

Many thanks

[estación seca]

Hi Michael, it looks to be something in the Vanda group. If it is to survive, it will make new growth from the tip, or perhaps break a new growth from the stem below. It is possible the entire plant has been cooked and is already dead. Leafless Vandas almost never come back, so you must prepare yourself for this possibility.

I would remove it from the pot. Cut off the stem from the base a little bit at a time, and stop when you reach living tissue.

Wet the plant. It should be possible to tell which roots remain alive. They will be greenish as they absorb water. Cut off thin, wiry roots, as they are dead.

Now put the plant in an enclosure to keep the humidity very high, and put it into bright shade. People have used aquaria, large jars and the like. A translucent sweater box would also work well, if arranged so the translucent part allows light to enter. Some people put a layer of just damp sphagnum moss on the bottom to help raise humidity. Once every day or two, take the plant out and dip it in water to soak the roots.

If the plant is not going to make it, the remaining roots will thin to wire caliber. The plant will fall apart. If it is to make it, a green nub will appear somewhere.

[Lichenthrope]

Thanks for responding so quickly. Is there any point introducing a little orchid food at this point?

I will let you know how I go.

Michael

[estación seca]

No food unless a plant is in active growth during its normal growing season.

[charlesf6]

Awfully valiant of you to take on a chore like this one Michael.
Of course also very attentive seeing that the plant was originally your Nanas.
Proceed with caution and Good Luck with it!

[Lichenthrope]

Thanks. Not sure that I've proceeded with caution ...

I've taken it back to bare roots - hopefully I understood that correctly! Many of them were attached to the black plastic pot, so I have cut the pot and left them attached.



---------- Post added at 09:20 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:17 AM ----------

The crown is not looking good. I cut it back but I'm not sure that I got to any kind of live part. The greenest roots are just back from the tip, so I'm thinking it would be best not to cut back any further.



---------- Post added at 09:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:20 AM ----------

So if I understand correctly, I could put some damp sphagnum moss in, put the lid on (perhaps left open a crack?), keep it somewhere bright (but not too hot), wet it regularly as per estación seca's advice, and see what happens?

[Lichenthrope]

Thank you all for your encouraging, and frank but gentle, advice. If there was some way to propagate part of this mess, that would be enough, but my admittedly brief reading suggests that I would need a little more than what I have to work with.

I'd be willing to pay for expert assistance if such is available in Australia.

[bil]

Originally Posted by Lichenthrope

Thank you all for your encouraging, and frank but gentle, advice. If there was some way to propagate part of this mess, that would be enough, but my admittedly brief reading suggests that I would need a little more than what I have to work with.

Given the sentimental value, and the fact that I'm going to be very unpopular with my brother if this dies, I'd be willing to pay for expert assistance if such is available in Australia.

Not wishing to be too pessimistic, but if you pull that one back, I will take off my cap to you.

That orchid has been systematically abused. I believe that of all the usual suspects, vandas are the worst things to put in a pot, let alone with soil.

Were it not for the sentimental aspect, any orchid that is that far gone should be treated as compost, because nothing is worth that amount of work.

The only thing I can suggest is to keep the roots where they can get light and keep them moist, and brace yourself for failure.

[Salixx]

I have nothing to add but well wishes and good luck. Maybe some up-beat but soothing music to get the plant thinking about life again! (only half joking!)

[gngrhill]

I am always a sucker for the underdog and applaud your efforts to save this plant. The green roots would be a positive sign to me enough to keep trying. good luck