Bought neglected Cattleya at Walmart. What do I do?

[charlesf6]

Originally Posted by GWard

I have told you guys wrong. I just found the card that came with the orchid. It is a Dendrobium. Along with being a novice with orchids, I am forgetful as well - I put the card in my pocket without looking at it. Does this change what I need to do?

I like you guy but i am new here myself!

[estación seca]

The care would be the same for a Cattleya or a Dendrobium like this.

[rbarata]

The plant in the photo really seems like a bifoliate catt.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by GWard

I have told you guys wrong. I just found the card that came with the orchid. It is a Dendrobium. Along with being a novice with orchids, I am forgetful as well - I put the card in my pocket without looking at it. Does this change what I need to do?

My advice stays the same.

[GWard]

Thank you very much! I will keep updating you guys on its condition.

[GWard]

Are those new living roots growing beneath the green thing?

[estación seca]

Yes, those are new roots growing. You probably have only one chance to save the orchid, and it depends on those roots staying alive. It is very important now that the humidity be very high and they don't dry out for very long. At the same time they can't stay wet for too long. If your growing area has humidity always above 60% you might be able to repot it, if you can stake the plant so firmly it does not wobble and damage the developing roots.

Otherwise, keep it in your high-humidity environment bare root, and make sure you wet the roots daily. When the roots are a little longer you can pot up into one of the mixes mentioned above. But continue to make sure the new roots get wet at least once daily.

[GWard]

I have been soaking it in water for an hour and keeping it in the bathroom. It's the most humid room in my apartment, though it is not super humid. Hopefully it's enough! I will keep on updating. Thank you for your help estación seca!

---------- Post added at 11:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:56 PM ----------

jkofferdahl - I will do that promptly. Thank you!

[Rothrock42]

I think there is great value in practicing saving orchids. Even if it isn't really "worth it" for this one, you'll learn more and at some point you might need the skills to save one that your really DO want.

When I get something with damaged roots or that needs saving, I mix up 1 gallon water with 1/4 tsp. SuperThrive and a 1/8 tsp. MSU-type fertilizer with calcium.

There are other types of additives to encourage root growth, but SuperThrive is easy for me to get and it seems to work well.

I then soak the root-area/whole plant in that for several hours and then mount it or put it into whatever kind of medium I'm planning to use. Be sure that you've presoaked the potting medium and changed its water a couple of times.

For a dendrobium like that, I'd use a small plastic pot with slots/holes in the sides and medium to smallish-bark. I'd also use a rhizome clip (I make my own from heavy wire) to clip it into place so it wouldn't move. Any new roots will be very delicate and any movement of the plant will likely break them off.

After that I'd keep it somewhere with good indirect light and warm, but not too much of either. Check the medium and the roots and if it is dry soak the whole pot for 10 to 20 minutes every couple of days.

Don't use the the SuperThrive again for a month, but if it makes it that long you can give it another good couple hour soak again.

Good luck.

[Ryan Young]

Another good rescue technique is dilute sugar water or honey water roots soak. Plants absorb the sugars quickly.