dead roots possibly from mold
 

Most of the roots on my cattleya are dead, subsequently i think the plant is dehydrated. I took apart the media and it had some white fuzz on it so I'm suspecting mold. Do i need to cut all of the white roots away or just let them die? also I guess i will have to get a fungicide. This is sad, because i just bought this orchid 3 months ago from an orchid show. the other orchid counterparts are thriving budding new pseudo bulbs but i noticed on this plant that one of the leaves was wilting a few weeks ago. I just watered it today, so the green parts look like the only remaining viable roots left, it had a lot of roots! the fading green parts means its dying right?

thanks a bunch

tasha

I’d refrain from doing any cutting. I bought a couple of Cattleya type at an orchid show in March potted in moss. They had almost entirely dead root systems. I unpotted them, did an overnight soak in KelpMax and repotted them into a Cattleya bark mix. Their existing leaves and pseudobulbs got pretty wrinkly. The old growth is still wrinkled, but one is pushing one new growth and tons of new roots and the other looks to be putting up three new growths and I image roots will follow soon if it’s not already growing them below the substrate.

If it were mine, I’d do a soak or water with KelpMax or similar, pot it in a suitable Cattleya mix, and wait. In my experience, mold is usually a symptom rather than cause of root death: make sure yours isn’t staying too moist.

I agree with what aliceinwl suggests. The mold (which I can't see in the photos) is usually a symptom and not a cause of problems. Mold on roots usually develops on rotting roots. There is no need to use a fungicide in my opinion. Also, don't go by color to judge root health. A live root is anything that is still firm, and they can be green, yellow, white, brownish... Plants within the pot/medium are rarely green since they are not exposed to light.

Catts are really resilient orchids, so with some TLC it should bounce back.

Another approach you can an take is what I posted here:

What to do if roots are rotten?

I routinely do this with Cattleyas that have root problems. Works well for me.

The seaweed extract soak advised in a previous post is also helpful. I also advise not trimming roots yet. You can do later after new roots sprout and you can see what is living vs. what is dead.

I missed your reply in that thread! Interesting approach to dealing with Catts with root problems, and I think I might try it myself. I have a Catt in rather poor shape and haven't decided yet what I want to do with it. Hanging it bareroot outside is worth a shot.

Thank you for all the replies and advice!! I’m assuming I cannot buy kelp max at the store? Online perhaps.

I have placed it medium free with roots in air right now. Hoping for the best. Do you suggest a Leca medium or more bark? I took off all the old medium already and threw it away. The white stuff looked a little like spider webs on the bark/coconut husk medium and it was packed pretty tightly.

Much appreciated and thank you!!!

Tasha

Kelp Max is sold by our longtime members here. You can buy it from his site: KelpMax 1L

See the attached photo of a Cattlianthe Golden Wax that I recovered by hanging it up outdoors in the shade (new roots, new growth). I think this was from 2017(?) Could be later though.

Attachment 138623

You know there’s a lady on you tube named the orchid whisperer 😊🤗

---------- Post added at 08:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:25 PM ----------

Also, Texas heat may be too hot for the orchids? It can get up to 90-100s in the shade. The humidity is fine though. Usually at least 50% if not 65% most of the time

Hi Tasha

OW user name: I overheard a work friend describe me to someone else as "he's kind of an orchid whisperer" after I'd revived her near-dead Phalaenopsis, back to producing a flower spike. I thought it was hilarious, so I picked it as a user name here. I've since found out that there is a guy that calls himself Orchid Whisperer that has written a book. After that, tried getting admin help to change my user name to something else, but have gotten no help, so unfortunately I'm stuck with it

Summer heat in Georgia is frequently 90s F and my orchids seem to love it outdoors in the summer.