Cattleya Pot. Big Dream 'Long Life" x Lc. 'Dixie Hummingbird" Not flurishing
 

Hello,

This is my first post to this site. I am a real beginner. But have had some of my plants for over a year.

I moved this particular plant from Dallas, TX (Indoor) to Lahaina, HI (outdoor) in August. It had 2 new growths on it before it left Dallas. But they both died off during the shipment.

Since then the plant has not done well and it is starting to turn brown. No new growth. I have attached pictures. It was in bloom when I purchased it in November of 2008.

And now it is turning brown. I have attached pictures of what it looks like now.

Please I need advice on what to do for it. It is on the North side of my home it gets indirect sun. But mostly shade.

Mahalo,

Troy

Hello and welcome to the Orchid Board.
Your leaves look a bit wrinkled, what do the roots look like?
Joann

Is it safe?
 

Joann

Thank you for replying. Is it safe to pull it out of the medium and take some pictures of the roots for you?

Troy

Yes, it's safe. Anytime I have a problem with one of my plants, the roots are the first place I go.
Joann

Roots of Cattleya Pot. Big Dream 'Long Life" x Lc. 'Dixie Hummingbird"
 

Joann,

I pulled it out of the medium and it had lots of what looks like charcoal in the root bundle. Here are the pictures of it from three sides. I am not sure how they should look. But they don't look well to me.

But I am an absolute novice.

Mahalo,

Troy

I could be wrong, but I don't think any of those roots are alive, that would explain why the leaves are so dehydrated looking. If you feel the roots, are they soft and mushy? If you gently pull on them, the cover of the root will come off and leave behind what looks like a thread....that is another test if a root is good or bad. A good root will be firm. Usually they will be white or cream colored when dry if they are good and turn green when wet. Sometimes good roots can be tan or brown depending on the potting medium it is in. So....how do those roots feel to you?

Anything I can do?
 

Becca

Thanks for the reply.

There are some of the roots that still feel firm near the top of the bundle near the parts of the stalks that are still green. Is there anything I can do to salvage it?

Mahalo,

Troy:(

Are they "firm" or just dried out and feel hard? I would remove all of the dead roots, if you are unsure if they are dead, give them the pull test I described previously. There may be no salvaging. It may be a matter of hoping it will put out new roots from the newest growth. The old growth will not put out new roots. I would put the 'chid in high humidity (and low light) to help it loose as little moisture from the leaves as possible. It may just be a wait and see what happens type of a situation...it may put out new roots and turn around, and you may loose it. I'd pot it up in fresh potting medium in a clear pot and find some way to secure it in the pot so it doesn't wobble around. Another thing you could try is the "water culture method", which you should be able to find info on here if you search for it. Many have had success on reviving orchids using it. Maybe something interesting to try if you don't think it's going to make it, why not learn something from it? Let me know if you have a hard time finding info on it. Perhaps some one else might be able to give you better recommendations then me. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you 'chid!

Hi, you have a very unwell plant there. Check to see if there is a green eye in the newest growths. If so cut all the dead roots off ( will probably be all ) and put it in a clear plastic bag, put some damp sphagnum in the bag and then seal the top with a tie. Hang the bag in an area of broken sunlight, eg in a tree, but not in direct sun. Since you live in Hawaii there will be good humidity and warmth this will help. You may have to leave it this way for quite some months but eventually it should put out a new lead. When this occurs and roots start to emerge it can be taken out an repotted. I have done this with a plant or two previously here in Australia with positive results. I hope it works for you, if it doesn't bear in mind the plant is in very poor condition and it's a fairly big ask.

Troy,

Please note that this method described is called sphag-n-bag. You should be able to do a search on here for this as well and be able to read other threads on it for more info on it. Me personally, I've had more failures then success with it, but it has been the opposite case for many others. The main goal of it is to increase the humidity for the 'chid, which most of us don't have the humidity you have in Hawaii so you may not need this method. I found that sticking my failing plants in the sphag-n-bag method was a recipe for high humidity plus stale air = fungus growing on the 'chids. But like I said it has worked will for many many others so I'm not saying you should try it.