Rescues from Lowes
 

I bought these little bagged orchids from Lowes about 2 months ago, they were on the discount rack for $3 each. I figured, even if they died I could return them but I was hoping I could revive them. And guess what! They're coming back! Yay!:cheer:

1st pic - Epicat Rene Marques x psuedoepidendrum 2 months ago.

2nd and 5th pic - Same plant with 2 new growths!

3rd pic - C. Spring Fragrance 'Paradise' 2 months ago.

4th pic - 2 new growths!

The catt was very dehydrated but not as damaged as the epc.

Well done! I'm continually miffed that my Lowes/HD don't carry bag babies.
The Rene Marques is one of my favorites- that cross will be lovely!
Great job Angela!

Thanks!! :blushing:

You know...it's kind of unfair that you didn't share your secret orchid-resurrecting-technique.

Oops! Sorry about that! Really, where are my manners??:blushing:

First thing I did was unpot and was off the roots. Then soaked them overnight in clean water with some Superthrive (1 tsp/gallon). Potted them up in clay pots with chuncky bark mix and a sphag top dressing.

For the first few weeks they sat in very shallow saucers of water, but I allowed them to dry out about once a week. When I noticed new roots I started letting the saucers go dry more often. They are fertilized weekly with orchid fertilizer, not sure of the brand but I think it's Better Gro.

They both get full morning sun through screen, about 5-6 hours a day. I will slowly start giving them more now that they are a little stonger and they seem to be "reaching" a little.

My next step will be switching them to s/h, which I would have done in the first place but at the time I was just starting to use s/h and still unsure of it.

I think that's it, hope it helps anyone else trying the rescue route!:biggrin:

Tropicgirl ~ That's a definite :clap: & :cheer: for you!
and tips to boot, excellent! :biggrin:

Angela: orchid-saver-extraordinaire!

I've really become a fan of sphag top dressings to get new roots to really dig in their feet and find that media, instead of being aerial- and it's been a great help in my drier climate in keeping the rest of the media somewhat more humid.


:D Happy to say that my mystery seedling, and the rootless C. intermedia that it tagged along with, are both putting out new roots in miniature 'incubators' that I made for them out of aquariums, water, gravel, and holey saran wrap.
:X been dousing them in weak Physan 20 every few days to try and ward off fungus since I can't improve air movement though.

Maybe you can try something like that with your next rescue! I bet rubbermaids would work well too.

:thankyou

I think I will try that method, Izzie. I have a few old 10 gallon tanks in the garage. I bet they would recover and grow faster that way! Thanks for the idea :idea:!

That seedling would be driving me CRAZY wondering what it is! :lol:

Good luck!

x.x I think it's going to get named soon. Tim. It's name is Tim. tiny tim!

They only get names if they speak to me. or drive me nuts.