How long before you know they've taken to s/h?

[new_orchid_rescuer]

Hello,
I got really excited about s/h recently because I think that I've been underwatering some of my 'chids. I'd like to transfer all of them, but for now I've transferred 5 phals and 1 dendro. All of them except for one phal had new root growth. The one that didn't was a walmart rescue and it has almost no roots. I'd tried sphag-n-bag, but a new root that started to grow got rotted when it was only just a nubbin Anyway, I figured it was close to dying so it really couldn't hurt to put it in s/h since everything else wasn't working.

Anyway, it's only been about 2 weeks, but I'm really anxious to put the others in there too as they have new root growth and some of them are in spike and I want to do it before any buds start to form. So I'm wondering how long it takes before you know that they're likeing/not likeing s/h.

Another thing is that I'm having a bit of problems with fungus. Should I use a fungicide?

Thanks!

[ilurk]

I repotted some brassavola cordata in hydroton, i knew they took to S/H when the leaves stopped shriveling If they die, then they don't like it. In any case, for me it took over a month for a new set of roots and they seem pretty happy now.

as for the fungus, by all means get some fungicide. I have heard of people using old pennies and 'ich' meds (copper sulfate for some aquarium diseases), but i've never used them and i won't vouche for them either. Maybe someone around here has.

[quiltergal]

As soon as you see a peek of new leaf or new roots after planting you know you're home free. I started my s/h experiment back in June and did all the classic newbie mistakes. I planted both plants with no new growth showing and I nearly lost them both. The phal was quickest to recover. It stopped shriveling and has since grown a nice new leaf and is shooting out new roots like there is no tomorrow. I'm very pleased this one made it as it has a very pretty flower. The other a Lc. pretty much had no root system when I put it in. Most people would have thrown it in the trash but I hung in there with it. Last week I saw a new lead coming up and it's starting to send out some new roots. This plant looks just terrible! It's all dried up and for the most part looks dead. So it's taken 5 months for it to come around. The lesson here is if it looks dead wait a little longer. If it still looks dead wait some more. You'll be surprised at how resiliant orchids are.

[20jlr]

I did the same thing,I got excited about this fail safe method and transplanted all mt orchids. To make a long story short they all did fine in there owntime. I tell everyone I know to check out rays site, he knows what to do. I'm sure they will be fine.

[Ray]

I don't think I'd repot a plant in spike, unless the medium is so bad you'll rot the roots if you don't.

[new_orchid_rescuer]

Hello! So it's been a month since I switched them to S/H and some are really taking to it! There are two phals with spikes (I hope these are spikes and not new roots! ) Do you think they are spikes too?
The last three pictures are of a rescue from Home Depot, it started to recover before I put it in S/H but it's thriving now! YAY!!! Check out the new roots!!!!



Oh yeah, the Walmart rescue (the one which originally had no new growth, but was close to death) is totally stagnant. I think there has been some more root death as well... But I guess I'll just have to wait and see!

[Phalguy]

Hello!

# 1 : Root
# 2 : Spike !

Phalguy

[new_orchid_rescuer]

Well 1/2 isn't bad!!
So if it really is a spike then it will be the first time that I've gotten one to spike on my own. The rest were either bought in spike or in bloom, or neither and have done nothing. This is very exciting!!! YAY!! (I'm still hoping that the first one will turn out to be a spike too <<crossing fingers>>)

[quiltergal]

Congrats! #2 is definately a spike. Good growing! Feels good huh?

[shakkai]

Congratulations! Great growing - those plants look like they are very happy in their new environs...