dendrobium roots healthy or not-newbie

[Paytyn2flex]

Hello! I am a newbie to growing orchids and I recently was introduced two semi hydroponics. I had a dendrobium planted in it. Went to water it tonight and the bottom of the stems where it meets the clay pellets looked black. so i pulled it out (gently ) and now i remember that it was originally potted in spagnum and i had difficulty get all of it off. My question is, doe the roots look healthy? Is there something I can use to clean them up? Please help. I'll take whatever advice available. Thanks so much

[MrHappyRotter]

I wish I had good news for you, but honestly, no. It looks like all of the roots are dormant at the very least, but a lot of them are dead or dying.

The good news is, these plants recover fairly well since the bulk of their nutrition storage is in the pseudobulb.

How long was it in semi-hydro? It's my understanding that a lot of these evergreen dendrobiums do well it in, though it may take awhile (and a lot of dead roots) before they acclimate.

The thing is, when you first switch to semi-hydro, the roots that have grown are adapted to life in whatever mix they were in, with lots of air. It's not until new roots grow that you get roots which are adapted to life in water or very wet conditions.

So, depending on the conditions and time frame, the photos you've posted might not be that uncommon, and you might consider giving it more time.

[My Green Pets]

Although I have not used semi hydro, I have read many times that the old roots will unavoidably rot, and the plant must grow new roots into the medium.

[Paytyn2flex]

Thanks for the answers. It's only been in there for about 6 weeks. I just was alarmed when I went to water and saw how dark it was.

---------- Post added at 01:57 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:56 AM ----------

Thanks for the answers. It's only been in there for about 6 weeks. I just was alarmed when I went to water and saw how dark it was.

[mtorchid]

If you left some sphagnum on the roots before repotting, that could have had a negative effect. How often were you watering? Going from a very moist and dense moss environment to a more open s/h environment, the risk "should" have been a tendency to have roots dry out, not rot. Are you using clay pellets? Does your container have drain holes that keep you from over-saturating the medium?

I have evergreen and deciduous Dens in S/H, but I treat them differently. Knowing your specific Den's requirements for healthy roots would be an advantage.

[Paytyn2flex]

In all honesty, I think I got "duped" by the "local orchid grower, backyard green house". His words were "im not sure what this little one will do,buy its almost ready". Being the inexperienced newbie I just paid the 12$. Then switched to semi-hydroponics. The roots looked like that when I changed media, yes there are drain holes. I water once a week. So I took it out of pot last night, decided to get opinions (since I don't know what healthy roots should look like) i let it dry overnight, then I soaked it today in some Superthrive and cut off alot of the roots and repotted. I realize now that there's a good chance it might be dead. Buy how long does it generally take for new roots? I'm reading up alot and am trying my very best to be patient, but i see I'm not the 1st person with questions, so I just joined you forum. (When submitting post,what does "Send Trackbacks" mran?)

[Optimist]

Why did you cut the roots off? Orchids are often shipped bare root and can survive (in the past long sea voyages of many months bare root and with no water. )

how long? I bought a no id dendrobium of the evergreen kind in spike last spring break from a trader joes in another state. The roots were in sad shape. I re potted in bark and set it outside and watered it along with the others. So that's about 7 months and it is giving me a spike right now. I just moved it to grow balls and semi hydro and higher humidity.

These plants grow at a snails
pace.

[mtorchid]

[I think I got "duped" by the "local orchid grower, backyard green house". His words were "im not sure what this little one will do,buy its almost ready".]

Maybe the seller meant "it's almost ready" to perish

[The roots looked like that when I changed media...]

It's a common mistake to over-water orchids, but by your description, removing the dead roots, repotting and using a growth hormone is probably the best you can do at this point.

[how long does it generally take for new roots?]

If it's able to do so, you should see the start of new roots in a couple of weeks, but be patient. If that happens, just make sure to stabilize the orchid so it's not flopping around whenever you move it. Roots don't like the feel of instability. Keep giving it growth hormone per label instructions. Hope it works out for you and your Den!

P.S., I have no idea what "send backtracks" means, I've never used it.

[tarev]

My Dens never liked semi-hydro. So I just maintained it at bark mix, in a small container, the tip with roots slightly above the media, just the roots are below and they grow better.

I have to adjust my watering as season changes..like in summer, I have them outdoors in my growcamp, they can get more frequent watering, but they also get lots of air circulation all over the plant. Our winters being milder, I just reduce watering, and one of them, my noid den phal I bring it indoors. That noid den-phal stayed outside whole summer in our triple digit heat and this Fall it is blooming happily.

The others I leave it out but protected by the plastic foil cover. I know now that it is better to keep them dry during winter if I leave them out. And these ones will make blooms during late Spring. It just varies a lot from plant to plant..not knowing which den cultivar it is, you just have to observe closely what will work best for it. Different types of dens have different rest times.

And when you water your orchids, whatever type it is, best to do it early in the day and not at night time.