Cattleya mini purple no roots on new growth convert to s/h?

[Andrew123]

from Massachusetts. After lurking on orchidboard for many months and sucking in information from all of your minds Anyhow, I just got a seedling cattleya mini purple coeruela and it had a pretty mature new growth but didn't have a single new root. Originally, I was planning to convert to s/h but I'm not sure what to do now. Online, I found an article that says that the walkeriana (which is a parent) doesn't produce roots on the growths from the winter. I was wondering if any of you could confirm this fact? Sorry for such a lengthy post

[Ray]

If you change the root zone environment, the existing roots will fail, die, and rot. If that happens before new roots emerge, that plant is going to suffer badly, and potentially die.

You have two choices, in my opinion: wait for nature to take its course, or force the issue by treatment with a good root-growth stimulant like KelpMax.

[Rothrock42]

Ray I have a question about the KelpMax treatment. i think on the side of the bottle it says something like "dilute 250 to 1 and use monthly for orchids"? (Assuming I remember correctly!)

For those of us in the states, that is about 1 TBSP per gallon, right?

But is that the recommended strength to encourage new root growth for a project like this?

[Ray]

1:250 is approximated by a tablespoon per gallon (1:256). For orchids, I recommend use of that concentration all of the time, but in three different modes:

Plants with no roots:

• Using lukewarm water, immerse the entire plant in KelpMax solution for one- to a few hours.
• Without rinsing, pot it up, and water it in with that solution.
• For the next two waterings, use the KelpMax solution.

Repotting plants with decent root systems:

• Pot them up and water them in with KelpMax™ solution.
• Repeat the next two waterings.

Existing, established plants (and those above, after the recommended initial treatments):

• Add KelpMax to irrigation water or fertilizer solution once per month (not more often).

For folks that want to download a fact sheet that includes that info, HERE IS A BROCHURE I now include with all shipments. It includes dosing rates and application frequency for other plants, as well.

[Andrew123]

Thanks for the quick reply. I guess I'll wait for nature to do it's thing and get some KelpMax in the meantime.

[Maryanne]

Hello Andrew:

I'm in Massachusetts too. I also have a Mini Purple coerulea, which I bought from a fellow orchid society member. It was in a declining condition, but I took it anyway, and moved it to a carved "basket" of tree fern, and it is doing quite well now after several years of recuperation, and it bloomed nicely. I read last year (can't remember where) that Mini Purples really prefer tree fern, so I guess i did the right thing by instinct.

I also treat it and all my other plants to seaweed extract (Neptune's Harvest is our local brand.) Ocassionally I make up a compost tea, or use fish emulsion, when they are camping outside for the summer.

Good luck with your new acquisition~
Maryanne

[estación seca]

My experience has been KelpMax won't stimulate some species Cattleyas to produce new roots out of season. I strongly recommend you wait until your plant is forming roots before moving it to S/H, as Ray said.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by estación seca

My experience has been KelpMax won't stimulate some species Cattleyas to produce new roots out of season. I strongly recommend you wait until your plant is forming roots before moving it to S/H, as Ray said.

Hah! You just gotta "coax" them with added treatments.

[Andrew123]

Originally Posted by Ray

Hah! You just gotta "coax" them with added treatments.

"coax" them? As in kneel before them and beg