Help! What am I doing wrong with my mounted orchids?

[Vanda lover]

That's good news! I'm trying to rescue a Cattleya with rotted roots by putting them in water. It sounds weird, but it seems to be working. There are new roots beging to grow. The dead roots of the plant have been trimmed and are in water, with the plant itself above the water.

[rangiku]

Not to hijack this thread, but Vanda lover could you please post a pic of your cattleya in water setup?

[Vanda lover]

Sorry, but I am new to computers and don't know how to do that yet. I got the idea from a thread on Orchid board. It is in a glass jar with the top part of the plant above water and the roots below.

[rangiku]

Your description is just as good as a photo. How often do you change the water?

[RosieC]

Rangiku, this may be the thread Vanda Lover got the idea from, incase that helps.

Vandas in Glass Vases

[rangiku]

Thank you, Rosie. *curtseys*

[james mickelso]

Be careful about using water direct from the tap. I'd check the chlorine content. Or let the water sit for an hour. I'd water the entire plant mount and all. Be sure to drain the plant if it has a cup in the leaves. And a wad of sphagnum moss will do wonders.

[Vanda lover]

Thanks Rosie, but actually the thread I was refering to was different. With this method of rescueing orchids [mainly cats] you leave them in the water while the roots grow. It seems to be working, the new roots are growing. It's been over 2 weeks now.

[Vanda lover]

Water Culture Is the name of the thread. http://www.orchidboard.com/community/ I don't know computers, I hope I did this right.
I notice there are other ones on the web as well, and they claim it is posible to actually grow orchids in water.

[rangiku]

Thanks for the link, Vanda lover. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the monster thread on Vandas in a vase. No vandas here...yet...