Watering whoops! Problem?

[Sekhmet]

Hi All,

Yesterday, I accidentally left my V. coerulea soaking for about 6 hours (I put it in to soak for an hour, then left for work and my husband rescued it when he got home!)

The roots look okay, very bright green and "wet" looking, but not soft, mushy, or black. Are they likely to have taken some damage with that long soak?

[dounoharm]

nah, they likely enjoyed it....no problem

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

If you have it in a basket without media. It shouldn't cause a problem.

If it was potted, just let it dry out completely and add another day or two of dry days, and your plant should be fine.

[fishmommy]

I sometimes leave mine in a bucket of water overnight by accident - they actually seem to like it once in a while.

[Sekhmet]

Whew, good to know I didn't murder them. I recently moved these plants around in my house, and they are now A) on a different watering schedule than my other orchids and B) in an easy to ignore location....Lets hope I don't kill them!

[RosieC]

I've done that (and for longer) with phals, dens and Oncs and not had a problem. 24 hours is not uncommon for me to forget a plant for. All day while I'm at work is even more common.

As others have said just make sure it dries out before the next watering.

I've actually left a Paph Pinnochio in water for TWO WEEKS. Even that seems to be doing fine. I re-potted to get rid of the sodden medium and the roots were in excellent condition (better looking than all my other Paphs. It's in a clear pot now and the roots still look good a month or so on (and it's opened a new flower yesterday morning). It actually seemed to put on a growth spurt while in the water as well.

Now I wouldn't recommend anything like the two weeks that one got, but I do think that once in a while a really good soak can do them good, just as long as you ensure they dry again afterwards.

[thepurpleorange]

this thread caught my attention because I recently received 3 vanda cuttings (looks like the toppings of a mature plant) from a family member who has no idea about orchids and left them in water for about 2 days!!!

now the roots are mostly mushy and black. A couple are dark but firm still (green when wet). But where they were once active (green tips) they are now all shrivelled at the ends, and in all of them, some of the leaves have yellowed.

I set them in a clay pot that is warm and have kept them in high humidity but have stopped wetting them for now...

will they recover??????

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by thepurpleorange

this thread caught my attention because I recently received 3 vanda cuttings (looks like the toppings of a mature plant) from a family member who has no idea about orchids and left them in water for about 2 days!!!

now the roots are mostly mushy and black. A couple are dark but firm still (green when wet). But where they were once active (green tips) they are now all shrivelled at the ends, and in all of them, some of the leaves have yellowed.

I set them in a clay pot that is warm and have kept them in high humidity but have stopped wetting them for now...

will they recover??????

If there are at least 3 living roots, then I'd say they have a good chance of recovery.

[thepurpleorange]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

If there are at least 3 living roots, then I'd say they have a good chance of recovery.

phew! good to know!

2 of the 3 cuttings have darkened roots with shrivelled tips and one of them have lost all its roots. I hope that also will recover. It's a shame because I could see that besides the now yellowing leaves, the foliage was otherwise spotless, green and incredibly healthy!