promoting new roots on a vanda..... - Page 4 - Orchid Board

CodiMN · #31 02-17-2008, 02:20 AM

I had received a vanda from an "infamous" ebay seller (humph!) with one viable root that was maybe three inches long, and about the width of a pencil.
I have been keeping some sprag moss around the main stalk and "root" and spraying with jacks and some molases and rooting hormone since November...and yay! Now I have some new roots! Thanks Jasen for the idea!

Judy T. · #32 02-19-2008, 06:29 AM

hi im new to this cite but wanted to ask you a question . I prepared your root cocktail and when using the batches to refill my container i noticed a change in the mixture. It looked like mold . does this need to be refrigerated.Can this be used as a root enhancer for phals too

gixrj18 · #33 02-19-2008, 10:14 AM

It will work for any plants, try keeping it in a dark place. Light promotes growth of mold and algae. If you don't have a dark place for it, try keeping it covered with something black. If you don't have a LOT of orchids, you may be better off mixing smaller portions, so it doesn't have to store as long. Oh, and to reply to Carolyn, your welcome....glad it helped!

dgenovese1 · #34 07-30-2008, 11:43 PM

I'm new to the OB, and just picked up on this thread, and find there to ba a lot of great suggestions that I may want to use. Thanks!
I have about 140 or so Vandaceous plants in my collection, and most do great with growing their roots; however I get one every once in a while from a friend as a rescue plant that needs extra attention...I believe I've stumbled onto solutions that might work for these needy chids.
To the person who made the post reguarding V. insignis - This species is notorious for growing tall with lots of its roots at the base of the plant, while holding a nice "head of leaves", so to speak, at teh top. I actually tried an experiment to get more roots to grow farther up it's bare stem, and ended up with a rosette of 4 kiekis about 9 inches up from the bottom of the plant instead of more roots. Oh well, I guess it's nothing to complain about. When they grow out, it will be a beautiful specimen plant.

By tthe way, before the kiekis grew, I did bring it for judging at an AOS judging center and received my first certificate, an HCC. So, even with the long bare stem between the roots and the leaves, it was still worthy of an AOS cert. Boy was I excited! There's a photo of it in my gallery if you're interested in seeing the blooms. It's V. insignis 'Robert Bailey' HCC/AOS

Bird Song Farm · #35 07-31-2008, 03:59 AM

Hi Dave, Congratulations on the HCC !! That must be exciting and rewarding.
140 Vandaceous 'chids, Boy I'll bet your place is paradise when they are in bloom!

Al

JennS · #36 07-31-2008, 06:11 PM

Wow....140! Amazing...I only have 5 blooming size and 5 seedlings. You must be doing great with them.

Just my two cents...I tried cutting the plant down (my particular vanda actually just toppled over one day right off it's shoot as it's roots had apparently not been taking up water for a long time). Before being in my care it looked like the vanda tried to send out two new roots, much higher up the stalk, but because they were never watered (how coudl someone miss new roots?) they stopped developing (or so I assume). So, one day I was watering and it just broke and fell over! I cut the stalk back until I saw life (or greenness) and treated the wound with cinnamon. I wrapped some spag around the base and removed the sheaths from the area that the spag would be around. I then used a little section of paper towel to hold the spag on, secured with 2 twist ties and left it alone. I put it in a more shaded spot then the other vandas and made sure the ball of spag was moist each morning. After about 2 weeks, I had new root growth. That was all I did. Here is a link to the post with pictures of my setup and new roots!:
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...rooting-s.html

You can also see how bad the leaves look...all withered. They are still recovering, but at least I have roots now!

JennS · #37 07-31-2008, 06:23 PM

I have one question now that I read another post...what are everyone's thoughts on fertilizing an orchid that has just sprouted new roots? I mean, if those are the only roots, like the one I described above? Should you hold off fertilizer because it might burn the new tips? Or should you keep fertilizing since Vandas are heavier feeders then most? Any ideas?

dgenovese1 · #38 08-01-2008, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JennS

I have one question now that I read another post...what are everyone's thoughts on fertilizing an orchid that has just sprouted new roots? I mean, if those are the only roots, like the one I described above? Should you hold off fertilizer because it might burn the new tips? Or should you keep fertilizing since Vandas are heavier feeders then most? Any ideas?

Jenn,
I water and fertilize as usual, and have had no problems with buring the new root tips.
My fertilizer "backbone" is a no urea formula with low soluble salts; Dyna-Gro Liquid Grow 7-9-5. I add superthrive with each application and supplement a magnesium sulfate/potassium nitrate mix with it about every 6 weeks.
I look at new root production on stressed plants this way - plants are hungry (for water and food), they produce new roots, feed them!

lupita · #39 08-01-2008, 04:17 PM

Hello.
how do you use this two supplements magnesium sulfate and potassium nitrate ?
I have Epc. Rene Marques and has no roots, I already tried the moss in a bag, mist and still does not have any signs of new roots.
any ideas ?
Thanks.
Lupita.

dgenovese1 · #40 08-01-2008, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lupita

Hello.
how do you use this two supplements magnesium sulfate and potassium nitrate ?
I have Epc. Rene Marques and has no roots, I already tried the moss in a bag, mist and still does not have any signs of new roots.
any ideas ?
Thanks.
Lupita.

Hi Lupita,
I use Epsom salts for the magnesium sulfate at a rate of 1 tablespoon per gallon, and the potassium nitrate I get from a local farm supply store (I get the greenhouse grade as it is a water soluble powder). I use this at 1 tablespoon per gallon as well.
I mix both together, so it's a concentration of 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt and 1 tablespoon of potassium nitrate per gallon. I apply it to the roots and foliage of all of my chids about once every 6 weeks or so, and do not run into the signs of deficiencies of these elements such as yellowing and reddening leaves (you'll notice the reddening in cooler weather). I hope this helps.

For your Epc. Rene Marque, you may need to try potting it securely so that the plant does not move in its medium, and just wait for new growth to appear, which is when the new roots often sprout out. I’ve run into this situation before, and have noticed that some catts will only produce new roots after they send up a new growth, and some only before a new growth shoots out. Securing the plant in its growing medium with a clip will ensure that the new roots won’t snip off when they begin to develop. They are very easily broken at this stage of their growth. Also, be careful not to overwater even though the plant has no roots…you could easily cause the stems to rot, and then the cause will be lost.