Pls help save this Rhynchorides

[Jackie26085]

I received this rhynchorides Bangkok sunset a month ago in a pot. When I unpotted, I noticed that the roots inside the pot were all brown although stiff. I then cleaned up with hydrogen peroxide and potted in lava rock as shown below. As you can see, the brown roots were in the pot and green ones were aerial roots but have no green tips. Initially I gave it Vanda light and apparently it was too much so I cut back the light. Then the bottom leaves started to yellow as you can see. The only new root is growing soooo slowly. In contrast, the Vanda pachara delight is doing well under the same exact care with more light and has put out 2 new leaves since I got it in May. What should I do with this rhynchorides? I love this one and hate to see it go or become palm like. The pictures are taken this morning after watering. It usually dries out in 2 days, same as my Vanda in the last picture. I live in Northern California so the humidity is rather low and night time temp these days is 55 degrees. Many thanks!



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[judith_arquette]

I have a Vanda ustii that I killed all but 2 roots on...it did nothing but drop a few bottom leaves for an entire year until I started giving it a kelp (seaweed) supplement about 5-6 months ago. It has since grown 8 new roots, many of which are approx 6 inches or so and is just now starting a second new leaf...I have VERY limited experience so hopefully those more knowledgeable will chime in but since adding the kelp supplement all of my orchids are putting out tons of much needed roots. Good luck

[Jackie26085]

Judith, I do give it seaweed extract weekly when I fertilize my other orchids. Last week I got desparate and gave it superthrive and haven't seen any changes

---------- Post added at 07:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:59 PM ----------

Colette, I do keep the bottom leaves dry. That's why I only water it in the mornings. I suspect the bottom leaves yellowing is due to dehydration, I.e.the roots are able to absorb enough water?

[wintergirl]

If it were mine, I would keep the base of the rhynchorides Bangkok sunset dry and just water the roots. With the thinness of the base and the yellow bottom leaves, better safer on the dry side there.

[judith_arquette]

Best of luck, sorry I couldn't offer more of value...

[unhappykat]

Originally Posted by Jackie26085

I received this rhynchorides Bangkok sunset a month ago in a pot. When I unpotted, I noticed that the roots inside the pot were all brown although stiff. I then cleaned up with hydrogen peroxide and potted in lava rock as shown below.

Rhychostylis in general do not need to be grown in lava rock unless you are planning on watering it everyday. Medium to large bark nuggets would do the trick as they do need a bit more moisture than most strap leaved vandas, especially if your growing outdoors here in California.

Hard roots are good, rhynchostylis hybrids and species do not have thin pliable roots like many vanda species and they are very brittle and slow to grow. As long as there firm they are alive and fine, don't expect to see them in great numbers as many rhynchostylis will only grow 4 - 6 large roots that will branch occasionally, rarely have I seen young plants with more than 6 roots unless they were crossed onto neofinetia or ascocentrum.

Originally Posted by Jackie26085

Initially I gave it Vanda light and apparently it was too much so I cut back the light. Then the bottom leaves started to yellow as you can see. The only new root is growing soooo slowly. In contrast, the Vanda pachara delight is doing well under the same exact care with more light and has put out 2 new leaves since I got it in May.

Best not to compare its growth rate to strap leaved vandas, rhynchostylis and its hybrids are much slower to grow by nature. The fact that there is a root growing means the plant is fine and not in shock, if it was in shock there would be no growth and the plant would be dehydrating by now.

Better to keep it a little shadier than other vanda types, tho it doesn't look to be distressed from your picture. Slow root and foliage growth is just part of its nature and there isn't anything you can do to speed it up, these hybrids and species just take lots of patience. I would recommend treating it more like a cattleya or oncidium with your light levels, I actually grow the species rhynchos like high light phalaenopsis and they love it.

Originally Posted by Jackie26085

What should I do with this rhynchorides? I love this one and hate to see it go or become palm like. The pictures are taken this morning after watering. It usually dries out in 2 days, same as my Vanda in the last picture. I live in Northern California so the humidity is rather low and night time temp these days is 55 degrees. Many thanks!

It looks fine to me, especially considering you have just repotted it from its old container. I would just keep giving it the same care and eventually the foliage will begin growing again once the roots are more established.

That yellow leaf is one of the old seedling leaves which will fall off naturally, eventually most of those will fall off and many rhynchostylis and their hybrids tend to have lover stems that are bare until new side growths begin to emerge.

[Plodde]

it looks healthy to me!

[Jackie26085]

Unhappykat- I'm paranoid about root rot and given that the roots in the original bark mix didn't do so well, I'd rather have it in lava rock. I water it every 2 days or so.

I wish it has thick roots but so far it's roots are pliable and thinner than my neofinetia's roots. As to light, I've cut it back and now it's behind my big dendrobium and with my Catts


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[MattWoelfsen]

The flowers this plant produces is beautiful. You are fortunate you have such a healthy plant.

Your plant really needs maximum airflow around its roots. I have seen them growing on a wire with the roots hanging down. That seems to be the best way to prevent root rot.

The pot you are using is a concern. It will hold too much moisture, especially if you are using lava rock to cover over the roots. I would use a net pot.

This is how I am growing Renanetia Sunrise. But I have this growing in some bark. In my environment, I need more humidity. I water this plant daily in the summer time, less often in winter.

BTW, Unhappycat is one of my most favorite eBay vendors. He offers an amazing assortment of healthy orchids--and very reasonably priced.

[Jackie26085]

Matt, I was just looking at his eBay page a minute ago! I wonder if he had any neostylis lou sneary, hint hint.

I thought about using a basket. It might work well in winter but here in the summer some of my old Vanda roots that were outside the pot were desiccated. My mounted brassavola also have root desiccation when it is just free hanging. Lastly I don't have any place to hang this one inside my house in the winter so I'd rather have the roots tucked in. Thanks for the info.


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