My Hausermann's purchase! - Orchid Board

kiki-do · #1 08-03-2008, 08:17 PM

I got a 8.5" potted Cattleyea from Hausermanns and I just repotted it today. I didn't have any larger coconut husks, etc, so had to wait until now. I was blown away at how bad the roots were! Almost all mushy and black that I had to trim. I have a sheathe with buds coming out, too. I had new roots growing along the rhizome up out of the medium, so I had no clue what lurked underneath. I cut most off (and there were many) and this is what it looked like before I potted it up in fresh medium.
Do you think those top nice green roots and what I left underneath will be okay for this orchid? The roots that are left are very dark, but they weren't really mushy. I hated to cut anymore. They were iffy, but not mushy. I swished them in Listerine too.
What's your opinions?

Ross · #2 08-03-2008, 08:23 PM

I would be the last one to blast a vendor, but my only purchase from them was the same way. I would never buy from them again. Mine were all Tolumnias. I repotted when I got them (good thing). The roots were just about gone. Since then, two of the three purchased have made it. The last one is struggling (6 months later.) They are a notta for me.

caseydoll · #3 08-03-2008, 11:10 PM

I don't have much experience with catts but I've had a couple that had bad roots when I got them. They really bounced back quickly for me once I repotted. Roots started popping out everywhere in no time. Hopefully the same thing will happen with yours. You have a fair amount of roots left so personally I think it'll be fine. But like I said, I don't know too much amount catts.

That stinks though! I have to say though, that bad roots are becoming pretty common from a lot of popular orchid vendors.

I've ordered from a couple well-known and recommended orchid vendors and have received beautiful plants with miserable root systems! Rotted or completely dried out. I don't know what's going on with these places but it's definitely not just Hausermanns.

dgenovese1 · #4 08-04-2008, 01:37 AM

Hi Kiki,
I'm sorry that you got bum roots on your new Catt. I had a very similar experience with the same vendor...one of the plants actually had snowy mold all over the roots. Other than saying that about the vendor, I'll just add that I’m with Ross.
But to the question at hand...what do I think about the welfare of the plant...

I think that what you've done should be ok, except that you might want to trim the black roots off.
What I do with any of my plants that get "bad roots" is first I remove all of the infected roots: sometimes this looks pretty drastic, but in your case, your plant has several good roots to go with.
After removing all of the infection/ dead roots, I rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove any detritus, and then I rinse with a fungicide solution made to the manufacturer's specifications (RD-20, Physane, Diathane-M45). If I know the infection source, I use the stuff that works on it best; otherwise I use a good broad spectrum.
Then I let the whole plant dry completely before potting it up and securing it firmly in its new container...sometimes using 2 or 3 pot clips if there aren't many roots left. Depending on the genera of plant, I then water a little more frequently at first, and fertilize as usual (except I make sure that there is a little extra Superthrive in the mix). This works quite well for me, and of the 4 plants I got from your vendor, I didn't lose one.

I hope this helps.

Grandma M · #5 08-04-2008, 08:30 AM

Kiki

Isn't that disapointing? You sure did the right thing by trying to clean it up and repotting.

Ross, I was thinking of sending you an e-mail asking if you were going to the Chicago Orchid Fest in Sept. and asking about a car pool. By your answer, I suspect that will not happen.

I was hoping to go to Natt's, and OakHill expecially. I am looking at mini's and hopefully there will be some from the guest vender at Natt's.

Marilyn

kiki-do · #6 08-04-2008, 10:00 AM

Thanks all for your comments. I repotted the other catt I bought from them that was in a smaller pot and that seemed okay. I will definitely send them a report of my findings. I think I have enough good root, also, to keep it going.
Marilyn, the way you talk about going over to Oak Hill and an orchid festival makes me drool. I seriously would not be able to handle myself in any of those places. I would make a complete pest of myself and someone would literally have to slap me silly to snap me out of it.

Euphoria would be the word that would best describe my state of mind. However, all common sense would go right out the window. Yup yup.
So Ross, I'm only a hop, skip, and jump away...mind picking me up too?

Orchid Road Trip!!!!!!!! Yippee Cowyeah!!!!

quiltergal · #7 08-04-2008, 02:11 PM

I recently (within a month or so) received 3 Phals. from a highly touted vendor. All 3 had varying degrees of root rot. They were from the same vendor Sarah purchased from. I repotted immediately, and the largest one that was in bloom was by far the worst. It had a few viable roots. After a month the other two made a full recovery and are doing great. The one in bloom continued to decline steadily. I emailed the vendor when I first got them and they thanked me for the info. I followed up with them last week and told them I felt the quality of the plant was unacceptable and asked for a replacement. They agreed and sent me a new plant which I got Saturday. It looks a little better. My guess is they ordered from Taiwan, and they all came in the rotted sphag moss wad. They did not repot when the got them, just spread a little fresh bark on the top.

The new one I just got had been repotted and it's spike had been cut. It was also sporting many new roots, but lots of old rotted ones too. I'm hoping they repotted based on my original complaint. I have since had to cut the spike on the first plant. Hopefully, I'll be able to bring it around. We'll see.

Bottom line Kiki, I'd email Hauserman's and complain. There is no excuse for sending out plants with root rot. They need to make this right for you. I'd also send the pictures you posted.

On a brighter note, the 3 I just got from them were fine. In fact the root system on the Pot. was incredible. Even the medium didn't look too bad.

kiki-do · #8 08-04-2008, 02:14 PM

Update on the orchid. I notified them through email and attached pictures. They came back right away with an apology and saying they are sending me another Bob Betts immediately free of charge.
They also said they are not always aware of what happens under the medium and would contact the helpers and speak to them about this so they can be aware.
I thought that was pretty good. I don't want anyone getting into trouble, but they do have a reputation to uphold.

kiki-do · #9 08-04-2008, 02:18 PM

[QUOTE=quiltergal;132373]

Bottom line Kiki, I'd email Hauserman's and complain. There is no excuse for sending out plants with root rot. They need to make this right for you. I'd also send the pictures you posted.

QUOTE]

I guess you and I are on the same wavelengths! Thanks !!!

Ranchnanny · #10 08-04-2008, 02:39 PM

Kiki-do sorry to hear about your Catt. the chid looks heathy none the less. My Iwanagara Apple Blossom had tons of roots all in good shape but what a job trying to get all of the bark out. Some of the bark medium was already breaking down so in s/h in went.

Ross I have a question for you since you purchased Tolumnias. I purchased 3 Tolumnia Mini's in itty bitty clay pots. How in the world to you water these there is barely any medium in these pots?

Keep the faith Kiki-do

Sheridan