How can I salvage this??

[sleepy33]

Hi all, newbie here, I really appreciate any help anyone can give me. I was given an orchid by my boyfriend at the time, who is now my new hubby, for a birthday gift. I have never, EVER owned an orchid before, and I know nothing about them except that they require very specific care. In fact, according to my husband, the reason he gave me the plant is because the man at the shop told him they were the most difficult plant to keep and he thought I would like the challenge...

So anyway, it had two spikes with flowers on them when I first received it; I can't remember specifically what they looked like, but it seems like they were white with purple spots. Those died off a few weeks after I got it, and since then we have moved twice, gotten married, gone on honeymoon- it's been neglected, crushed, had bugs on it, left out to burn in the sunshine, and generally I guess I've done my best to kill it (unintentionally). I really, really want to try to save it if it's at all possible, it has a lot of sentimental value. I have no idea what kind of orchid it is, let alone what to do for it now to hopefully allow it to flourish and bloom again someday. There are a lot of dead bits in the middle, and two greenish parts that are hanging on for dear life. I've just bought some fertilizer for it, specially for orchids, it's called GrowMore Premium Orchid Food Bloom Formula 6-30-30. I diluted a bit of it in the water the last time I watered it, a day or so ago. I keep it in a dish with marbles underneath it, and it gets a fair bid of indirect sunlight where it's at now. Can anyone tell me what to do, step by step, to try to save my sad little plant? Thanks a MILLION for help in advance.

ETA: I received it in May of 2008, so that's how long it's been in its current pot, undisturbed by me.

[Hedge]

Just a guess here and I'll gladly be corrected but it looks like it might be a Cymbidium to me. did it have flowers that were like this?

[WhiteRabbit]

I guess cym as well mostly by the 'bulb-iness' and the tall pot lol
if it is a cym - good news, as they are 'tough' - not as in 'tough to grow' but they can take some neglect and not die.
I would recommend repotting, cut away dead roots. I pot mine in bark mix - fine and medium with perlite and styro pnuts. Cyms like to be moist but not soggy. They do require a good amount of light.

Hope this helps - don't be afraid to ask any other questions you may have - everyone here is happy to help

[sleepy33]

Originally Posted by Hedge

Just a guess here and I'll gladly be corrected but it looks like it might be a Cymbidium to me. did it have flowers that were like this?

I think the flowers did look similar, yes, although a different color, but that probably doesn't matter right? So whew, now I at least know what it is! Thank you!

[sleepy33]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

I guess cym as well mostly by the 'bulb-iness' and the tall pot lol
if it is a cym - good news, as they are 'tough' - not as in 'tough to grow' but they can take some neglect and not die.
I would recommend repotting, cut away dead roots. I pot mine in bark mix - fine and medium with perlite and styro pnuts. Cyms like to be moist but not soggy. They do require a good amount of light.

Hope this helps - don't be afraid to ask any other questions you may have - everyone here is happy to help

Ok, got it. Few more questions.
1. You say to re-pot it; can I actually put it back in the same pot? The point is just to sort out the living from the dead and put it in fresh potting medium, correct? Does this pot look like the right kind of pot, size wise and material wise? It seems to be made out of an opaque plastic.
2. As far as cutting off the dead roots; will it be pretty obvious what is dead and what is not? And, should I get rid of all the dead brown parts in the middle- they're not roots, but they are like the old dead parts where other leaves/spikes have died off? So at the end, I'll just have left the two parts that actually have green growth off of them? Thanks SO much for the help!

[Hedge]

Originally Posted by sleepy33

I think the flowers did look similar, yes, although a different color, but that probably doesn't matter right? So whew, now I at least know what it is! Thank you!

Yes, the flowers can be all sorts of shades! You should be able to find a care sheet for cyms here

AOS | Cymbidium

Hope that helps you. there are also lots of guides to repotting on the board and the web.

Glad to help and welcome to the Board

[Cym Ladye]

Sleepy33,

I hate to be a bearer of bad news but your Cymbidium, in my opinion, is past saving. If you have gotten into the pot, I suspect you will find no viable hard roots and what was left of the bulbs has long gone from hard to squishy to dried. The dead leaves coming from the center of the newest growth can be dead give-aways of bulb rot which passes from one pseudo bulb to the next or new growth, and total lack of viable roots. If you have kept your plant soaking in a water tray 24/7, I suspect you have rotted out the roots and the bulbs will follow.

My best suggestion is to study the care tips given on this Forum, especially the Cymbidium care sheet by Ray of Ray's orchids. Then buy another plant and start over. Most plants we first start with are romantic gifts and losing them is doubly hard. With that said, learn from your mistakes and deal with the next plant with "knowledge aforehand".

Best of luck,
CL

[seamonkey]

Cymbidiums, in my opinion, are slow to outwardly show the effects of root damage. The new growth that is drooping down is a goner. And the other one isn't looking too great either.

Even if it can be rescued, it will be a long, long, loong wait before it gets healthy again. I would write this one off to experience and get another orchid- maybe go shopping with your hubby and buy one together?

[sleepy33]

Well thanks, guys, for your advice. I appreciate it, even though it is hard to hear. I don't want to waste money buying supplies to try and save this guy if he's a goner. I will probably still pull it out of the pot to see what's going on down there and if nothing else, learn a bit about what the orchid roots (or lack thereof) look like. I may snap a few pics of what lies beneath, if there is even anything there. Thank you!

[nutgirl]

I, for one, would appreciate a few pictures just out of curiousity and for future reference.

Maureen