is this cattleya a goner?

[okieOrchid]

I was able to save Catts by using the water culture: Cut off ALL roots. Spray them with Physcan solution ( 1 tsp per gallon ), then put them in a glass of water.
You will need to change the water and clean them everyday. I used a tweezer to pull off any dead root tissue on a daily basis and rinse them off. Then refill the glass again.
Do this until you see new root growth.
This water methos would be the last resort to save your plant

[sii]

Tucker thanks for the photos. I've never noticed these clips before. I'm going to keep an eye on these cattleya. If I see movement, I try to find some. Your second photo is what my cattleya looks like (with the wrinkles)

Okieorchid, your idea is interesting. Does the whole plant go into the water, or just where the roots are? (I hope I'm not at the last resort stage. )

[bullsie]

sii, the key right now is not the roots but that you have six very healthy pseudobulbs. The plant will take its nourishment mainly from them and begin to form new growth.

So I don't think your plant is as bad as you think. Right now - if you are in the northern hemisphere - your plant will soon begin its growth cycle. One or more of the eyes will start to develop. Depending on the breeding at about an inch or so it will begin to put out roots. Those are the roots you want to give the best medium to.

If it were in my collection, I'd clean up the 'root mess' by making sure no old medium is stuck on. Then it would go in a Catt mix, stake it with a bamboo stake and a twistie tie and water it and let it alone. No bright light for awhile. Leave the medium dry well between waterings. Once you see roots from the new growth, then begin a more normal watering routine.

But all in all its in pretty good shape. I get alot in like that, either from breeders or trading back divisions which tend to be rootless. As long as the pseudobulbs are good so will the new growth with new roots.

[Eyebabe]

Wow! What they all said

Plus, you can get rhysome clips from repotme.com

I think your plant will do great!

[sii]

bullsie, from my picture do you think I should cut away those spindly roots that are left?

I tried to get rid of as much moss as I could and I've moved it away from the window.

[bullsie]

That is an individual choice as to whether to leave the roots or remove them. For me, I gently tug at each root - very gently. The useless ones snap off the ones that may still supply water won't snap off. Also, by doing so gently you don't risk damaging the pseudobulbs (a problem experienced when dividing up Catts by prying apart root balls or pseudobulb divisions).

But again, this is an individuals choice to keep roots or not keep roots. As I mentioned earlier, I've gotten them with a scraggly mess attached and some that had the roots sheared clean off. Its just a good time of the year for Catt growth.

[Eyebabe]

Originally Posted by sii

bullsie, from my picture do you think I should cut away those spindly roots that are left?

I tried to get rid of as much moss as I could and I've moved it away from the window.

Although they may not provide nourishment to the plant they do help you anchor it in your potting media and I usually would leave them for that reason.

After your new growth gets established you can go back and cut them out if they are a source of decay.

[sii]

Originally Posted by Eyebabe

Although they may not provide nourishment to the plant they do help you anchor it in your potting media and I usually would leave them for that reason.

After your new growth gets established you can go back and cut them out if they are a source of decay.

Eyebabe, that's a good idea. Thanks!

[Orchid126]

If you can't find any clips, cut up a coat hanger and make U shaped clips that go around the rhyzome to hold it in place. Another way to hold the plant upright is to tape two stakes or even chop sticks to either side of the pot, put the plant between them, and run soft yarn or twist ties around one stake, to the plant and around it, and then to the other stake.

As Eyebabe, RobS, and Bullsie say, keep the plant on the dry side. Cattleyas like to be watered well and then allowed to dry before being watered again. They like a medium that dries out quickly.

If you can't find Superthrive or Dyna-Gro KLN, you might try liquid seaweed. It has lots of micronutrients in it, and seaweed can grow as much as a foot a day. If you can't find that, then try molasses, about a tablespoon to a gallon of water.

[sii]

Originally Posted by Orchid126

If you can't find any clips, cut up a coat hanger and make U shaped clips that go around the rhyzome to hold it in place. Another way to hold the plant upright is to tape two stakes or even chop sticks to either side of the pot, put the plant between them, and run soft yarn or twist ties around one stake, to the plant and around it, and then to the other stake.

As Eyebabe, RobS, and Bullsie say, keep the plant on the dry side. Cattleyas like to be watered well and then allowed to dry before being watered again. They like a medium that dries out quickly.

If you can't find Superthrive or Dyna-Gro KLN, you might try liquid seaweed. It has lots of micronutrients in it, and seaweed can grow as much as a foot a day. If you can't find that, then try molasses, about a tablespoon to a gallon of water.

Wow! How resourceful you are!! Love it. For now I've put a bamboo stick with a twist tie around the 2 middle/heavy bulbs, and another stick around a bulb that's on its own (balance) Seems to be okay. I've moved it out of the sun & maybe I'll go back to watering once a week. There's not alot of bark in this pot, just enough to hold things in place.

I find a product called Stim Root. I might go check it out. Although the liquid seaweed sounds interesting. It's a matter of knowing where to find it. Maybe I'll head out on the weekend.

Here's info on the Stim Root:

•Stim-Root is especially formulated to encourage quick establishment of roots on softwood types of plants

•Like other rooting hormones, will not make roots grow but enhances the plants ability to produce roots

•Supplies plant hormone at the point of rooting to help initiate root development