Media got wet, roots stalled

[SouthPark]

That's what I mean Mook. You didn't post any 'before' shots, where the plant is unpotted, and media and roots are being checked. Shots that show very clearly the state of the media and roots.

Originally Posted by mook1178

Realized after I stuck this one under the faucet.

That's one source of uncertainty. Just exactly how much water was in the media. Hard to say.

Originally Posted by mook1178

I Had I misted the media, I probably wouldn't have had an issue.

The results coming from that would be greatly welcomed. That would definitely contribute towards more details about the situation.

It is clear however, that not everybody's catasetum gets negatively impacted by light watering ---- and water touching newly emerging roots. That's something worth looking into and understanding.

It's not about deviating from good recommended procedures such as with-holding watering for a bit ------ it's purely about understanding the situation ....... regarding no negative impacts ever seen by some growers (with relatively light watering - and avoiding oxygen issues and temperature issues).

[hypostatic]

A little bit of natural history might be helpful for context with the Ctsm orchids. If I remember correctly, a good deal of the orchids in this genus are found at the tops of palm trees. I think even in the winter dry season, if an early shower occurs, due to their location these orchids would still dry out pretty quickly. After all, it can get very windy and sunny at the tops of a 20m tall palm tree.

So I imagine that an early watering in nature wouldn't be as detrimental as an early watering indoors, or in a stuffy greenhouse.

[SouthPark]

Absolutely. I agree with you hypostatic.

My disagreement with isurus79 is with the following information:

Quote

Originally Posted by isurus79

The initial root flush come out in the beginning and represents the largest root growth. When these are small and touch water, their tips turn brown and stop growing completely. I've noticed a few other small flushes of roots coming out in the late growing season but its usually only a few.

isurus79 mistakenly thinks that this behaviour is a catasetum law. This ties into this thread topic.

The emerging roots touching water and then dying is something that needs to be properly understood (later). Such as - a technical error on the grower's part ---- a fundamental mistake made in growing their orchid?

There are various growers that don't encounter such issue - so this will be good for the botanists and growers alike to look into.

[hypostatic]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

this behaviour is a catasetum law. This ties into this thread topic.

Ah. Yeah it's not LAW, but it is very common in culture for the (immature?) roots to die if watered too early. Like, I recently ordered a ctsm from a nursery, and I guess they decided to water it right before shipping. When the plant got to me a cuople days later I could see that the fresh roots had died =[

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by hypostatic

Ah. Yeah it's not LAW, but it is very common in culture for the (immature?) roots to die if watered too early. Like, I recently ordered a ctsm from a nursery, and I guess they decided to water it right before shipping. When the plant got to me a cuople days later I could see that the fresh roots had died =[

oh geez! Know what you mean there hypostatic.

That is a real problem, as they attempt to compensate for the journey by watering, and then maybe put the plastic bag around the pot so that the roots and sphagnum etc is just stewing in the liquid.

In some cold climate countries ---- depending on season, the plant can even take a hit of very cold temperature at some stage of the journey. Sometimes even frozen.

In this thread, that was great how Mook's plant recovered. He saved it with prompt response. Nice work on that.

But one thing I was thinking about before was ----- if I realised I had made a mistake with dumping water into the 'wrong' pot, then I would have immediately unpotted and allow the media to dry out. But Mook mentioned something about noticing the issue up to 36 hours later.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by hypostatic

Ah. Yeah it's not LAW, but it is very common in culture for the (immature?) roots to die if watered too early. Like, I recently ordered a ctsm from a nursery, and I guess they decided to water it right before shipping. When the plant got to me a cuople days later I could see that the fresh roots had died =[

Sadly, this is all too common.

I’ve seen the word “myth” used in several above posts, so I assume south park is still trying kill your plants by having you water them as the new roots are coming out. I can’t see what he’s saying but I suggest blocking him like I did. Your plants will thank you.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by mook1178

If it rains too much in antartica during the penguin fledgling season, many of the fledglings die. This is a set back to the population as a whole. Catastrophic to the population? No, unless it persists for many years, but one reproductive season won't have much of an effect in the long term.

I know what you mean Mook. But this analogy is very different from the case associated with the remark of isurus79 ----- regarding water merely 'touching' emerging roots will cause the emerging roots to stall and die. Here, I'm believing that isurus79 has simply made a technical error with general orchid-growing, rather than having stumbled on some sort of mythical consistent repeatable law behaviour that he claims is only ever encountered in catasetinae.

Also ---- you mentioned root blistering etc. So if you do encounter this particular issue again in the future, then please include some close-up photos (if possible) of the unpotted media, the roots, the blistering etc. As much good quality high-resolution photographs as possible - of pretty much everything. This is only for information gathering and assessment - for looking into the situation and for getting a really good account of the situation.

Thanks Mook.

[SouthPark]

One more comment on about 'media got wet, roots stalled' is ----- we will need accurate and concise information - detailed photos that show state of roots and media (after unpotting), temperature, everything.

Wet enough media (especially after 36 hours) - depending how wet (which we do not know due to lack of images etc) won't mean that water touching newly emerging roots will kill them.

More information is needed before somebody like isurus79 can say that water merely touching newly emerging roots will kill them (the new roots). We need accurate details ----- temperature, media state etc.

[fishmom]

Let it go, SP. It's over.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by fishmom

Let it go, SP. It's over.

fishmom ....... I'll end the discussion within this thread.

However - the thread title does say 'media got wet, roots stalled'. It does not say 'roots growing upwards - how to fix'.

This means - if I discuss the topic of media got wet, roots stalled, then it is not up to you to say 'let it go - it's over'.

You may contribute to the topic and post sensible and logical comments and remarks. But definitely please do not come in like magic and tell a member to 'let it go - it's over'.

You will notice that several times (within this forum - not just within this thread) - that isurus79 has made insults and/or patronising remarks, and fabricated certain nonsense about me. Even telling people to put me on 'ignore' block list. He must realise that I do not like bullies. He needs to follow the forum rules and cease the insults.

Selected references:

Reference #1
Reference #2
Reference #3

Also - why did you not make a remark toward isurus79? You could have easily told him to back off. But you did not.