HELP Droopy Aspidogyna Argantea

[monivik]

Oh no!!! I noticed my Aspidogyna Argantea was suddenly all droopy today. This can't be good.

I got it I think a month ago, together with a Macodes Petola and a Pleurothallis Hamosa. The idea was to put them all in a small terrarium.

Unfortunately the Aspidogyna Argantea is all droopy. I'm worried rot or something like that, although I can't see any, but what else? I am also a little worried about the Macodes Petola. Though it is in a better state.

The thing is that I already killed a Macodes Petola once. It rotted because it was too wet. My fault. The problem is that once I hear that a plant doesn't want to dry out, I tend to overwater. But I've always really wanted one, so I thought the way to go would be having it in a terrarium. Well this isn't working then, as it seems.

I'm happy to keep the terrarium as an open one, rather than a closed one if it helps.

I really don't want to loose the Aspidogyna. Can someone give me some tips on how I can save it? I would be really disappointed if it dies. These little plants are not cheap.

This is the post when I started the terrarium:
My First Terrarium Questions

[estación seca]

I've never grown this species. A lot of jewel orchids have stems that lean over and creep along the medium when they get longer. I don't see anything wrong with the plant in the photo.

[monivik]

Originally Posted by estación seca

I've never grown this species. A lot of jewel orchids have stems that lean over and creep along the medium when they get longer. I don't see anything wrong with the plant in the photo.

Hmm ok, but it was standing up straight until yesterday. Today is had just fallen over, like it can't stand up straight. In fact I thought the stem was broken, but it's not, it's just gone super soft and bendy. The upper part of the stem is still nice and firm.

But I know from the experience with my first Macodes that the stem started rotting it started going super soft and thinner and thinner.

[estación seca]

If the stem is soft, that part is dead. I would trim off the soft part and gently press the cutting horizontally into barely moist sphagnum moss, not burying any part of the stem. Give it high humidity, appropriate temperatures and light.

This could have been caused by waterlogged roots, or too warm/cool temperatures. I suggest never getting jewel orchids in sphahnum completely wet.

[monivik]

Originally Posted by estación seca

If the stem is soft, that part is dead. I would trim off the soft part and gently press the cutting horizontally into barely moist sphagnum moss, not burying any part of the stem. Give it high humidity, appropriate temperatures and light.

This could have been caused by waterlogged roots, or too warm/cool temperatures. I suggest never getting jewel orchids in sphahnum completely wet.

Ok, thanks. I hope it will grow me some more roots. It's also loosing the bottom leaf, turning yellow.

I haven't watered it at all since I bought it, it's been in the terrarium all this time. I think the humidity may have been too much. It seems it didn't like the terrarium.

As for the temperature it should handle it. I've googled this orchid online and it says it's a cool growing orchid. It's not that warm in my apartment this time a year so should be ok.

[Orchidtinkerer]

never grown a jewel orchid but it sadly does not sound good. You never want it to reach the mushy stem stage and if it does... hard to save.

To me spagnum moss and terrariums do not mix. I grow a lot in terrariums and ventilation isn't even as important but a well breathing substrate that doesn't stay wet long is important.

The point of spagnum is that it raises humidity so much you do not need a terrarium, or use a terrarium but then have a fast drying media and let the terrarium provide the high humidity needed.

That would be my advice for the future.

[monivik]

Originally Posted by Orchidtinkerer

never grown a jewel orchid but it sadly does not sound good. You never want it to reach the mushy stem stage and if it does... hard to save.

To me spagnum moss and terrariums do not mix. I grow a lot in terrariums and ventilation isn't even as important but a well breathing substrate that doesn't stay wet long is important.

The point of spagnum is that it raises humidity so much you do not need a terrarium, or use a terrarium but then have a fast drying media and let the terrarium provide the high humidity needed.

That would be my advice for the future.

Thank you. Yes, I decided to repot it because it was just not looking good, and indeed... it has stem rot.

This is just too bad. I am really disappointed. The fact is that I haven't repotted it or watered it since I got it a month ago. It came in spaghnum moss from the seller, and it was already wet. My mistake was putting it with the whole pot it was in, inside a closed terrarium. It didn't get the opportunity to dry out a bit. Also I guess I should have repotted it right away when I got it into a more well-draining medium.

I cut away the mushy parts and repotted it, in a mix of small bark, perlite and spaghnum. I guess now all I can hope for is that it will make new roots. Or it dies. I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

I immediately repotted the other two, the Macodes Petola and the Pleurothallis Hamosa. All of them were sitting in only wet spaghnum moss. The Pleurothallis seems to be doing best so far. The Macodes is still good, though I think I may have done the repotting just on time. I think I saw some mold beginning, I sprayed it with hydrogen peroxide 3 % and I hope that at least these 2 orchids will make it.