Cat. alliance, no label, about 6", no roots but 3 growth buds

[Cove Lady]

This was given to me, hopefully to get to grow. What do I do to try to stimulate some roots? Want to pot it in mix of clay, charcoal, perlite, some granite and a little bark but am not sure if I should or put it with more humidity until it shows some root growth. What do you all think?

[Subrosa]

I started working with a rootless, very dehydrated back division a couple weeks ago. I put it in a regular terra cotta pot sized so the division sits about flat and a bit snug on the bottom. It's outdoors where it catches sun until maybe 11 am and spends the bulk of the rest of the day in the shade of my house. I water it daily by pouring enough water in so the pot fills up most of the way before draining. The new buds have definitely started growing.

[silken]

Watering it with some kelp (seaweed) solution added to the water will help stimulate root growth. You can usually find it at hydroponics stores.

[Leafmite]

I have purchased numerous rootless Cattleyas over the years and, sometimes, even created the rootless issue myself. What I do is to put the preferred medium in the pot (I use red lava rock and a basket pot) then stake the orchid on top of the medium so that the new roots will grow down into the medium. It is important to stake it so that the plant doesn't move and to try to leave the pot undisturbed until the roots hold the orchid steady. I keep the medium damp so that the air above, where the roots will form, will be humid (once the roots start growing into the medium, however, you must taper the watering to how you would usually water).

Using Seeweed/kelp solution really does help. I used that last summer on a rootless Angraecum and a few rootless Cattleyas with amazing results.

[PaphMadMan]

You probably won't get roots (at least not much) until after the growth buds take off. Assuming it is otherwise healthy the most important things are high humidity, and keeping it immobile in the media. If it is flopping or rattling around it not only inhibits new roots from starting but can quickly damage new root tips as well.

Use of kelp products can be problematic. All have plant hormones, but the amount and proportion of different hormones determines whether a particular product might promote or inhibit rooting. The hormones can vary between brands, or from batch to batch if quality control isn't good, and with the age of the product and storage conditions. There are many other kinds of products out there specifically to promote rooting with the right hormones, and most are quite effective. I wouldn't usually recommend kelp products for rooting since there are better choices, but if you want to try one the only one I'm aware of that even claims to have the correct hormone balance is KelpMax, but there may be others.

[silken]

I've used several brands of kelp products with great success. Especially on Catt. alliance since its what I primarily grow. I have never had a problem. I do store them in the fridge tho. I find it works better than both SuperThrive and K-L-N for getting roots to grow.

[Cove Lady]

Thanks for all the info. I have noticed the Dyna-Grow K-L-N root stimulant, what do you think about that, do I spray it, drench it, water it or just dip it in the proper dilution?

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Cove Lady

Thanks for all the info. I have noticed the Dyna-Grow K-L-N root stimulant, what do you think about that, do I spray it, drench it, water it or just dip it in the proper dilution?

Then idea behind rooting hormones is to get the entire plant to absorb it. The fastest way is by soaking existing roots, but failing that, a complete dip or spray of the plant itself is the alternate method. Doing both cannot hurt!

One thing you should be aware about the synthetic hormones in K-L-N and Superthrive - they are quite chemically unstable, so unless they are fresh, and have been stored well, they could be of no value. At least K-L-N now puts an expiration date on the bottle! As was said above, many kelp extracts actually work better than the synthetics, and tend to be more chemically stable to boot.

KelpMax, a product I distribute, is liquid, is the most powerful stimulant available, and is stable at room temperatures for several years. (I sold and used K-L-N for years, but discontinued it when I found KelpMax.)

[estación seca]

Some people pot them up. Others let them start rooting first by keeping them in a high-humidity, warm environment. It can take Cattleyas a long time to decide to grow new roots, but it usually happens sometime around the time they make new growth. I am in the let-them-root-before-potting group, because I would otherwise rot them with too much watering.

I use Ray's KelpMax as well, and I am very happy with it.

[Cove Lady]

I have potted the baby up but because it has no roots it will be very easy to remove it and give it a drench when I get the kelp. Other vise it looks good, leaves are good, bulbs a little shriveled but not much. If I knew how to do a picture on here I would send one. Thanks for helping, I will keep letting you all know how it does. I do not like it when one of my babies bites the dust.