Ludisia Discolor shoot fell off - Orchid Board

rachel.gazelles · #1 01-30-2012, 07:00 PM

I have a question about my Ludisia Discolor. It has started sending up 8 spikes! I've been so excited about it, and today while inspecting the plant I noticed a shoot has fallen off. What could have done this? Is there anything I can place this shoot in, like some LECA or sphag to hopefully not loose the spike?
I'm also wondering what I can do to make sure this doesn't happen to any other shoots.

I've included a picture of the whole plant, and of what it is potted in. I am planning on replanting it in the spring when the blooms fall off, but have become intimidated by it because of its size! Any advice you have on how to go about repotting and dividing this guy would also be appreciated.

Bud · #2 01-30-2012, 07:55 PM

very nice and your plants are happy & healthy...there are two shoots in one plant; chances are during its bloom it loses a couple of leaves but in this instance it lost the smaller shoot from the smaller segment.
I had two shoots of separate segments and the smaller segment bloomed but shorter spike and fewer blooms...I also lost four leaves...but I dont mind: I love the fragrant white blooms...they can grow more leaves on the warmer months

sweetjblue · #3 01-30-2012, 08:09 PM

Rachel,
I had one of these years ago. If I remember correctly you can just stick this back into the soil that the rest of the plant is in and it will root.
You might want to cut off the end up to the bend of the stem with a sterile implement, dust with cinnamon and let dry. Then take a pencil or plant stake and make a hole in the soil where you want to put the stem. Insert the stem in the hole so that a few of the nodes are covered and firm the soil around it.
This worked for me many times but I can't remember how long it took to root.

Hope this helps and Good Luck!

Judi

Paul Mc · #4 01-30-2012, 08:58 PM

Once you've cleaned up/cut the end, you can also sit it in a cup with water and it will root.

rachel.gazelles · #5 01-30-2012, 09:14 PM

Thanks everyone!

I will try to sit it in a cup with water for now. Then when it gets roots should I switch it to the soil? I have some rooting hormone I can put in the water. Should I also add fertilizer or could that hurt it? should I restrict light also?
Sorry there's so many questions! I just don't want to loose this limb :-)

Paul Mc · #6 01-31-2012, 07:39 AM

I didn't use any fertilizer or rooting hormone. I just put it in tap water, but we don't have soft water here and great water quality. As long as you don't have soft water I think you should be fine. I sat mine in a window sill in the south, but it was shaded due to a large pin oak tree.

That happened to me last year so I repotted fearing there was something in my mix (like a worm or something). Unfortunately, it seems to have been a from me overwatering it and the mixture staying wet for too long. This year, it has not flowered and I suspect it's because I greatly disturbed the root system in my re-potting effort.

RosieC · #7 02-01-2012, 05:08 AM

I've just stuck them back in the soil in the past. They root pretty easily just like succulents or something like that. I've seen it done with water first like Paul suggests on succulents and I'm pretty sure that will work as well, I just don't go bother and go straight for the soil.

Paul Mc · #8 02-01-2012, 07:25 AM

I did try soil on one of mine, but I think I didn't keep it moist enough. It died slowly and fell limp. Of course, I have been trying to let the medium dry out a bit more before I water these days as well, lol... So that was probably not optimum for rooting.

RosieC · #9 02-01-2012, 10:53 AM

Yeah, I think it does need to be kept moist enough for rooting... and maybe I was just lucky with mine

---------- Post added at 03:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:51 PM ----------

I'm actually planning to try something slightly different with one of mine. It is rooted on an old stem, then a new one has grown from it and the new stem comes out the underside of the old one dips in a U shape over the edge of the small pot, then comes up again really tall and is currently flowering out the top of that new growth. I'm going to try buying the U when I repot in a bigger pot in the hope it will root while still attached to the old growth. Who knows it may work

rachel.gazelles · #10 02-01-2012, 06:08 PM

So I have cut off the end, and found this water bottle that holds the shoot in it pretty well. The water is up to the top, do I have enough of the shoot in the water? Or is this about the right length? There are 2 nodes? under water. I'm not sure if nodes is the right word for them..
Either way, the water here is very hard and I used just regular tap water without fertilizer or rooting hormone. Hopefully it will sprout roots!