How deep?

[james mickelso]

As some of you have read before, I rescue orchids. it's where most of my collection comes from. No matter how far gone they are. Some make it and some don't. And I am always learning from everyone here. Ok here is the explanation and question. I have inhereted more than a few large old cattleyas and some cyms that are in desparate need of repotting. They are in sad shape indeed. Most have about 10 pbulbs with one or two still in leaf. I have waited until spring to repot because the bud eyes are there but it has been too cold to take a chance on repotting. Now the buds have started to elongate. A couple are 1/2 to one inch long. But these are not going to root for quite awhile. Half mature to fully mature is when they will throw roots. But if I wait any longer, what is left of the root systems will collapse. Most of the media is now dirt. So..... I usually take them out of the pot, wash the root mass off, cut from the newest growth back three pbulbs and plant what is left of the root mass in a rescue mix. 1 part medium bark, 1 part sponge rock, one part peat moss, and two parts charchol. I make a wire stake clipped to the side of the pot for rigid support and plant the future root area about 1-1.5 inches deep. That is the question. If I plant it with the future root area flush with the surface, will it be better than my current planting depth? With no roots yet, will there be enough moisture to initiate roots or should I keep planting 1-1.5 inches deep? Your thoughts of great gurus.

[Call_Me_Bob]

if i understood the question correctly, then i would pot the future root area flush with the surface.

[Junebug]

I've never grown Cyms, but I keep Cattleya rhyzomes and new growths level with the medium. Roots from new growths will find their way into the medium. New growths are prone to black rot even if they're slightly buried.

[Mira-Claude]

With unhealthy cattleyas, I also try to keep the area where the new roots will appear flush with the media. Never under as I am always scarred to rot the new growth. So far so good. Many of them took.
I am not above using ropes and tape to keep them from moving around to much until the new roots appears.

[Call_Me_Bob]

Originally Posted by Junebug

I've never grown Cyms, but I keep Cattleya rhyzomes and new growths level with the medium. Roots from new growths will find their way into the medium. New growths are prone to black rot even if they're slightly buried.

yep! id be worried about rot if they were deeper.

[BruceP]

With Catts, I ordinarily pot them with the "future root area" (I kind of like the positivity of that phrase) even with the top of the media. The tender emerging growths are, I think, more prone to attack by creepy crawlies (and then by pathogens) if buried even partially. In my mind, it comes closest to what the plant would do in a natural state. The plant will initiate roots in its time regardless of whether they are buried or not, so that isn't really a consideration.
Then again, it may be that I just like to watch the roots grow.
I'm no expert on cyms, but I think that they are planted a bit deeper (like what you're doing).

[james mickelso]

For as long as I have been growing orchids I never even thought of the question. I have always assumed that the future root area would be kept moist. I'll have to try your suggestions. I have quite a few old catts that have no back bulbs with leaves. Most have 10 or so back bulbs with only the current growth having a leaf. And the roots are very long and not in good shape at all. I will take six of them and try both ways to see which works better. I can see the logic in your suggestions. Hopefully there is enough stored energy left in the older back bulbs to give the new buds a chance. I spag and bag the cyms. At least the newer three bulbs. The rest I put in small plastic pots with a little spag in the bottom and water occasionally. They are kept in a shaded area and about half throw out a growth. I have about 100 cyms now that I have grown from back bulbs this way. Hopefully I will master the photo thing and get some pics of the experiment for you. Thanks for the ideads.

[tucker85]

The rhizome of a cattleya should be on the surface of the medium. It should not be covered by medium. That would put the future root area at the surface of the medium or even a little above the medium. The roots will grow down into the medium. By the way, some cattleyas do start to grow a new psuedobulb before they start growing new roots. But other types of cattleyas start the season with a flush of new roots before a new psuedobulb starts to grow. With that type of catt., it's best to repot at the first sign of new roots.