Vietnamese orchid requires potting

[duracell]

Hello,

This is my first post so I'd like to briefly introduce myself. I'm French and I live in London (UK). I've always been fascinated by orchids, but I only started growing them a year ago when someone offered me a pot; hence I'm still at the bottom of the learning curve.

A couple of days ago, a friend of mine brought me an orchid back from Vietnam. You'll find a picture attached to this post.

Does anybody know the species?

It was carried in wet paper towel. Now I'd like to put it in a pot but I really don't know where to start...

It looks like the thin, brown roots are oriented toward the leaves. Any idea why?

Are the large green roots at the bottom of the picture seed pods? Should they be inside or outside the pot?

Thank you very much for your help!

Stéphan

[Ray]

The odd growth pattern is due to odd orientation when growing. Those structures pointing downward in the photo are pseudobulbs that have lost their leaves; the growth with the leaf just hasn't grown one yet. It was either wild collected (a bit more on that below), or it was hanging off the edge of a pot withtat odd orientation.

Personally, I would fill a pot with decent orchid potting medium, lay that flat on the top of it and put a bit of medium on top of just the roots, and find a way to anchor it in place.

It will look pretty ugly for a while, but eventually will reduce a normal, vertical growth habit.

In case you're not aware, if, as it appears, that was wild collected, which is strictly illegal, so your friend violated some pretty serious laws obtaining it and bringing it into the country.

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

The genera coming to my mind are Bulbophyllum, Coelogyne, Dendrobium and Eria. You can look them up here:
Internet Orchid Species Photo Encyclopedia

Bulbos often have much thinner roots than this, and thicker leaves, so I would suspect one of the other two. But the pseudobulbs do look like Bulbophyllum.

The plant looks to me as though it had grown hanging over the side of a basket or branch, with the newest growth hanging down the most. Leaves usually try to twist so they grow upright. Somebody probably used a scissors to cut the piece off, leaving the old roots still in the basket or on the branch. All four of the genera I mentioned often grow out of containers and hang down like this.

Does your friend recall what the flowers looked like? The flowers of the three genera I mentioned are very different from each other.

I agree with what Ray said about collected orchids. It is also illegal to transport any orchid species between countries without proper permits.

However, I think there is a chance this was cut from a plant in cultivation. Most plants in the wild have a lot of insect and fungus damage, with portions of leaves chewed, and more spots on the leaves. I suspect this plant came from somebody's garden.

[duracell]

Thank you very much for your replies!

My friend told me that the flower looks like an iris and it comes from a pot. I've looked at the species mentioned but couldn't find one which looks like an iris flower. I'll try to search more thoroughly later.

I'll follow your advice regarding potting. We'll see if it survives.

Thanks again!

[duracell]

Hi,

I've followed your advice and put the orchid in a pot. I didn't anchor it as, if I try to lift the stem with the two leaves, the small roots follow and are not in contact with the medium. The stem doesn't bend at all. Do you think I should leave it like that?

Also, I have the feeling the small roots are dead. They are not green and firm but rather yellow and spongy. Shall I leave it like that to see if they get better with time?

Thanks again for your help!

[Ray]

Close....

I suggest that you remove the plant, and immerse it in tepid water for several hours. Leave the existing roots alone.

Before repotting it, pretreat that bark, so it will hold moisture: Using hot water, trickle it over the medium until it is all wetted. (It might be easier to dump it in a bowl first.) Wait 15-30 minutes and repeat that. The first treatment starts the "opening up" process, so the bark can absorb more water.

When the bark has cooled repot just like you did before, but poke holes through the sides of the pot, and insert a rigid rod or plastic-coated wire through them, so it presses down on the plant and firmly holds it in place.

Invert a clear plastic bag over the plant and pot (it does not need to be closed), and keep it in a very warm, deeply shaded location. This will slow the desiccation process and stimulate activity.

[duracell]

Thanks Ray! I'll follow your instructions.

I have some small bottles of orchid food (see link below). Do you think it may help?

Vitax 30ml Orchid Drip Feed Mini Bottles (Pack of 10): Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors)

[Ray]

I have been unable to find a label that tells what the stuff is, so I cannot give any advice. However, I am guessing it is a fertilizer, not a root-growth stimulant, so I can see no reason to use it until the plant is well-established.

[estación seca]

Food only helps healthy plants in active growth, and fertilizing can damage weak roots. I wouldn't fertilize your orchid until it's making new roots.

Your plant will need frequent watering until it's well-established. The roots aren't far into the medium, and they will dry out rapidly.