Cattleya in moss questions - Orchid Board

aliceinwl · #1 03-23-2019, 03:29 PM

I got a number of Cattleya types (Rlc.) at the orchid show this weekend. Most were from Sunset Valley Orchids and are in bark and look great, but I did get a couple in packed sphagnum. One looks fine, the other looks like it may have some issues.

The one with issues is a Rlc. Young-Min Orange 'Golden Satisfaction’. It has very wrinkled pseudobulbs (I probably didn’t look closely enough when I bought it). I pulled it out of its plastic pot and put it in a clay pot without disturbing the moss. My plan was to water it by lightly misting the moss periodically. Then once I see roots, move it to bark.

As is, I can’t see any roots. Should I stick with my original plan? Or, is it worth peeling off some of the moss so that I can see what is actually going on with the roots? The flowers and leaves look good, there is some dark discoloration at the base of one pseudobulb, but the rest look good.

SouthPark · #2 03-23-2019, 04:38 PM

I believe that ----- when in doubt - for cattleya --- it is a good idea to unpot, and inspect.

If there are signs of rot, then at least there's some hope if a suitable fungicide is used.

Even if no rot ...... it is always a good idea to know exactly what the potting media is (underneath). Because knowing the full media allows the grower to get an idea about watering method --- frequency of watering, how much water to put in etc.

Roberta · #3 03-24-2019, 12:06 AM

Did the ones in spahagnum come from one of the Asian vendors? That would make sense, since they had to be imported bare-root, or in sphag. SVO uses Kiwi Bark - even better than Orchiata. Those don't need potting until they are ready to outgrow their pots.

aliceinwl · #4 03-24-2019, 05:46 PM

Yes, it came from one of the Asian vendors.

I took a peek. It looks like the old root ball was wrapped in newer moss which peeled away. Without really tearing into it, it looks like all but one root may be dead. I’ve got it in loose moss around the exposed dead root ball in clay now.

Should I just mist when the moss gets dry and wait for signs of root growth or subject it to the trauma of a real repotting? As it’s set up now, it should be able to get a lot more air exchange in what’s left of its roots.

Roberta · #5 03-24-2019, 05:59 PM

If it were mine, I'd take off any moss that comes off easily, and not worry about the rest - if roots are dead they're dead. Then put it into a pot with suitably-sized bark so that any new roots can go into good medium directly. Ray may want to jump in here... maybe before you settle it into its new home a good soak with KelpMax if you have it might kick-start root growth. Ray, can you advise with details as to how best to use the treatment? I brought an abused Rl. digbyana back from near-dead with the stuff... it works.

aliceinwl · #6 03-24-2019, 06:22 PM

I’ll have to break down and buy some. Up until now, I’ve stuck to plants that were fairly bullet proof. Do you think it’s best to repot now or wait until next weekend (presuming I have some kelp max on hand)?

Roberta · #7 03-24-2019, 06:28 PM

Probably might as well do it now to get it into a better environment, water with the KelpMax solution when it arrives. Ray?

aliceinwl · #8 03-24-2019, 07:00 PM

It’s been repotted. I imagine I’ll have to do this with the one I have at work as well. It looked okay, but I image it’s roots are on the way out if they’re not already dead.

aliceinwl · #9 03-25-2019, 12:07 AM

I’ve never run into this before, but there was what looked to be slow release fertilizer balls in the center of the root mass. I’m not sure when or how they got them in there, but I removed all of the ones I could find.

aliceinwl · #10 03-28-2019, 11:41 PM

I now have some Kelpmax. Should I soak the plant in its pot overnight? Unpot the plant and just soak it overnight and repot it? Or, just water normally with the addition of monthly Kelpmax until I see root growth?

The plant at work also had dead roots, but I just unpotted it today so it’s soaking now.

Thanks!