EPIDENDRUM with dying leaves but new roots

[Rross]

I recently noticed the newest leaves of my EPIDENDRUM mericlone we’re looking sad, but I noticed that a bit farther down new roots were forming. When I checked closely I found a relatively big chunk had been gouged out of the stem. I suspect a grasshopper. In any case, I have repotted the plant and am keeping it inside for the moment. Could anyone tell me if I need to do anything else to save this plant? Here are photos of the situation.

[estación seca]

If a grasshopper bit the stem, it probably interrupted most of the water conducting system, and it's likely the part above that will die. Fortunately Epis branch from the base, so it should make new growth soon,

[Rross]

Thanks for your reply.

Regarding these new roots along the stem, they look like they should belong to keikis, but there are no keikis. When these roots are longer, should I be able to cut the plant below them? I don’t understand why the plant is forming roots on the stem below its dead part. Here are some larger photos.

[estación seca]

Reed-stem Epidendrums like that normally form roots all up and down the stem. It's best to leave them alone. In the future when the plant branches from the base you could cut the stem below the roots and pot that one up separately, but you don't need to do that.

They normally make a new growth from the base, which grows to its final height, then has a cluster of flowers on the end. Then the plant makes new growth from the base and repeats the process. Keikis may form on the stems at any time, but usually after the stem has flowered.

[Rross]

Thanks. I have another question on this: If the plant produces healthy new basal growth, and if I then cut below its (pictured) stem roots, and pot up the dead bit, would the newly potted dead/severed bit also then have to produce new basal growth to survive? Thanks for bearing with me. This is the first epidendrum I’ve grown that isn’t one of those easy, weedy things that thrive in complete neglect in Sydney.

[Rross]

New growth has started halfway up the stem, just below the gouge and above aerial roots. From advice here, I was waiting for new basal growth, so I’m surprised. This doesn’t look like just a root. Has anyone seen this kind of growth before on an epidendrum?

[estación seca]

Sorry, I didn't see your previous question. Yes, reed stem Epis can and do make new growth anywhere along the stem. You can cut these plantlets off and pot them up separately. Most people cut the main stem off just below the keiki and pot the whole thing. The new and parent plants will eventually make growths from the base.

[Rross]

So it’s a keiki! Fantastic! So that grasshopper, or whatever it was, was a propagation agent! Now all I have to do is to wait for both the keiki and the parent plant to think about producing some flowers.