Can my orchid be saved?
 

Hi,
I know you must think that I have had an abundance of orchid problems, and I have had several (most likely because I'm a newbie), but not 100% of my collection (thank goodness). Anyway, here is an orchid that I bought this last Spring from Lowes. :photo: (A sad sight, isn't it?) After I bought it and brought it home, I took it out of the pot and repotted it (I always do the ones I buy from a big-box store or Ebay). But 1st, of course, I trimmed the dead roots, and did a cinnamon treatment. As often has been the case with me, unfortunately, I found that there were actually NO roots left after I trimmed. Even so, I repotted the plant in sphag, crossed my fingers and hoped for new roots. (By the way, this is one of the plants that the wind blew off of it's plant shelf on our backporch this last summer.....broke the pretty blooms off) Over the last few months, the orchid has produced 3 new growths, which have looked healthy. It has not grown any new roots that I could see, but I thought hopefully there were some growing down there under the sphag. I have been noticing that the leaves were yellowing and the plant basically wasn't looking healthy anymore and I contributed that to poss. too much heat in my orchid room over the summer (??) then hoped it would regain it's healthy look as the cooler temps. arrived (??). The cooler temps. have arrived now, but the leaves have became more yellow, shriveled and just basically not a happy plant anymore. One of the yellow leaves fell off this morn., and I have been noticing that the bases of the new growths has been turning black/dark.....so I unpotted the plant to see if there has been any root progress so that I could tell you when I asked for your advice (pleeease?). A few roots (very few) have developed but they didn't look as healthy as some I have observed in the past.

Do you think there is any hope for the orchid and if so, what would you suggest I do? Start from scratch maybe....somehow remove the yellow leaves and/or shriveled and old pseudobulbs, etc.? Or not?

As always, I would very much appreciate your advice.
Thanks in advance,
Vicki

Hi Vicki,

I'm not an expert at all as I'm also a newbie but I did rescue few catts from Lowes and repotted them using medium size fir bark and put on top of humidity trays. So far I believe they are doing good as I notice few new roots coming out. I think Sphag is not a good idea, I only use Sphag on my Neos and Sedireas or to cover the roots on my mounted orchids. I'm sure other members will chime in.

Well, I'd go ahead and trim off those yellow leaves, they aren't producing anything for the plant. I'm not so sure about the sphag either, I use bark/charcoal/rock mix myself. I see a few green leaves so there is still hope. :goodluck:

Marissa
 

Hi Marissa!
I totally agree with you about Sphag. I never use it unless I'm trying to root something (and trust me, I'm using Sphag quite a bit these days :_( ). Most likely, I would have chosen a bark mix (prob. Lowe's BetterGro) or maybe S/H if new roots were appearing.

I haven't thought about a humidity tray for it, though. Sounds like a good idea. It was used to the humidifer in my orchid room, so now that I've moved it from there, I'm sure it could use some moisture in the air.
Thanks,
Vicki

Magicatt
 

Hi Magicatt!
Thanks for wishing me and my Catt luck....and for your advice about the yellow leaves. Where should I trim them? Cut them off where the pseudobulb begins?
Vicki

dont worry cattleyas are pretty tough i bought my first cattleya its a three stem 2 old ones 1 new growth upcomming and bare root. So ask a friend and he told me to just pot it up with tree fern bark mix with charcoal. water it daily since i live in a tropical country and a daily regimen of weak fertlizer and every other day treatment of rooting hormone.

Hey Vicky wasssssup. I do see a lot of green leaves there too so although I dont grow them much I think they'll make it. Anyway I hope the catt exxperts come to your aid soon. Good luck. Bless Y. H.

The base of the new growths do usually turn black when they mature... just a thought

frostedeyes
 

Hi frostedeyes!
So, since this appears to be an older catt. (in my novice eyes), do you think that I should not be concerned about the yellow leaves....just trim them off as I was advised then repot?
Thanks,
Vicki

Yes. I wouldn't cut any leaves. They're going to fall soon. I also wouldn't cut off any p-bulbs that are green. Shriveled is ok, but if it's yellow and crispy prune it off. You won't see much root growth from the older parts, but you should see roots coming from that new lead soon. Get it in some bark mix, or whatever you use. Get it nice and snug, keep it on the dry side but humid. I bet you'll do fine.

Oh, and I know how it is with the HD or Lows plants. Keep saving them - it's a good cause. :biggrin: