Need some help with my Renanthera monachica
 

I have had my Renanthera monachica since September of last year. Since I have gotten it I've tried growing it in semi-hydro, bare rooted in a wooden basket and a wooden basket with varying amounts of sphagnum moss. I feel like I have been all over the internet and found lots of information and advice. I've also read through some of the threads made here on the OB, which all had great advice, but nothing I've tried has been helping this orchid. It seems to get worse with every new thing I try. I've considered maybe I'm not giving it enough time to respond, so it's been in this set up since December. The only changes are, the new roots that began to grow now look like they are dying. I water it using fertilized RO water, I use a spray bottle to wet the top of the moss, a few squirts (close enough to the moss as to not soak the plant itself) seems to be enough to get the moss moist evenly. I wait until it's almost crispy before I water it again, usually every 24 to 36 hours. Also keep in mind the plant is just sitting on top of the moss, it's not 'planted' into it. The temperature has dropped as low as 61° F in the last week, it's possible it went a little lower sometime earlier in the winter but I don't know to what exactly because I only recently acquired a thermometer for my grow space (my living room). As far as light is concerned it is hanging in a western facing window for the winter with scattered sunlight. The air circulation is good I have a ceiling fan running on low 24/7 and try to open the door daily to let in fresh air. The humidity can range from 16% -26% (again I only recently acquired the means to have this information. I know that humidity will rise in the summer months). The bottom leaves have turned yellow and are folding in on themselves. The rest of the leaves are wrinkly at best and a few are beginning to fold. From what I can gather that says dehydration... aside from the lacking root system I don't know that I myself can do anything more to give it more hydration. I'm not even sure that's the issue at this point. Pictures included are recent! They were taken just for this post :biggrin:
Please help... again lol

I guess I will include this picture from when I first got it. It had four roots and it clearly didn't like the semi-hydro because that's where it dumped most of them within the first month.
On the upside I see now that at least the new leaf has grown lol

I only have experience with a primary hybrid involving Ren. monachica and Ren. bella but I find them to be pretty touchy about humidity and water when it comes to the roots. The ones I have now came in bareroot baskets and ended up looking like your plant. I moved them into plastic pots with medium grade bark and they are doing better - I now pretend they are Cattleyas and grow them the way I would my Catts.

I personally think you should leave your plant be and let it adjust. When you see new roots emerging, you can cover them a bit with a few strands of sphagnum moss to prevent them from drying up and dying. If you could make a temporary greenhouse type structure to keep the humidity up around the plant it would also help to encourage root growth and prevent further water loss while the plant is recovering.

When you water, I would thorough soak the moss and the wooden basket and skip the fertilizers for now. If you get moisture in the leaf joints you can blot it out with tissues or toilet paper. Let it completely dry and then repeat. It shouldn't take too long to fully dry out in that basket.

Finally, I would keep it more shaded than you would a healthy Renanthera as this can help to reduce stress and further water loss. Oncidium levels did well for me while I was recovering my plants.

Thank you for the advice. My issues with providing any more moisture than I already am is mold. When I first got it and put it into semi-hydro it was in a mini green house on my kitchen table with an eastern facing window (it's much warmer with stronger afternoon sun in September, so morning sun was best at the time). It and all the other plants in it began to grow mold around the base and on the roots. After that I decided to do away with the mini greenhouse entirely. I'm very hesitant to even try it again, especially with organic media and basket...
I will try soaking it tomorrow in plain water since I've already watered it today. I'm wondering if I shouldn't at least add some calmag to the water?

---------- Post added at 07:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:34 PM ----------

Also... the only orchid I own in the cattleya alliance is a sick Brassolaeliocattleya hybrid and I've had it 2 weeks lol. Still learning about that one as well 😉

I haven't grown this one. Most plants in the Vanda alliance need their root to get good and wet every day. I suspect you're underwatering, especially with your somewhat low humidity.

I watered the moss about 7am and it's still slightly damp 14 hours later. Granted I'm not soaking the roots. Most of what I've read recommends keeping this orchid potted and damp most of the time. Not necessarily to soak the roots. I am going to give it a try and start soaking the whole basket tomorrow. That's one thing I haven't tried. I'm wondering if I should still wait until the moss is almost crispy dry before watering again? Again, that seems to be the norm for this particular plant in sphagnum moss.

In our low humidity these struggle to absorb enough water, so I wouldn't let it dry out - so long as there is good air circulation.

Duly noted 🙂 It really does seem to be showing symptoms of dehydration!

This plant comes from the Phillippines, with typical humidity varying from 70% in the"dry" season to 85% in the wet season. With that kind of humidity, and with havy dew at night, "crispy" is never going to happen.

I have one that I grow in chunky bark in a pot, similar to a phal, and I try to never let it dry out. I do get blooms each year, although my root structure is not as good as it would be in a natural habitat.

Thank you everyone! You're all confirming my suspicions and even though I didn't have a lot of success with trying to keep the humidity up in the beginning (meaning I grew mold pretty well attempting it lol) I am going to stuff my fears in a drawer for now and try to give it more humidity. I have plastic Tupperware type bowls that fit the baskets perfectly. They are tight enough that I could even leave them on the basket after draining the water to help keep the humidity longer. At least until the humidity picks up in the summer. I did notice the humidity went up to 32% today, woohoo lol. Thank you again to everyone whos left a reply, it's very much appreciated 🙂