Advice on my Sophronitus Cernua - mass of dead roots - Orchid Board

Narnia · #1 07-27-2009, 04:27 PM

I got this plant about a week ago. I sort of noticed what looked like some dead roots on top the first day, but haven't had time to further inspect it until today when I finally went to repot it ( I did notice one leaf turn yellow yesterday which concerned me). I soaked it for a while to see if anything would turn green, but all the roots are mushy and there doesn't seem to be anything alive. I know nothing about these past a general care sheet, so any advice is welcome.

Right now I've got it in a 2 inch pot (I don't have anything to mount it on, but I know that's the preferred method for these), in a south facing window behind another plant, and I've watered it twice since I got it and spritzed the media in the mornings on hot days. Could I have rotted the roots that fast or did it probably come like that?

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #2 07-27-2009, 05:59 PM

This isn't your fault. It most likely came like that. Can't you get a refund?

I can't tell you much about growing an unrooted Sophronitis cernua. Although, it looks like there might be a couple live ones out of the bunch IDK. When I had mine, the plant had a few good roots on it already.

Mounting is probably the best bet. Try tree fern.

Narnia · #3 07-27-2009, 07:07 PM

Maybe they'll give me a refund. I sent them a nice email because the other plant I got in the same shipment looks great. I don't know what happened with this one. Maybe I'll try to find a piece of tree fern, though I have no idea where to look, and just try to attach it to it to see if it'll grow some roots. Do you know where a good place to get it is?

Ross · #4 07-27-2009, 07:17 PM

I agree that it probably wasn't your fault. Just about all the big plants (mine included) have been (are) mounted. The problem for most growers is that they really like daily water/fertilizer but MUST dry out over night. Also they really need the highest light you can deliver. In your northern latitude, full sun is good. In dreary winter days, let it dry out. Wet and dreary will ultimately lead to death of this guy. Given full sun, daily water/fertilizer (really weak fertilizer) and nightly drying, you should see doubling or tripling of the plant mass in 2-3 years. Mine is on a stick of hardwood. Just about any hardwood you can find in the Portland area should be fine (try Vine Maple stem maybe 2" diameter and 8-10" long). Be sure to strip off the bark. The roots are pretty thin, so use a small bit of moss to protect them when tying the plant to the stick. Tree fern will hold too much moisture.

Here's a picture

Narnia · #5 07-27-2009, 07:30 PM

Thanks for the advice Ross, maybe I'll go scavenging in the woods tomorrow (if it isn't too hot that is. It's supposed to break 100) and see if I can't find some vine maple to mount it on and hang it right in the middle of my south window. Does it need to be dead/dried before I attach the plant or can I just strip off the bark and go with it?

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #6 07-27-2009, 07:50 PM

http://www.calwesttropical.com/index.php

http://www.orchidweb.com/detail.aspx?id=373

There are a few others but it's hard to find small ones. I believe this is one of the few places that actually carry small plaques.

Ross · #7 07-27-2009, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Narnia

Thanks for the advice Ross, maybe I'll go scavenging in the woods tomorrow (if it isn't too hot that is. It's supposed to break 100) and see if I can't find some vine maple to mount it on and hang it right in the middle of my south window. Does it need to be dead/dried before I attach the plant or can I just strip off the bark and go with it?

If the wood is recently dead, that would be best. How about Madrone? Any of that up your way? I don't think live wood is a good choice. But collecting some decorative live pieces for future use might be fun

Narnia · #8 07-27-2009, 09:29 PM

I'll grab some live ones and let them dry. I know vine maple by site, but I don't know what madrone is. I looked it up and it doesn't look familiar. I think it grows closer to the coast by the looks of it.

quiltergal · #9 07-28-2009, 04:20 PM

I know some folks who have gone to Pet Country or places like that and bought dried grapewood out of the reptile department. It's relatively inexpensive and ready to use. You can always cut it to whatever lengths you need. I have a Soph. rosea that is also stick mounted. As Ross says, it appears to be happier if it's dry by nightfall.

Narnia · #10 07-28-2009, 04:24 PM

What a great suggestion. I'm heading to the pet store tonight to pick up some fish food, so I'll see if maybe they have some there. It's waaay to hot to go out searching.

I keep hearing people talking about "pasting on root hormone." Is there a way to do this with KLN? Usually I just soak the "roots" or lack thereof in a solution of one tablespoon per gallon. Then again, this is my first plant with no roots to speak of. Is this the same thing?