will water stressing induce root development?

[remo]

Hi, Guys!
I haven't posted in a while-have been real busy & out of town. Recently went to the Santa Barbara orchid show on the last day & bought quite a few catts from a guy who didn't want to take them all the way back to Hawaii...actually, I don't think he could have taken them back into the state per regulations against traveling pathogens & other nasties, etc. Anyway, during repotting I felt that the roots should have been further along, more robust, etc than they are and was wondering if water stressing-the withholding of water directly to the roots-would have any beneficial effect in pushing the catts to develop roots. What are your thoughts on this and am I just dreamin'?
thanks, Remo

[Halloamey]

Remo it sure helps. It is my standard practice after repotting orchids with pseudobulbs. After repotting I water them once thoroughly and then withold watering till I see new roots forming. I just mist them every alternate day, till they develop new roots.

I think it has more to do than just water stress. After repotting when the roots are cracked, broken etc, they cannot absorb water optimally, so there is no need for the water untill they have good healthy roots, unused water can be a problem instead causing root rots etc. Also the pseudo bulbs have enough water to sustain them untill new roots appear, which is about 20 to 30 days for healthy plants in growth.

[orchidlady]

I tend to keep plants drier after repotting too until I see new root growth. When I do water, I don't fertilize and use Superthrive. That really seems to help for me.

I recently got a back bulb division of Catt. walkeriana that didn't have any active root growth and kept it dry until it just started showing signs of desiccation and then gave it the Superthrive treatment. It now has 2 new leads and some big, fat, juicy roots coming .

Susan

[remo]

Friends,
Thank you so much for your kind replies! Is it, then, good cultural practice across the board to withhold water? After all, the potting media has been given a good soaking so it is not as if there is no moisture available to the roots.
Thanks,
Remo