root rot myths?

[Mareya]

I’ve been looking up different ways to stimulate new growth of roots for an orchid that has almost no roots, and I get a variety of options that seem to contradict one another. One way i consider is to simply repot it in a new fresh medium and keep it dry, water it like normal, and try not to disturb it too much. Let it do it’s own thing. Another suggestion was to soak it in green tea for 10 minutes?? And my last method I’ve heard, is to simply put it in a water culture. What are your thoughts? Here’s some pictures of my orchid. I’m hoping I can save her



Posted via Mobile Device

[Chris in Hamilton]

There are a lot of opinions re what to do for a plant that has lost its roots. I don't understand the green tea thing at all. A lot of people try water culture but to the best of my knowledge success is very limited. It works for a while but not in the long term from what I've see. I use a kelp extract concentrate, KelpMax, with great results.

[Azizan]

I would suggest to keep it at high humidity and warm. Maybe you should use kelp/seaweed extract if you have any.

---------- Post Merged at 08:02 AM ----------

Green tea? Never heard of that.

[raybark]

I'm a bit confused by the original post. The subject mentions root rot, and there are myths associated with that subject, yet the post content addresses stimulating root growth, a totally different subject.

[Mareya]

That's a mistake on my part, I wrote this post in quite a rush. A more appropriate title would've been "Plant suffering from root rot. Busting root growth myths?" My main goal was to include root rot in the title because I'm assuming it might be different to stimulate new roots on a healthy plant vs a sick plant. Sorry for the confusion!!

[Dorsetman]

This is a phalaenopsis. I have grown very many orchids of very many different genera in water , i.e. S/H , but this kind of orchid never liked that.
Damp sphagnum moss, fairly loosely packed, is the way I would go , but the problem - whatever you do - is the plant must not be free to wobble about, and without much of a stem, tying it to some kind of stake, itself wired in the pot, is difficult. But good luck.

[raybark]

Thanks for the clarification, Mareya.

The key to healthy roots in any orchid is providing constant moisture without impeding airflow to them, as they do the majority of their respiratory gas exchange through the roots, rather than leaves, as is the case for terrestrial plants. Too compressed of a potting medium literally suffocates them.

Geoff is right, the key is to keep the newly-potted plant from moving within the medium, as that discourages root cells from growing.

I highly suggest you consider purchasing KelpMax to stimulate root growth, but again, you've got me confused...are you in California or Canada, as the flag suggests? I can PM you sources in either country....