To S/H or not to S/h, that is the question

[Dazed]

Ok, I managed to id this lil buggard as a Nohawenkoa Alohi. It started out as one plant but it broke in to while I was trying to repot it. Now I need to pick the coconuts of the more experienced, can I get it to live? I was told by one of the other forum members that it may have a fighting chance if I went s/h. It is completely root-less, and I'm beginning to panic cause...well... I'm new at this.

[tucker85]

I don't think you'll be able to save that orchid. Sorry.

[TirSigel]

Yes...It to looks like a gonner to me as well. As a last ditch effort you might try dipping the remaining root node in some water enriched with rooting hormone, but keep the Green/yellow part dry as it will definitely rot. I used this method on two dog-eaten brassavola halfs. No roots or leaves just about an inch of rhizome. Now I have two growing plants. I used the rooting hormone made from white willow shoots (homemade). Just my 2 cents... Good luck or my condolences.

[Dazed]

Thank you Jeff and Kevin. I figured as much since it broke off so easily and it's been nearly a month an still no roots. Though I can't make my rooting hormone, (boy do I wish I could) I'm going to have to go with the nursery bought one. Will have to do a 'McGuyver' to get it to sit just above the water, Kevin. Since it's so small is it possible to OD on the rooting compound?

Won't cry if it still croaks cause I still have the other half that's doing pretty good. Plus the monthly orchid sale is coming up this weekend, so I may get lucky and find another one of the same type.

[TirSigel]

I'm actually not sure if you can OD on rooting hormone. I do suppose it's possible however. I always err on the side of caution with all additives, even fertilizer, and go weaker, just in case. I guess it can't hurt to experiment on this one. You may just get lucky. Keep us posted.

[Dazed]

Will do.

It's out on the patio where the wind is whipping around right now, I didn't want it to dry out or take an unexpected trip over the railing like my oncidium did a few days ago, considering it's 1/8 the size of said onc. So I put it in a coconut husk+clay balls mix, then a small container with an inch of water and 1/8 of a teaspoon of the hormone, it's pretty much a s/h get up.

[Dazed]

This is the other half of the Alohi, NEW ROOT!!!! and the first one is still handing on, but no roots yet. S/H seems to be working.

[mauraec]

Wow - this looks like an uphill battle with patience if nothing else - maybe S/H was the ticket, but you'll have to watch both carefully. To me, it looks like pseudobulb rot is taking over and it's tough to grow any orchid without at least one "old" pseudobulb to support the new one. Are the bps at all soft?

[Dazed]

These 2 were soft but now they're pretty much hollow, the other 2 are fine. I was afraid to cut them off, and I doubt at this point that I will. The leaves are bigger than they were a month ago.

[mauraec]

These 2 were soft but now they're pretty much hollow, the other 2 are fine. I was afraid to cut them off, and I doubt at this point that I will. The leaves are bigger than they were a month ago.

Your new growth is being generated by its own pseudobulb, which may or may not have enough strength to support a maturing new growth. I agree with Matt and Betty - sever those rotting pseudobulbs now, right at the point on the rhizome where the healthy tissue begins and dust the exposed rhizome edge with an anti-bacterial - cinnamon powder works really well. If you don't do it asap, as Matt has pointed to, the rot will spread to the good pseudobulb and it will kill the whole thing quickly. Also, just to be extra cautious, isolate that plant from your others so that whatever bacteria there is doesn't spread to your healthy plants. That fluorescent lighting is helping minimally and doesn't make up for bright indirect sun. You definitely need that extra grow light. I'm not sure about the humidity around them - it's most likely quite dry in the office environment - perhaps putting them on trays of water and pebbles with an inch of water or so would help.

I'm so sorry - this post sounds dictatorial, but I really think you'll start to lose your beautiful orchids if you don't take some quick action - and that would be so sad!