Accidents During Re-Potting Orchids

[Gurj]

This is Laelia Tenebrosa, first attempted SH but failed and lost all roots, the PB begun to shrivel and I put my foot down saying, "that is it." While repotting it into an open/airy medium I accidentally broke its only lead. Two months on, it has grown two healthy leads and a root so thick I have not seen since a phal.




This is Hybrid of Catt. Maxima, first attempted SH but failed again to initiate roots, it was without any roots in the first place. Then in SH it started to grow a root but it all started to rot, Took advice from the members and then while repotting it into an open/airy medium I accidentally broke its only lead, AGAIN. Two months on, it has grown some root structure.

This is another repotting success, as it had lost all its roots. Now the lead is growing a handful of new roots and foliage.

[catttan]

Good job with the repotting but accidents will happen. Luckily orchids are so tough.

[Halloamey]

Good to see them bouncing back, but you see the problem don't you, your water is either too hard or is soft but still has a lot of dissolved solids or you are using too much fertilizer, fresh media should not have those salt deposits you see here.

[tucker85]

It's frustrating because the expert advise is to repot when new growths starts but it's so easy to damage that new growth. I've knocked off many little leads like the one in your photo. I always get upset with myself, but what can you do. I think they survive in spite of our efforts, not because of them.

[Gurj]

Yew, the orchids are incredible.

Amey, yes, it was the water issue. Don't know how the rest of the UK growers tend to the water. There was a job on the horizon and that called for the RO system.

Jeff, I am grateful for the orchids being forgiving. Wonder, if I could learn even a bit from them.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Thank goodness orchids are so tough! Congratulations on your successes.

cheers,
BD

[Gurj]

Thank you Bruce

regards,
Gurj

[Cjcorner]

Your plant is obviously happy in it's new medium. Those roots look great!

[Pindar]

Ha! I love your little comment about forgiveness! They are also tough and good at making the best of it. About the water issue: I am in the UK too and I use rainwater- not always the answer but it works for me, so mine must be reasonably pure- but not everyone has a roof available to them; a lad in the orchid society of GB grows fabulous miniature orchids in his flat, using a de-ioniser to treat his watering water.)

What is an RO system? And what is SH? Probably something obvious, but I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer!

Here's a great tip mate: be lazy like me and never get around to repotting until the new leads are considerably "more advanced" (cough cough) and tough... If I were as correct and timely as you, well... I would soon snap every single lead right off!

Yew, the orchids are incredible.

Amey, yes, it was the water issue. Don't know how the rest of the UK growers tend to the water. There was a job on the horizon and that called for the RO system.

Jeff, I am grateful for the orchids being forgiving. Wonder, if I could learn even a bit from them.

[Gurj]

Ha! I love your little comment about forgiveness! They are also tough and good at making the best of it. About the water issue: I am in the UK too and I use rainwater- not always the answer but it works for me, so mine must be reasonably pure- but not everyone has a roof available to them; a lad in the orchid society of GB grows fabulous miniature orchids in his flat, using a de-ioniser to treat his watering water.)

What is an RO system? And what is SH? Probably something obvious, but I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer!

Here's a great tip mate: be lazy like me and never get around to repotting until the new leads are considerably "more advanced" (cough cough) and tough... If I were as correct and timely as you, well... I would soon snap every single lead right off!

Hi Igor, well, RO stands for Reverse Osmosis and SH is the Semi Hydroponics culture. I too, used rain water from the water-butts on our deck but was also inducing a lot of moss through into the media and tap water simply made everything rot except the Cymbidiums.