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Thread: Please help me save my Cattleya orchid Roots not happy

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  1. #1
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    Default Please help me save my Cattleya orchid Roots not happy

    Last Oct/Nov, I bought a "Lc. Chyong Guu Swan 'Ruby Lip'"



    It had beautiful blooms.

    I've been reading and saw that the pseudobulbs should not be wrinkled and mine are. I've since checked pictures from when I bought it and know that they were wrinkled then.

    I decided to repot the thing in a clear plastic pot (instead of the black plastic pot) with more ventilation. When I pulled it out I definitely found some dead roots and the media really wet and the roots and media seemed to be really packed into the pot. I've been watering once a week and the pot is inside an apt with the AC running all of the time. I have had the pot sitting in a shallow tray with water in the bottom and glass marbles holding the pot/roots out of the water for more humidity near the orchid. I think maybe it just really need to be repotted and have the media replaced, but now that I have some dead roots and some other roots that still seem alive (not squishy/rotted) but brownish and not healthy either what do I need to do to help this thing recover as quickly as possible.

    I put it in the new pot with new bark chips and didn't water it right away. I did eventually water it after 3-4 hours by just pouring water through it. We've got the windows open today, and it's darn humid which I think is probably good for it.

    Should I do the sphag and bag?

    Should I fertilize it and if so what kind? (the guy that I bought it from recommended a tsp of osmocote every 3 months)

    It gets filtered sun from the east in the morning.

    Here are some pics. Give it to me straight Docs. Is she going to make it?

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  2. #2
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    Steve
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    Default

    Sorry, I had meant to post this in the "New Growers: Ask the Senior Members", but must have accidentally put it here. I hope this isn't the wrong spot.

  3. #3
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    I think, You need to trim dead roots and repot. Some of the Cattleyas have a fixed periods in a year for root growing and pseudobulb growing and it is advisable to repot only when they are growing new roots. Coming to the pseudobulbs, they do get wrinkled once they bloom and is not a cause of concern. I do see that there is a new growth and hopefully should grow new roots soon.

  4. #4
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    Steve
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    Default

    Awesome, thanks tons. I'll watch her, but that sets my mind at ease a bit.

    ---------- Post Merged at 06:11 AM ----------

    How should I fertilize her and what sort of fertilizer should I use?

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