Sorry to hear that. posting a picture would help. Given that climate is humid, to help recover and root faster you could apply a seaweed extract/KLN or even a week dose of glucose.
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I have two plants in very bad shape.
One is a Dendrobium (Phalaenopsis type). It was bitten and dragged across the garden by 4 puppies. It wasn't in excellent shape to begin with, and obviously now it's lacking leaves and a proper root system.
The other one is a Maxillaria spegazziniana. Nothing bad had happened to it until I left it in the care of someone else (with the Dendro) for 3 weeks. It's not in a very good shape now, several leaves and pseudobulbs have dried up. It has some new growths though.
The Dendro has been potted in the same mix for around 6 months now (Bark/charcoal/sphagnum/perlite, plastic opaque pot). The Maxillaria is mounted on bark.
They are both inside now and under lights, because it's under 0 degrees Celcius outside at night. It's winter and the climate is humid.
Can someone provide some intensive care plans for them? As in: any sort of products I should use on them, should I water normally or change the watering schedule, should I repot/change potting mix, should I add sphagnum to the Maxillaria, etc.
Thanks a lot!
Last edited by Pawbla; August 13th, 2014 at 10:34 PM. Reason: Added details about the pot
Sorry to hear that. posting a picture would help. Given that climate is humid, to help recover and root faster you could apply a seaweed extract/KLN or even a week dose of glucose.
I don't get KLN but I applied a product we get here that contains 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid, which is one of the compounds of KLN. I may get the other compund in another product, I'd have to search for it, but I recall seeing it somewhere. Can it be combined with glucose? Would you advice it? I'm going to search for similar products.
I apologize beforehand for the state of the plants. The Dendrobium is pretty much beyond salvage I think, but I'm giving it a shot anyways.
Seems to be a rot. Cut out the dead/rotten portion and soak in systemic fungicide and then use rooting harmone. don't use glucose at this stage as it feed the fungus.
Oh, I thought it was dry actually... It's logical though, they were in a less-that-okay ventilated environment. Do both of them have rot, or only the dendro?
You should be able to determine that by feeling the roots.
Firm and good color is a good root. Mushy and brown, likely root rot.
The Den pseudobulb is still green not to worry when spring/summer come usually it will produce small keiki at the base of pbulb as you said now the season is winter basically all the tropical orchids species will be in a dormant state no active growing at this time.Your maxillaria better cut remove all the dead tissue and re-mount again.
The Dendro is easy, it has no good roots haha. And I know how those good roots look. But the Maxillaria, I have never seen "good roots" or I haven't recognized them.
Also: So do I cut the Dendro or not? Even if it's winter, I saw it with better light and part of it is yellow. I think I should cut the bad canes?
So I ended up cutting the dendro. It was actually dry and the yellow parts look like they were actually sunburn. I removed everything dead, soaked in physan, sealed the cuts, and I hope it all works out.
Sometimes you have to try what makes sense to you, you are certainly the one that can see the damage and determine how bad it is. We're guessing to an extent, even good pictures don't tell you everything. I don't have any of the two orchids you need help with though, so can't help you with them! Good luck.