cymbidium with rotten roots

[chris-jones]

I am VERY new to orchids, with a cool green house. I bought three Cymbidiums along with other orchids from a local grower about 8 weeks ago. I noticed that two of them were starting to put up new shoots, but were rocking in their pots. I explored, pulled the plants out and found that ALL their roots were brown spongy and rotten, at least I think they were rotten. I had to cut off all their roots I then re potted them. Am I wasting my time? are they for the compost heap. I strongly suspect I have been sold duff plants, I don't think I could have killed two out of about 10 in 8 weeks? is it me?

[78Terp]

Hi Chris-
Welcome to the forum.

You want to encourage new root growth. Some use a rooting hormone for this, others use a kelp based stimulant.

Pictures always help others give better advice. It isn't hard to post images here. just no larger than 700x700 pixels.

[chris-jones]

Hi Chris-
Welcome to the forum.

You want to encourage new root growth. Some use a rooting hormone for this, others use a kelp based stimulant.

Pictures always help others give better advice. It isn't hard to post images here. just no larger than 700x700 pixels.

So I would dust the root stubs with the sort of rooting powder I could buy in any garden shop?
I got to say I don't think its me over watering nearly everything else I have bought since the start of the year when I started with orchids is showing signs of growth, even got my first flower the other day

Oops all the roots are in the bin now they were soft mushy and brown

[ksriramkumar]

Sorry to hear about that. Concur with Harvey. posting a picture might help.

[Carolla]

As a suggestion, I wouldn't cut off all the roots until I posted pictures here to see if they really were rotten. My Cymbidium has rather brown roots, maybe they really were ok? However, as they are now, definitely use rooting hormones or KelpMax or something like that. My one Cymbidium seems to have a permanent case of mealy bugs and is gradually losing ground. I'm hoping that with the warmer weather coming, I'll be more comfortable using insecticides on it and can bring it around. To be honest, I'm not very diligent with treatments, been too busy lately. I have it well quarantined at the moment though.

[78Terp]

The root hormone I have is liquid. And I mix it in water and then soak the plant for 30 mins or so. Then I use the water/rooting hormone mix to water the plant once it has been potted.

[kspalding]

I'm one of the kelp or liquid seaweed users Harvey mentioned before