CATTLEYA 911!!

[Korxi]

Urgent help needed!! (if any..)

I'm currently visiting my parents for the weekend, and saw my mothers beautiful Cattleya in a sad, sad state. It was repottet in May and never really took on from there she said..

As you see the leaves are misserable and there is no new growth. I haven't had the nerve to inspect the roots, but I think there are some (few!) live ones there.

Is all hope gone or can the poor thing still be saved? Hope You can help

Christian



One more of the base

[Diane]

It probably can be saved, if you want to put the effort into it and are willing to wait. It won't make the old growths look much better, but you could get it to put out new leads. I would take it out, clean off all dead and dying roots and growths, dust with a little rooting hormone, repot and keep in a medium light area with good humidity. Hold off on water as much as possible till new roots seen. Probably 2 years from getting a bloom if it survives.

[Korxi]

Thank you very much Diane, I'll pass the word to my mother Could the old and withered growth be cut away when new roots and groth appears?

[Diane]

When the growth has no green left, you can cut it away. Be sure to disinfect the cut.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Be sure to pot this cattleya in a MUCH smaller container. The one it is in is holding too much water and is rotting the roots away. Catts like to dry out between waterings. They also like their roots to be tightly bound, so pack it into a smaller (plastic) container. This will allow it to really dry out much faster for your mom. Stake the growths up with a bamboo stake too. This way when it does flower again, you will have blooms growing in the same directing and not hanging down on the sides of the pot in different directions. (Unless that is what you like )

Cheers!
BD

[Korxi]

The poor thing has now been repottet into a tiny pot (one third of the plant was cut away since there was no green growth).. Only two roots were still alive and they were about 1-2 inches long. I pottet it in a synthetical medium that drains quickly and I will bring it home with me for intensive care - and if it makes it adotion

By the way, I actually think it is the exact same one as in your profile picture Diane..

Oh, and thank you for the advice, Diane and BD!

[Diane]

Well, the orchid in my picture is C. Carl Hausermann. Mines been through a lot and is still going. It is relatively slow growing, so give it time. If the roots take off, get it into as much light as you can.

[Korxi]

WOOOHOOO!!!

Just discovered a bit of new green! A starting root and growth

All that's left from the old root system is a 1 inch long root that really isn't looking to well, but it greens up when watered, and now a new one is emerging. I'm actually starting to believe that it'll make it!

Again thanks for the advice BD and Diane!

Christian

[Diane]

Excellent! Now, don't overwater it just because it has those little roots! Dryer medium will encourage the roots to reach out. Congratulations!

[Korxi]

I'll remember that!