I purchased 3 cattleya orchids and decided they needed repotted in new bark/orchid mix. While repotting I wondered, do these roots look ok? Much different from the phalaenopsis orchids I am used to growing. Also I noticed the dark edge of the middle leaf. Is this an infection? Is it treatable. Thanks for any help with this.
Congrats to exploring the world of orchids outside of phalaenopsis! They are so amazing. And kudos for jumping in feet first đ Now⊠Be prepared for the drama. Cattleyas are resentful of people messing with their roots. The best time to repot is when they are just beginning to actively grow new roots. Sometimes that is when they are putting on a new pseudobulb, sometimes right after flowering. It varies from type to type. The reason is disturbed roots usually die back. Based on the photo, I am not seeing new roots so you may have an uphill battle. It can be done but itâs tougher. Youâll need to manage the moisture itâs exposed too. They like it dryer than phals because of their stored water (pseudobulbs).But with the probable root loss, you need to help them out more. I am going through something similar with two Cattleyas. My solution is typical Cattleya mix top dressed with sphagnum. Iâm hoping to keep the moisture close to the plant with out drowning any surviving or new roots. Weâll see what happens. If you havenât already, check out Miss Orchid Girl on YouTube. She provides lots of info and various orchid topics. Best of luck to you (and me)!
4 gillningarWhat about the leaf with the black edges. Is this anything to worry about?
Another shot of the roots
This side looks worse, the roots feel papery. The green ones on the other side feel like they have some substance to them.
That makes sense. Only new pseudobulbs will put out new roots. This side looks like itâs the back side of the plant so there will be more dead roots.
1 gillaHard to say for sure, but I would keep a close eye on it- if it starts to spread down the leaf, itâs likely an infection- if not, it could be part of this plantâs history- some sunburn or lack of nutrients causing discoloration but not complete leaf tip die back.
0 gillningarPS, what kind cattleyas are they? How do your other ones look?
0 gillningar
This is what the other two look like.
How do I rehydrate them?
0 gillningarBeautiful! See Mâs comments below about hydration. While they are recovering from repot and replenishing their pseudobulb water storage, you may notice they need to be watered more frequently than your phals. Donât let them dry out too long between waterings until they start to grow more roots for you and plump up a bit.
0 gillningar Iâm not sure about the dark spots on the edges but I am of a similar mind with Jen. It doesnât look like freckling to me. Try wiping off the dark spots with a cotton swap soaked in rubbing alcohol. Maybe itâs just dirt. Regardless, quarantine the new plant for a month or so. Watch to see if the discoloration spreads accompanied with yellowing. That could indicate some kind of infection. At that point you will have more definitive symptoms to allow for effective research for treatment. If it were my plant, I would not be terribly concerned as long as it doesnât get worse. Rehydrating a healthy plant typically involves providing water when the roots are dry. The pseudobulbs will become less wrinkled, but once wrinkled they will never be completely smooth again. Since yours have been repotted, they will could loose most or all their roots, so youâll have to provide a more humid environment. Thatâs why I suggested topdressing the bark with sphagnum. You can keep it continuously moist (not wet). You may need to tent them as well. Once you see new root growth, you can switch back to a more typical Cattleya culture. I suggest doing some research on rehabbing orchids to find a method that feels comfortable to you.
1 gillaThank you both! I had only begun repotting when I noticed the roots. The other two are still in their original pots. So I will hold off repotting them. How will I know when they need repotting? I did watch some of Orchid Girls videos but they were mostly about phals. Iâll have to search for the cattleya youtubes.
0 gillningarSearch miss orchid girl Cattleya repotting, or go through her Cattleya playlist- sheâs got lots of informative stuff. A good time to repot cattleyas because of their sensitive roots and tendency to lose them, is when you see your plant starting to grow new fresh root tips- usually from a newer pseudobulb. Then, if the older ones die off, youâll at least have these fresh ones to hydrate the plant.
1 gilla đ this 100%
0 gillningar