Repotting my sick Cattleya orchids

[@etanaf]

any update on these 3 orchids? I'm having trouble with cattleyas with few sad roots. Love your videos; thanks for all the work.

[@melenelewis5975]

good to see this - also reading all the comments has taught me a lot too.

[@GardeningatDouentza]

It is a familiar site. Last year I was given a lot of sick cattleya orchids by a collector who couldn't keep them any more and had not been watering for a long time. I wish you every success with yours and I'm sorry the roots were so bad.

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Gardening at Douentza yeah it's ok, I knew that when I bought them but hopped I was wrong :)) they'll come back eventually, just gotta be patient for the blooms.

[@SS11660]

I cant believe these plants leaves look so good with so few roots.

[@lynettestewart5118]

Can you give an update on these 3 orchids please???

[@canadianhangover]

I am trying to save a cattleya right now. Almost all roots are dead. All the leaves are shriveled uo,It also have one folded leave that can't stand up . Should I just cut it?

[@rkatika9]

I'm so looking forward to see updates on these Cattleyas Danny!

[@leydergonzalez7049]

Danni I recommend you to use a high nitrogen fertilizer with them. I been using a 20-14-13 for the last 3 months and like I told you before my orchids are growing like crazy new roots everywhere and nice and healthy leafs. Orchids are hardy so hope should not be lost that they will recover :D

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Leyder Gonzalez Thanks Leyder, right now there is no need to fertilize the no roots one as there is nothing to absorb the nutrients so, I'll just build them up. When they start to grow roots ofcourse I will use a high nitrogen one, that's what I use for seedlings and orchids that are recuperating as well ;) thanks for writing!

[@laurachatfield4142]

I have a very poor cattleya that was doing so well for a long time, but then I had to move it and it didn't like the move and I guess I changed my watering habits so now it has fallen apart and barely a leaf left, and no roots. But, I will try to nurse it back anyway. 🤞🙏

[@lajoiedevivre2]

Hi! Thank you for the video!! I love it! How much sphagnum do you add to your orchid potting mix in percentage it would be easier to understand for me.

Hi Danni! Brilliant and very informative video! Always like how you give the important information to the viewers in a very interesting and easy to remember way! Hope the orchids pull through and get healthy again!

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Robert Gębczyński Thanks Robert, I hope so too, well I bet they will be fine I just hope they adapt fast or I will grow old :P

[@martinanovakova398]

Hi Danni. thank you for interesting video. For me was the info of no sphagnum moss very useful. Wish you good luck!

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Martina Novakova yes I totally forgot to mention it in this video, I had to hurry but it was important to mention :)

[@AnaMartinez-zq4eq]

hi there, have a similar situation with one of my cattleya orchids. Snails have eaten the root system. do you have any suggestions for keeping snails out of repotted orchids that are kept outside? I repotted and did the hydrogen peroxide.

[@throbbtharnaby1835]

Good luck! I have a new Cattleya that is NOT happy as well. It was an adult plant from Norman's here in the US. I love that their plants are always so big and husky. Like you, I've gotten tired of waiting years for a bloom. The only thing is, they seem to grow everything in sphagnum and plastic pots, while I use a much drier mix and clay pots. The poor thing was so potbound. The roots and plant were husky and healthy, and had a couple of new root tips coming on the new growth, but it has just stalled out. I hope it doesn't just sit there for a year, as I can see a sheath in the new growth. LOL It might be better for me to buy seedlings grown in similar medium to mine than to buy adults grown in sphagnum. I'm still deciding. I'll let you know in a year! :P

[@throbbtharnaby1835]

Robb Forehand P.S. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on that...the stress of changing medium compared to the growing time of a healthy, active seedling. It seems I read all the orchid boards and forums I can find, but most of what I find is not solid information. I've found it invaluable to watch you guys growing over time here on KZbin.

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Robb Forehand Hi Robb, well many times you will find adult orchids in sphagnum moss, they have been in that media since they were very young plants and could cope with it. As adults they don't need it as their water reserves are better and roots don't absorb the moisture constantly. At least this is what I believe :) the problem is that if they were to pot them in bark they would need to water more frequent and it wouldn't be economical. If they were to repot the orchids before selling them to you, the orchids might stale a bit and be shocked twice, so they wouldn't get them to bloom that fast. They'd rather the orchids get repotted by the new owner and deal with the rest himself.. which is both ok and not ok but mainly ok :P I think I did make a video on this a long time ago.. lemme search.. there it is kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqS0fIN9nNx_paM but yeah I guess since then I learned more and figured more things out lol

[@throbbtharnaby1835]

MissOrchidGirl Yeah, I totally get why and how they do it. I'm sure it saves them a lot of water and labor, especially in California, with the drought. I'll let you know how long this baby stalls out. It's been a while since I've had one in sphagnum so we shall see. It seems so unhappy right now. I swear it's giving me a dirty look! I know you can grow in any medium really, with the right culture, but sphagnum has always been a disaster for me.

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Robb Forehand yes sphagnum is the trickiest one, also you can;t do anything about your environment so you need to adapt. Some orchids have a distinct growth pattern, if they make only 1 psb per year they will grow it in that appropriate season, doesn't mean the orchid is stalling, especially if it grows roots, if the psb are ok, all is fine. But I guess they can look uggly for a while :P

[@Rosemary457]

Hi Danni, Wow looks like both orchids were pot bound, Maybe thats why the pink one broke apart, But I'm sure that with your know how and care they will all 3 pull through, keep us posted on there progress, Good luck sweety :)

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Rosemary457 well they were healthy once but everything started to rot when the media went bad, the connection is so weak because the rhizome started to rot as well.. hope I stopped the rotting :(

[@kiripotimung3730]

hey Dani, I have a sick cattleya with only one Pseudobulbs and almost no root how do I make it grow new root fast.? mine is taking forever :( one of them gave a new shoots that I pot it 4 months back. the media I used are coconut chips, barks of some wood(medium), charcoal and leca on the top. I cant find moss in my area

[@johnnysmartin64]

Danni I have the exact same problems that you have with the pink one. Now I'm having it with a China beauty And I have been waiting for months to see new growth. I had to leave some old roots On the plant so it would be in a pot. But that is the type of problem I have with cattleya orchids.

[@MissOrchidGirl]

johnnysmartin64 some catts have a distinct growth pattern, they will only put out one psb per year. That leads to the impression that the orchid is staling when in fact it's just following its normal pattern so, just be patient :) if the psb don't die, all is fine ;)

[@tamibechtle4388]

Hi Danni, I received a rootless cattleya RLC Amazing Thailand Rainbow, but with masses of 8" long aerial roots and rotten pot roots. I planted in in rePotme cattelya mix with sphagnum on top of the mix. It's finally putting out 1 root but it growing upwards like an aerial root. We don't see any additional roots going downward. Is it possible to take the one root that has started and gently force it downward? The leaves are in excellent shape. Any suggestions of how to deal with my poor orchid or continue as I am doing? Much appreciated.

[@Copolia]

Hmmm . . . I so needed this video, Danni as one of mhy Cattleyas has been poorly too :(

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Marie-Michelle sorry to hear :( I hope she recovers fast!

[@Copolia]

Thanks Danni, me too.

[@TonyTheSave]

Hi Danni! I got keiki of Cattleya, her bulbs got shivered, lost its roots and last new growth rotted out and died. I put it in a bottle so it will not touch the water with vitamins and root growing fertilizer. Do you have any advise what to do? Or there is no chances to save keiki?

[@mr.dahliaking.202]

and also, how is the little one doing you found in the pink's pot?

[@IDEAHC]

Thank you for sharing interesting information

[@johnnysmartin64]

I am so glad you explained this to me. Every one of them that I have had I thought died And it was probably them going through their stage. I have a China beauty that I have been worrying about. Now I won't worry about it thank you.Hahaha

[@roshinshabiha8459]

Hi danny this video is so useful. I am actually planning to buy cattleyas. Before that i just want to know that is oncidium sharry baby good for my collection. I love its blooms. Pls reply

[@Susan-mo9mr]

Hello Danni, great video, so much information. In this video you have a bulb that you said has bloomed already. Will that bulb bloom again? I am asking because I have a "bic yen corona green genius" and I see that one of bulbs has a old spike that looks dried at the top. The rest of the plant is healthy and all three bulbs are plump. I see a new root and I believe a new growth about an inch long, very green and healthy looking. So I guess my question is do old bulbs produce new flower? Thank you.

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Hi, no the canes that bloomed will not bloom again, but the new ones will :) also sometimes Cattleyas can have dried sheaths which never bloomed, if the sheath is recent it might bloom so don't cut it :)

[@magictouch888]

I have a question Danny: how to water your orchids when you go for weeks of vacation? Self watering globs? I don't think it'll be good for orchids. Any suggestions?

[@MissOrchidGirl]

+Juliana Wong Hi, I am now using inorganic medium and I can leave water in the tray for them, here is a newer video that explains my set up kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKWwipqjds6Gesk

[@sfchai5555]

Hi .. I m new to orchids n i love yr videos .. I m frm Malaysia .. i often see Cattleya sold in charcoal & ceramic pot .. how to repot this bcoz the roots r sticking to the charcoal n pot? Hopefully u would notice this as this video is in 2015 ..

[@Neveets11]

hello well I grow orchids for a while now and what I do in this case is watering the pot a lot even damp it so the root get removed easilly from the pot I then cut the rottten roots off and repot it in a wooden basket with things that don't stock water like fern trunk, coco nut i just brock them in pieces. i use coal and hard wood. that works for me. I like well draining water cuz watering my orchids is part of my passion and I water them a lot lol.

[@ZaneLeroux]

you didn't leave nearly any roots on the pink one! i would be shocked to do that :D pleeease make a video on broken down media, i don't consider myself as an orchid beginner but i have to admit i just can't see if the media is too old or not, and as for me the smell of the new and old media is the same, i don't know whats wrong with me :D i did'nt find videos on this topic from you, so i thought you could do something like this

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Zane Leroux that's a good idea, ok will note it down :) well I had to cut the roots, they were dead, they would have rotted and spoiled the new media as well ;)

[@batt5779]

Hi Danni, how are the cattleya orchids doing? Sad to hear that they lost most of their roots

[@MissOrchidGirl]

+Xpwn HD Hi, both of them are doing great now, the pink one produced smaller psb due to its energy loss, but is well on her way to recovery. Will make an update video soon :)

[@mr.dahliaking.202]

All cattleyas from my local home improvement store have root systems that are rotten the way your pink one has rotted, and all has living centipedes in the broken down media. I cut away all roots and now I'm waiting for new green tips at the base, but all I see is shriveling leaves, shriveling pseudobulbs and only one green tiny, tiny tip ;(

[@MissOrchidGirl]

+Vytautas Poška well it takes a while, just provide humidity to promote the root growth. Cattleyas are usually strong plants :)

[@clarenceespinoza8382]

hi danny, i potted my cattleya and it has a keikei, is it ok to slightly bury the keikei, because the plant is somekind of wiggly.

[@MissOrchidGirl]

+Clarence Espinoza Hi, Cattleyas don't make keikis, I think what you see is the new growth :) it means it is the new pseudobulb that will grow and bloom if cared for properly. I suggest you don't bury it, they are very prone to rotting and you can compromise the future of your plant. Cattleyas are not like Phalaenopsis in the sense that you don't have a main axis, you have an ever growing orchid. Here is a video on the growth stages of Cattleyas to help you understand better what I mean kzbin.info/www/bejne/np-7dGBqg6ZmqZY

[@巨門-y8i]

i have a question,why do your orchids can grow multiple flower spikes?my orchids only grow a spike.

[@MissOrchidGirl]

CryogonAlan well, some hybrids have this in their genetic codes. Also, the bigger the orchid is and the more the psb it has, the more spikes it will have :) and also decent care. There is no magic trick to it ;)

[@巨門-y8i]

MissOrchidGirl tks!

[@jpcreativeimagery]

do you give it the same light etc as your other orchids? I have one that apparently lost all roots, has a good number of canes but very shriveled...what should I do? I cut all the roots and placed in coconut fiber in a pot. Regular light, reduced light, more moisture? thanks in advance

[@MissOrchidGirl]

+JPowellCreative Hello, I prefer to give bright light but no direct sun as it can overheat the leaves really fast. And yes more moisture (but not soggy media, moisture around the orchid preferably :P) good luck!

[@jpcreativeimagery]

MissOrchidGirl thank you!

[@Susan-mo9mr]

Danni, do you have an update on them?

[@growingthings6232]

Im sorry Danny that Cattleya has sick roots , I have a SLC Jewel box Scherazade in the same condition. I hate when they go down that path its a huge set back...

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Growing Things yep kinda is, but luckily catts are resilient so I am not very worried, but damn that catt smelled nice, won't get to see some new blooms any time soon :P

[@sandiesorchids9387]

Please give an update? I have a cattleya, dendrobium and a coelogyne all are the same shape.

[@clarenceespinoza8382]

thank you danny! :)

[@marlinabasir]

I have an important question.are pest always present and the only thing we can do is to control the population? I'm a bit upset.I recently had spider mites which I never had before then I had small population of mealy bugs then I had scales.I'm drained and sad.my plants were always perfect I guess something I brought contained these pests.

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Marlina Basir Hi Marlina, well not all of them have pests, it only takes one to give an outbreak :) it just happens and we need to deal with it, I am struggling with spider mites too, but I am managing to win some battles :P here is a video I made about quarantining orchids btw kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYC2pI1qiLeYnaM

[@marlinabasir]

***** I read that ants transport these pests.if there are many ants then there is a sign something in not right.correct me please.

[@MissOrchidGirl]

***** you can place the orchids outside in a dish with water, ofcourse the orchid pot should stay above the water, but that can be a barrier against ants and other crawlers :)

[@sandiesorchids9387]

Do you have any updates on this video?

[@lauraschmidt2524]

My Cattleyas is most don’t bloom yet

[@TheAhhleena]

Hi, I love your videos! I have been a subscriber for some time now. I inherited 3 sad Catt orchids. I am fairly sure all the roots are dead. Should I just cut them all off? Do you think these will survive? What is the best way to promote new root growth? Photos: imgur.com/gallery/Woec9

[@johnnysmartin64]

I am so glad you explained this to me. Every one of them that I have had I thought died And it was probably them going through their stage. I have a China beauty that I have been worrying about. Now I won't worry about it thank you.Hahaha