Zygopetalum rescue! A FB Marketplace $10 no ID orchid find in need of diagnosis, re-potting & love!

Yes Plant Lovers! An accidental rescue from a lady selling "orchids" out of her back garden. I actually went to look at something else...but that's another story! And the mother plant of this was in bloom and for the princely sum of $10 for such a large plant I felt 'nothing ventured nothing gained'...so here we are! A diagnosis, a root trim, a re-pot and a fertilize.This is a NO ID Zygopetalum so we'll ALL have to wait until it flowers for a positive ID.
Here is a link to my video about size plants to buy:
• Which size orchid shou...
0:00 introduction
1:56 visible new growth
2:05 leaf colour diagnosis
3:02 current potting medium
3:49 re-potting process
9:02 new potting medium mix
9:37 fertilizer
9:52 mycorrhizal fungi

[@paprikagirl5496]

Careful now! Take it from someone who has killed many zygos but finally got it right. Zygos do prefer soil like medium, (loose but tighter than bark medium) they thrive on forest floors. Also, touching the roots will damage them, super sensitive. When in growth mode they are water lovers, but obviously not soaking.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching! Well it would be tragic to kill it by saving it!! #watchthisspace!

[@paprikagirl5496]

@@helloplantlovers Looking forward to progress report! Hoping it grows well for you and thanks for the videos.. they are super relaxing, love them.

[@helloplantlovers]

@@paprikagirl5496 thank you! Though this COULD be a FAIL!!

[@yliberal6355]

Thanks for the info.

[@loribadgero1035]

Those are amazing roots! Great rescue. What a beautiful plant!!

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@user-ic5xu4jh6z]

Hi Matthiew! I use my own mixed substrate out of pine bark small, pine soil ( for terraeiums!), cocnut soil ( used for young Bonsais) cork granulate- for extra air and to avoid it stays too long too moist/wet and leca clay balls small and as upper layer sphagnum. I had 5 flower stems last autumn! Mine is the impasto blue, the smell is amazing, love it! I keep half shaded, indirect and use a fan, because they like good air movement. I had same problem with my second Zygopetalum, i simply cut the parts off- i know, but i feared to lose the hole plant. I never spray the leaves, better indirect humidity so i place them all on a tray with pebbles and a bit water. If i repot, i try not to touch the roots, they are sensitive. Repotting only while root growth. Have a nice day!❤

[@helloplantlovers]

Sounds wonderful! Thanks for watching!

[@sarahab6497]

Thank you so much for this video! I'd love to hear more about zygopetalums. Your information is always so well researched and well explained 😊

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@cherylpenn4509]

Wonderful. I'd love to see an update on this plant :)

[@helloplantlovers]

Flowers are nearly open so watch this space!

[@sannekemartha7737]

Again thanks for this video !!!

[@dawnmarie52]

You'll get it all fixed up and it'll be beautiful in blooming❤😂🎉

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@florencekalma5629]

Lovely 🥰 video! Would love to see a follow up and see the blooms

[@helloplantlovers]

If it EVER blooms I will!

[@PC-zg3eo]

I know people who swear by using potting soil for Zygos. It should be a beauty when it blooms. Edited.... I think when they repotted it, they dropped the original container and put soil around it, without removing the original media.... hence the rotten roots in the middle.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching! Hmm....and there was a build up of pine needles (very acidic) on top so I think it had been under that tree for SOME time! Let’s see how I go!!

[@matthewcondon1985]

LOVE my zygo!

[@helloplantlovers]

Well I have two now....the first is a much smaller plant I e had for a while but it is sending out new growths and is flowering size so we’ll see!

[@melenelewis2955]

Am I jealous now .....or what!!😄. So many beautiful roots!

[@helloplantlovers]

...still hasn't bloomed though!!

[@costadenae4692]

What a great find!! thanks for sharing

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching! Let's hope I can make it thrive!

[@matthewcondon1985]

I have yet to find any orchids on Facebook marketplace. 😭 Maybe one day. Those roots look amazing. They do like a lot of water. I have mine growing in small aquarium gravel. They are doing well as long as I give them lots of water.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching! Yes I have another that likes it’s drink! I feel it’s a little like Miltassia care in some regards - though less light. And FB market place has tonnes of orchids always here....!

[@demapa19ga]

Thanks! Love the video!

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@nariepittman4632]

Oh great find 😍

[@helloplantlovers]

Isn't it!

[@patrickbowen5398]

I loved this video. Thank you for sharing this. The information was excellent and valuable since I just acquired a few Zygopetalums. I'm looking forward to see how this new Zygo of yours does. Thanks again! Great video.

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching - here they are described as companion plants for Cymbidiums - similar conditions.

[@josephrapp]

Your charm is appreciated,I just got a zygo with spike and buds are forming. It looked over-wet to me, so i removed and found it suffocating in moss. So i removed it all and put in large-med bark with a bit of leca at bottom. It is winter now,so concerned it will continue its journey and flower soon.

[@helloplantlovers]

Good luck with yours! Mine is still thriving - the minute it flowers EVERYONE will know!

[@helenphancanada8988]

This plants in Canada so expensive, I love plants, I am following you. Goodnight

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching!

[@sandramynard1046]

Zygopetalums love my areas previously under a deck and now facing a north huge light filled sliding window/door. The easiest orchid to grow and stunning flowers on multiple spikes.

[@helloplantlovers]

Good to know!

[@sandramynard1046]

A further note, a move from a deck situation is no longer working as previously advised 😢. A move to outside seems necessary 🙄

[@helloplantlovers]

@@sandramynard1046 It's always a work in progress - Good luck!

[@sandramynard1046]

@@helloplantlovers indeed, have one about 20 years old grown undercover in a previous house, fine til now 😢 that one prompted me to buy 3 more, 2 recently.

[@kcbknitter]

I’m curious to know if you did an update on this video. I just purchased a Zygopetalum from a local grocery store and would love to see how yours did after this repot.

[@helloplantlovers]

No not yet! Still growing and thriving - but NO flowers! We'll see if this season it chooses to in which case I'll certainly make a follow up and celebrate!

[@kcbknitter]

@@helloplantlovers Well at least it's alive and well. I didn't know there were terrestrial zygo's and epiphytic zygos. Mine came potted in bark and the place I bought it gets there orchids from a very reputable grower, so I'm guessing it's epiphytic. We'll see how it goes. It doesn't look like it needs repotting yet so I'm just going to leave it be.

[@olyv4411]

Great plant for a nice price! Oh that watering can is to die for 😍 where have you got it from?

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching! The watering can is from an English brand called Haws.

[@rwhb1]

Update please! Roots are claimed to be very sensitive…

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching - all's well! Still alive and happy and new growths progressing! It's the coldest part of winter here now so there should be a growth flourish come spring. I'll definitely make an update for the plant when it blooms!

[@LadyAlriandi]

My Zygos are in soil, but its Soil and perlite mix, I tried to grow one small one in bark but the roots would not grow at all so I threw a bunch of moss over the roots and it grew wild. I later repotted it into soil and perlite and its gone even crazier to the point roots are escaping from the bottom. It is entirely possible to grow Zygos in soil but you have to keep it light.

[@helloplantlovers]

Good to know! Yes - I think just bark is too 'loose' - but what also works for me is the out of the bag hardware store generic orchid mix which tends tends to have a lot more soil in it and is great for terrestrials.

[@LadyAlriandi]

@@helloplantlovers Oh interesting, Didn't actually know that, I will have to keep that in mind if I want to give that a shot. I do have my cymbidiums in African violet, soil free mix I threw together which is like 50:25:25 mix of peat moss, vermiculite and perlite, but I dont know if its good for Zygos. I do keep my Zygos outside but sheltered, but it is outer western Sydney vs Melbourne and climates are way different

[@helloplantlovers]

@@LadyAlriandi I pop my Cymbidiums in Bunnings orchid mix and they're as happy as Larry!

[@eddylavigne875]

Very interesting can you show us the plant in flowering , please

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching - oh I will!!! Missed the season this year unfortunately.

[@sandramynard1046]

Zygos will grow in the garden in the right conditions but mine have always been in pots

[@helloplantlovers]

Good to know! I've seen Cymbidiums happy enough planted out in Melbourne gardens!

[@orchidsandplants]

How is the plant doing now? Love zygo

[@helloplantlovers]

Still alive and happy and thriving! Let's see if it blooms though!

[@user-vh8wy7fv2c]

Thank you for the video. Please, can you tell me ,what are the temperatures of winter time, where you live? I am from Greece, now it is autumn ,with 28~ morning and 12~Celsius night. Can l leave zygos out? If yes , until what temperature?

[@helloplantlovers]

Thanks for watching! The coldest winter night time minimums in central Melbourne we've gone to over the last few years is 1oC, but @ 5-8oC is common. Day time winter max temps anywhere from 12oC - 18oC. I leave my Zygopetalums outside under cover from the rain, all year. They grow well with Cymbidiums. It sounds like your temperatures would be fine - just make sure they are protected from rain so you can control the watering.

[@user-vh8wy7fv2c]

@@helloplantlovers Same with cymbidiums!!!!!!!!? Wow! Ok! I will prepare their "home"!!! Thank you!

[@helloplantlovers]

@@user-vh8wy7fv2c Here in Melbourne people grow Cymbidiums almost as a garden plant!

[@anniebrent7616]

One year on, just wondering how is your zygo going.

[@helloplantlovers]

I was just watering it! Looking good - lots of new growths - fingers crossing there's a spike in there!

[@anniebrent7616]

@@helloplantlovers good for you 👍

[@sandramynard1046]

Pot zygos in orchid mix not potting mix

[@PC-zg3eo]

Zygos are terrestrial orchids. Many people grow them in regular soil or in a bark/ potting mix.