Rut row...mildew on skewer!

[koshki]

Among the several orchids I've nearly killed and have worked to resuscitate is a dendrobium. I cut away all the dead roots, put it in a pot with plastic foam and kept it going. There are new leaves, but not really any new roots.

Nevertheless, it seemed healthy enough that I potted it last weekend in AOS-endorsed orchid mix of wood chips, which I had soaked for a few minutes. I inserted a skewer to keep an eye on watering.

I just pulled it out to check and ugh...there was mold on the stick! It looks like cheese mold...greenish and a bit fuzzy looking.

Now what do I do? Is this a problem?


Please help!

Koshki

[orchidlover55]

Koshki, I really don't think you have anything to worry about. I have black on mine but it doesn't affect my orchids. Does you pot have green mold in it? I heard that if it has green mold that is a sign of good water. What kind of water do you use? I have a bleach bottle that I use to spray mine and then rinse real good then put it back in the pot.

[koshki]

No visible mold anywhere else, which is why I was surprised.

I poked around in it a bit, and it seems that the wood chips are quite dry, puzzling me even more.

I tried the chips instead of other orchid mix based on what I've read here, but perhaps I'm not really experienced enough for this medium yet.

Repotting this in something else wouldn't be any problem since there aren't any roots to speak of, but the leaves look healthy.

I'm feeling much less confident than I did last week. What a noob!

[CharliesAngel51]

koshki, You need to soak your bark for about 24 hours before using it. Un soaked bark or wood chips will not absorb water. That is why it seems dry to you when you feel it. Soak your bark and then re pot your orchid.

I don't know why you have mold . Maybe someone else will.

Hang in there and we will try to help you. That is what his forum is about, helping each other.

[koshki]

Aha! *Knocks forehead*

Ok, is just a bowl sufficient, or should I put them in a plastic bag with water? They seem to float too much to soak up water.

[orchidlover55]

Dont give up we are here for you. I have green mold even in my pots it doesn't hurt your orchids it just looks ugly through a clear pot. If you have leaves and no roots be sure not to let this orchid dry out completely before watering it again. I had one like that and I keep it watered but not over watered and it has a new root finally. I was so happy. Do you have well water? Or are you using rain water? Your not a noob just someone who is determined not to give up on something as beautiful as orchids, and you don't have to , you will catch on one day and it will be a breeze

[koshki]

Ok, I just filled up the bag of orchid mix with water and sealed it up for use tomorrow.

Orchidlover55, I'm still confused about what I'm watering. Since there are no roots, but it has leaves, is just keeping the medium damp enough?

I also pulled the skewer from the phal I repotted last weekend, and found the same mold. The mix is dry, so I think I'll repot it as well with the soaked mix. It's doing better...the leaves are regaining some tone, and before I repotted, it was sporting three new roots.

Oh, and another question...just how much light should these plants be getting? I've got them in a SE kitchen window that gets several hours of direct sunlight, and then relatively bright light (reflected from my neighbor's house) during the rest of the afternoon.

Thanks all for being so helpful!

[CharliesAngel51]

Your Den needs more light than the phal. The window should be fine for the Den but it may be too much for the phal. Phals need indirect sunlight. If the leaves on your phal feel hot, they are getting too much sun. They could sunburn.

I soak my bark in a small tub and stir it occasionally to keep it mixed up. The bag should work fine as long as it holds the water. If your bark was floating , you probably had more water than you needed.

[sunshine]

Out of curiosity what type of wood chips are you using I have been using Better-Gro orchid mix that I get a Lowes and have had excellent
results. Also use coconut chip bark that has worked really well for starting
chids that have had little or no roots. To help stimulate new roots try some superthrive when you water. You can purchase this at Walmart or probally just about any garden center. I just follow the directions on the label.

If the bag doesn't hold water any big bowl or kettle/pot in the house will work
for soaking bark.

Here is something else I do. I soak my chids for at list 15 min in water. I use the kitchen sink and set my orchids in the sink and fill with tepid water to the top of the pots and just let them soak. I've gotten busy and the chids have soaked for an hour and haven't had any protests. I aslo have all my chids sitting in humidity trays which helps a lot.

Hang in there. Read the culture sheets on your chids so you can give them the best care possible. A lot of it is gonna be trial and error. I've had a lot of these over the years with my gardens and now with chids. And later on you will look back and and you will be able to with others who have been there, done that

AOS | Members Only Area

This too, is an excellent thread. Very simple and with excellent pics. I use as a guide for repotting all my chids.

http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/new...laenopsis.html

[katrina]

Originally Posted by koshki

Orchidlover55, I'm still confused about what I'm watering. Since there are no roots, but it has leaves, is just keeping the medium damp enough?

You're right...no roots..nothing to water in the medium. As a matter of fact, keeping the medium moist could create issues depending on what type of plant you're dealing with. With no roots, the main concern is simply keeping the leaves as hydrated as possible until the plant can grow new roots.

When a plant doesn't have roots...it's best to keep it in a lower light situation. Light causes the leaves to lose moisture...no roots to replenish the moisture means your plant will dehydrate rather quickly. Move it to a shadier than normal location until you see roots.

Also...I would hold off on any fertilizer. No roots = no way to absorb nutrients. SuperThrive...or any other possible root stimulant might help speed the rooting process.

When I used to use bark, I found the best way to get the bark to open up and begin absorbing moisture was to start the water out hot. Dump the bark in a big bucket and fill it up w/super hot water. The heat causes the pores of the wood to open...resulting on water being absorbed. I'd then just let it soak for 24-48 hours and drain. After that...good to go!

[Witchypoo]

Koshki, a cattleya nurseryman told me to always boil my bark - which I do for all my orchid types now. I use an old large meat boiler on the stove. Put the bark in the pot and cover it with cold water and bring to boil, and cook for 5 minutes, this kills unwanted 'things' in the bark, and then let it cool in the water and use the next day and by then the bark is saturated through.
I have had no problem with mold.

[koshki]

What great suggestions!

I've still got a half bag of Better Grow special orchid mix soaking, unfortunately in cold water. However, I won't have a chance to repot this evening. I love the idea of boiling it, as it had crossed my mind to wonder about any pathogens that might be lurking there.

But the good news...the den has a small new root! I just poured a bit of water over it, and it turned green, unlike the other white little dudes. And another leaf is starting! I moved it to the sunny side of the window today. Given my news, can I just leave it there?

Ultimately I will have what I think will be an excellent place to grow my orchids...a sunroom on the northish side of the house that will get both morning and afternoon sun. However the center of the room, where I want to set up my orchids, will not ever get direct sun.

We recently bought a ranch-style home to accommodate my wheelchair, and the sunroom has a step down that I can't currently negotiate. Once we get to the stage of putting in a ramp, most plants will move there from the kitchen window. I've never had a sunny kitchen window before, so I've got a dozen plants growing there right now. I have two African violets that are going absolutely crazy, so I thought it would be a good spot for the phals.

Perhaps, once I get a bit more settled here, and a little more experience in not killing orchids, I'll try some of the higher light plants such as vandas or cattelyas in the kitchen.

I am completely sure I am on the way to an addiction. I love this place!

[mehitabel]

Koshki, your sunroom sounds like it will be orchid heaven once you get that ramp built. That hissing sound you hear is me turning green

Just one point -- most orchids, yes, even phals thrive with some early morning or late afternoon sun. So keep the sunless middle of the room for chairs and tables, and keep your orchids near the windows.

[katrina]

I completely agree w/Mehitabel. The sunroom sounds great! The center of the area might be a good place for masdies should you opt to grow them. They don't need much light at all...as long as it's cool enough for them...they can grow and bloom in lower light than many other orchids.

As for your den...if it's doing ok and not getting dehydrated in the current light level then it sounds like it's not too bright. Sounds like things are going great for it. I wouldn't increase the light too much until the roots are a bit bigger though. Just my opinion of course.

FYI - best advice I can give...and I wish I had heeded this advice sooner myself...get a light meter. Especially if you're thinking about some of the higher light plants.

[orchidlover55]

I think your sunroom sounds great too. I would love to have a sunroom, I am like Mehitabel I am green with envy . I am in the process of putting 126 orchids in a 12x10 room I am making a greenroom. But I am still thankful. LOL.
Earlier I was talking about watering your orchid when you said " Orchidlover55, I'm still confused about what I'm watering. Since there are no roots, but it has leaves, is just keeping the medium damp enough?" And Katrina quoted off of that, "You're right...no roots..nothing to water in the medium. As a matter of fact, keeping the medium moist could create issues depending on what type of plant you're dealing with. With no roots, the main concern is simply keeping the leaves as hydrated as possible until the plant can grow new roots.
She is way more experienced than me ,but I did bring one of my orchids back the way I told you. I had one fraction of a root not even enough to say I had one and I put my little phal in a clear plastic mouthwash cup that I keep in the bathroom. I cut four slits in the side of it for air and drainage. I put fir bark in it and watered it every day. I made sure it never dried completely out . It now has one large root and a new leaf. It was hard to keep it from turning over , so I put the little cup inside the smallest clay pot I could find and that worked. But it is doing great. It worked for me but maybe it was just luck But now that I think about it she said she said keep the leaves hydrated that is a means of keeping it moist also. I guess mine just so happen to have worked LOL
I am so stuborn when it comes to throwing away any orchid I will give it all I have before I give up. It has to be completely wilted no roots and no leaves LOL Please keep us updated on how your orchid is doing

[koshki]

Hi and thanks. I just bought another den yesterday from my local grocery store, in the same small, "hole-less" pot as one I bought from Lowes a week or so ago. I repotted both today after removing all the soggy moss, putting them in well-soaked orchid mix. Then I turned my attention to the invalid...wow, the roots really look pathetic next to the others! I went ahead and put it in the soaked orchid mix as well. It just seems that the leaves are healthy and progressing, so I thought it might be ok in the mix. If it seems to decline, I'll try the plastic bag route, but for now, I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Yesterday, I repotted the invalid phals. The bigger of the two I soaked for well over an hour, fully submerged in water with Better Gro Orchid Plus (20-14-13). It looks so happy today! The leaves are still wrinkled, but they have much more tone and are not so flaccid. I would never have thought to soak the whole plant...thanks all for the advice on that! I'm keeping a close eye on the other phal...it's really struggling. I'm might just bag that up tomorrow.

I would never have thought to do any of this before finding this site!

PS: Orchidlover55, I was thinking of your tag line when I bought that den!