clippings from Grandmas Orchid

[Moonbeam]

Hello,
My grandma mother could make a rock bloom, she taught me a little about African Violets and Orchids several years ago. At that time in my life I was not at a place to allow myself to practice her teachings, she passed away 1-2-2012 almost 2 weeks ago. A lot of her flowers where taken away by other family members only 2 of her large Orchids where left that were not blooming and have NO CARE CARDS. On these large plants I found parts that had grown free from the main plant with leaves and roots. After looking over other plants left behind I did find a dead Orchid with “soil” as I don’t know what it is called because it is not dirt. I loosed the “soil” into another pot and I gently removed the “spray/extra growth” from one of the larger pots remember how she had shown me years ago and replanted the “spray” into the loosened “soil” . Gave it a good drink of water and made sure that any extra water was removed because the only pot that was there was a square glass one that Orchids come in from the store.
After completing this and watering other flowers left behind I found another orchid with rooted off shots that I used a mix of dark dirt that has a large amount of white foam balls in it (I don’t know what it’s called be I remember her explain that this aloud good drainage, after seeing how other Orchids had been planted for good draining I added the leftover “soil” (might be a type of coconuts shell) from the first replanting to insure a good light mix for the other plant.
Since grandma is not here anymore to ask, I’m asking you all to please help me did I do correctly on the planting of these off shoots? How to I tell from the leaves, roots, and steams what type of Orchid they are and how much sun light they need?
As I know my grandmother would have wanted me to care for her plants not that she is gone and I want to keep a part of her with me always. Any Advice and help you all can offer would be accepted with the deepest appreciation and heartfelt love

Moonbeam

[Daethen]

Well, the first thing you could do to help yourself and us is to post pictures. We may be able to give you some specific instructions. Good luck with them.

[Moonbeam]

I hope that the photos have come with this message I’m new to using forum so I’m learning this also.

Moonbeam


plant 1.jpg

plant 2.jpg

[Shannara]

Sorry for the loss of your grandmother.

I can see from the pics that you have them in glass containers. Do these have drain holes in the bottom? I can't tell what the second plant is but the first one looks like some sort of Cattleya. The potting medium in the first photo looks like sphagnum...I am not sure if your going to want to keep it in that as it stays very wet. I can't tell what the second one is potted in though.

Shann~

[Moonbeam]

Both plants are in glass at this time, I used what was empty at the house to move them in, I know I need to put them in better containers as they have no drainage holes.
Plant 1: it is still very wet from when I watered it yesterday, I made sure that I emptied all standing water. There are 4 steams on this plant, only 2 have leaves, when I went to loosen the roots on this off shoot it was growing in several directions since all 4 parts had roots I put them together, 2 with leaves and 2 without. What I have it planted in is light brown, fiber like, almost spongy now that it is wet. I want to go to Home Depot and look over pots and soil and plant food what do you think would be best for this plant?
Plant 2: Is planted in a mix, it has the same “brown fiber like” stuff as the other plant, but I mixed in soil that is dark and rich black with a lot of white foam, it maybe be what was used for her violets. Grandma believed that you don’t get rid of any dirt (reuse it). This mix is not as damp as the other plant and when I watered it I did the same by making sure all extra water I drain out. The orchid these came from body, stems, and leaves looked like plant 1, but the leaves on the new growth are green on top and violet color on the bottom. If these where not attached to the main plant I would not have thought them to be orchids, outside the roots look the same.
I am going back over today and I’m hoping I can get a good picture of large plants they came from, I am said to say that grandma was 95, and was not able to take care of these plants in her last year of life so please understand when I post those photo’s that these plants are not as they were before she began fading.
Any help with what I should plant them in and if they will be sage until I get paid and can go buy what I need to for them.

Thank you all so much for your help

[Moonbeam]

plant and pot.jpg

loose orchid.jpg
Hi,
Okay after going back to Grandma’s, Plant 2 is not a Orchid, (so now we all know how new I am) what type of plant I’m not sure, after checking the “mother pot”. The “mother pot” is very over grown and there is a Orchid in it, growing in dirt (that is not good is it?) looks like the grow into the pot from another Orchid. I have a photo I’m adding of a plant that I found laying on the flower table. It hast 3 stems with leaves, and 2 more with no leaves. Please look at the picture and let me know what to do, so I can save this plant. There is yellowing on some of the leaves and I know just enough to know that it is not in the best of shape, I will also add a photo of clay pots I did find in her planting spot this is will give you an idea of what I have to work with and what I need to shop for. Thank you all so much for your help with this!
Moonbeam (Kimberly)

[Daethen]

I kind of think that both the very first picture and this last plant that you posted are dendrobiums. Orchids yes. Maybe others will chime in.

[Shannara]

I think Jonada is right...they both look like they could be Dendrobiums. This culture sheet may help you get started with their care.

Dendrobium Culture for Beginners

You can pot them up in either plastic or clay pots. Clay pots will dry out faster since they are porous. Potting medium can vary and selection comes down to personal choice and what growing environment you will be able to provide. Some use orchid bark or tree fern fiber, or a mix of the two. Some add perlite to provide more airflow around the roots. I grow mine in aliflor. Sphagnum will stay wet the longest and can often be a challenge for beginners to use as this can lead to root rot if watered to often.

There is further information you can read up on here at the forum:

Dendrobium Culture notes

HTH

Shann~

[Moonbeam]

Thank you so much for your help, I'm crossing my fingers that the "can make a rock grow gene did not pass me by." I was in shock and panic when I found the orchid lying on the table next to other pots, after reading over all the great posts and the helpful link. I now understand that an Orchid out of its pot is not the same as a fish out of water. With the pages help I think I can now relax a little and enjoy being able to keep part of my Grandma with me ( not over watering). Again thank you all!

[Shannara]

Your welcome and keep us posted. We all like seeing pics so feel free to post more images of your orchids when they are repotted. If you have any other questions don't hesitate to ask.

Shann~

[Daethen]

And if you stick with us, we will have you as addicted as we all are.

[orchids4me]

I also think Dendrobium the rooting and growth down there doesn't look like how cattleya's look if that makes sense. (Well maybe not now but in time ypou will see what I mean) the other members here might see what I'm seeing there you will get this all in no time
Use a fine to medium bark mix with charcoal and perlite (the white balls you were seeing before) any good local nursery should cary the bark, perlite and charcoal if you can't find a pre mixed brand ( I make my own mixes these days ). Shann posted the culture sheets for them give those a read I would use the phalanthe listing. These look like hard cane types. And the culture for those should fall under phalanthe spelling sorry if I mis spelled it. But you will see 3 categories and its under that one.
Good luck!!
And welcome to geeks!!

[Micky]

Originally Posted by Moonbeam

Attachment 51644

Attachment 51645
Hi,
Okay after going back to Grandma’s, Plant 2 is not a Orchid, (so now we all know how new I am) what type of plant I’m not sure, after checking the “mother pot”. The “mother pot” is very over grown and there is a Orchid in it, growing in dirt (that is not good is it?) looks like the grow into the pot from another Orchid. I have a photo I’m adding of a plant that I found laying on the flower table. It hast 3 stems with leaves, and 2 more with no leaves. Please look at the picture and let me know what to do, so I can save this plant. There is yellowing on some of the leaves and I know just enough to know that it is not in the best of shape, I will also add a photo of clay pots I did find in her planting spot this is will give you an idea of what I have to work with and what I need to shop for. Thank you all so much for your help with this!
Moonbeam (Kimberly)

That one that you found laying on the bench can grow without being potted or mounted on anything, but it's better to mount it on a tree (According to my Granma). My Granma used to leave this type of Orchid laying on the bench of her greenhouse all the time, sometimes for months at a time as they are Epiphytes (live off the moisture in the air) and only need an occasional misting with a weak liquid fertiliser.

I know almost nothing about Orchids, but I do remember my Granma showing me these and telling me all of what I used to assume was 'useless' information... Comes in handy now that I've inherited her orchid collection...

[Moonbeam]

So far my little "clippings" aware doing well. I got some potting mix as was posted and have about 6 small pots here with me so far so good. 2 of grandmas larger plants have been gotten new potting mix and I go to her home and care for until the rest of her things are removed. I was very stressed over her floowers and how poorly they looked since they had not had good care in a year or more. I was even more stressed that I could not give them the care needed. To my shock there is new growth on some of her other plants and roots on clippings in the window. I can't wait for my orchids to show me there new life, they are healing and helping me heal too... at the first starting bud on one of the other plants I felt grandma smile and know she is with me