Newbie in trouble

[Masya]

Hi,

I have long been in love with orchids, but have only had one until recently. I've bought a few small plants from e-bay, but my guys are not doing so well. My tiny Cattleya (2") has dry leaves with black tips even though it gets plenty of water and my larger Cattleya's leaves are getting "wrinkled" and turning yellow. I think that they are getting sufficient sunlight and water. They were shippped with bare roots. Please help! Thanks.

M

[ryan_d_cruz]

"Plenty of water" might just be the thing that is killing ur orchids, let us know your watering schedule, also since ur plants came in bare root, let us know what type of medium you have planted them in, move your plants away from direct sunlight into bright shade (a warm humid place) until they start growing....more till I hear from you

[Masya]

I have planted them in medium bark and they sit in the south-eastern window, getting watered roughly twice a week. I had watered them immediately after planting. Attached is the picture of one of the plants. Thanks!

[jerrymeola]

The picture says a lot. The plant is not taking water into the roots. It is overly dry. The potting medium is much too large for an orchid this small. Too much of the roots are in the air and not touching the bark. The pot also is too big for the plant. A 2 or aat most 3 inch pot would be better. As a result very little water is available to the plant. I can not be certain if the dryness is a problem from your mix or if the plant was in bad shape when you received it. Frnm this point saving it will be difficult.

Your plants need water more than anything. When I get a new shipment of orchids this small (about 300 a week) I soak them in SuperThrive rooting hormones for 1-10 days before potting. It shocks people to see them submerged in water this long but it works. Until the plant is ready for a four inch pot, I use small potting medium. I use mostly fine grade AliFlor hydroponic or small 1/4 inch bark. I also have a special seeding mix that looks like dirt but is not. Seedlings need to retain moisture. Sun is not important to grow seedings and you can retain more water by starting them in shade.

I sell a lot of seedlings this small, but always tell my customers that the plants may be 2 or more years away from blooming. I hope you realised this.

[Masya]

Thanks a lot! That explains a lot about this cat. If you were in my place--how would you try to save it? Does it make sense to yank it out of the pot and place in the water? It's only been in the pot for about ten days. It arrived already dried up.

Also, what about yellowing and "shrinking" leaves on the other one? Is that a sign of poor watering or light? Or, perhaps the opposite? This cattleya is about 8" tall. Thanks in advance.

[ryan_d_cruz]

Jerry, is right, you need to move your plant to a smaller pot, about 3 inches, you can use a plastic pot, make some holes at the side of the pot, you could also use a clay pot instead which already has holes at the side, For the potting medium I would use medium size epiphytic mix, soak it in water over night and drain completely before using. Looking at the picture of your plant, i would soak it for maybe a day in water, also before planting it in the new bark, wash the plant and cut of any dead roots, once repotted place in bright shade in a humid but airy place, ur plant might take sometime but should pick up, thought it will flower only once it has established completly in the pot and pl don't yank it out, u will damage any roots that are present, just tip the pot over and you should be able to lift the plant out

[Masya]

Thank you! I will follow your instructions and let you know how it goes.