Stressed orchids

[snowballsarebad]

I recently received 18 (!!!) orchids in the mail; I was expecting 10. So I have a few questions.
All were shipped bare-root. A few seem very stressed, with very few roots and shrivelled pseudobulbs. Many are unlabelled, but the majority of them seem to be cattleyas, laeliocatts, and other catt 'crosses' (is that right?). What is best to do about shrivelled bulbs?
Also, I'm wondering the best conditions for these guys: Cookara Tropical Snowflake, Bollea Ecuadoriana, and Aspasia punctata.
Is there something you might suggest in place of SuperThrive? I am having a hard time finding it in my area, our HomeDepot and Lowe's do not carry it.
Also, one of the worst of the bunch, Catt Isle of Skye 'Nereid' leaves look horrible. Black down the middle, some yellow. Looks like combo of drying out and rotting. Very few roots, but some new growth...I'm hoping the new growth signals hope. Will try to post some pics later.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

The most important thing is to keep the roots alive, so get these into pots, or mist the roots often until you do. The new growths should have new roots soon. Most sound like they will have to out grow their scars. Just a matter of time. Have you tried nurseries for the SuperThrive? This can be applied after potting up. Cynthia

[desertgal]

I found SuperThrive on eBay. Check the seller's feedback.

[atcrosby]

You can also find Superthrive at Lowes in the section with the plant food and pesticides ...

[Orchid_lady]

I found Superthrive on Home Depot.

[snowballsarebad]

update: After much searching online and around town, I finally found SuperThrive at a small hydroponic shop. Who knew the good stuff would be so hard to find in an area with a billion greenhouses?

[atcrosby]

Probably because they bought it all up ... !! Add a drop to your regular watering. It doesnt hurt it at all ..

I also use it for my trees, shrubs and flowers outside. It's not a fertilizer but it's got the minerals and vitamins the plants crave / need.

[jerrymeola]

I would worry about the plant you said is black down the center. Bacterial rot is common this time of year as rains come faster than the plants can start to grow. It speads very fast and can wipe out everything you own rapidly.

Isolate the orchid from the others and do not handle the black leaves and then handle a healty plant.

The roots are not as serious as you may think. They almost always look dead at plug size which is what I guess you have. Some will start growing and produce new roots and leaves and some will die. There is a normal mortality to small plants be they orchids or tropicals.

[snowballsarebad]

Thanks Jerry, I'll keep that one separate from the rest from now on.

[snowballsarebad]

I thought I'd give a little update...partly because I am having trouble posting pictures for a new thread (it says I have to have 15+ posts to do so).
Anyhow, most of the orchids are doing fine, especially for being in a flood a little more than a month ago. I think I got quite the deal, though there are a couple bad ones in the bunch. $36 for 18 orchids. Some of them are near blooming size I believe, others are seedlings. I've lost a couple leaves here and there, but no whole plants yet, though I've quarantined a couple per the advice of Jerry. They all get a proper dose of SuperThrive and a lower dose of fertilizer at each watering right now, and good light, but not direct.

So...its true then that I can't post links to pictures before I post 15 times?

[Shana Boso]

Honestly..I would return them if they really look that bad. However, you could grab a plastic bag, some damp sphagnum moss and try to get roots again on the ones that have no/really bad roots. I've done it on quite a few that I have either made mistakes with or back bulbs. Works pretty well and is easy. Don't keep really bad looking orchids-or new-with orchids you already have. Probably know that though!!

Try Green Jungle orchid food. You can order it fronm Orchid's Limited here is MN. They are also pretty responsive to e-mailed questions if you want expert advice. Home Depot or any other store like that probably won't have good orchid anything.

Good Luck!!!
Shana

[snowballsarebad]

Actually, I kinda knew what I was getting into. A grower's greenhouse was partly destroyed by floods about a month ago, and he couldn't take care of all of them while doing repairs. So he was selling them by the box on ebay. And they were insanely cheap. I just wanted a challenge...I'd rather grow an orchid from seedling or nurse one back to health then buy a flowering one. I know a few might die, but I'd say its worth it...just want to get them as much help as possible!

[Shana Boso]

You sound as nutty as I am. Good luck with that.

I bought an orchid last fall just because it looked so "abused" at the store.

SK

[annie69153]

All my orchids were "abused" they are beautiful after two years of nursing. I lost 2 out of 12, which isn't too bad. I also love the challenge of being their saviour and they bloom well for me.

[Gladys47]

Hi! I'm new here but I just had to get in on this. I hate to see abused plants of any kind and just HAVE to try to save them. Bought my first 2 phals at walmart in July. I now have 19 abused plants from dead and dying racks! 4 plals 2 dens, 2catts, and the rest are oncidium intergenerics.Don't know what I'm doing except what I read on various forums, but all my babies are doing well. It's so rewarding to save them Except 1 phal that had a keiki. Darn cat knocked it off shelf and the whole plant broke off except the spike with keiki. Keiki has no roots.I have a little spagh clipped under it that I keep moist. Don't know what else to do. Plant still has good roots just no leaves at all. Hoping for a basal keiki. I guess time will tell. Gladys P.S. I guess 19 plants in 2 months makes me an addict? Or would it be obessive - compulsive

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Welcome to Orchids Anonymous, where we don't want to be cured, or to be anonymous either. The leaves on the keiki will feed the plant until it can start a basal keiki. Just treat it like you have been, but you can expect it to take longer to get to watering time, since there are fewer leaves to expire water. Cyntiha

[Gladys47]

Thank you so much Cynthia! That is what I was hoping for. But as a newbie wasn't sure. Gladys