re hydrating

[virgil]

I have a Blc. that has 4 bulbs ,3 with leaves, it is a division some one gave me, the bulbs are ribbed and shriviled, what is a good schedule to soak a plant in this condition, so many hours a day and let dry at night, or leave soaking in water for longer, any one with experience in this. also the plant has two new roots about 2'' long.
Virgil

[LouisW]

Does the plant have any good roots?

If it does I would pot it up and start a normal watering schedule.

If it does not I would pot the plant and place it in high humidity and just mist it untill it starts growing roots, then begin normal watering. The humidity will just prevent the plant from dehydrating further untill it can grow some roots.

Either way the plant may or may not plump up but thats Ok. Your goal should be getting some nice fat new growths rather than trying to plump the old ones up.

Letting it dry by night is a bad idea because things do not dry easily at night, they dry better in the day. Water in the mornings so that water standing on the leaves can dry before the end of the day.

Hopefully the plant will realize its shriveling condition and put out some roots.

[kmarch]

I agree wiht LouisW. First it has to have viable roots. If it does not, then it has no means by which to take in water.

Second, if it does have viable roots, orchids, like most plants, can only absorb water at a certain rate. Submerging them in a pail of water or something like that will not speed their recovery.

The best "treatment" is usually just good culture, giving the plant what it expects. If you do not yet have a good culture sheet for cattleyas you can find one here or at AOS | Home.

Cheers!

[jay]

If you are open to new methods, the Cattleya Alliance of orchids seem to love S/H. This way they can take up as much water as they want without over watering and killing the roots.