I repotted my Cattleya yesterday

[Aleksa]

I repotted my Cattleya yesterday. The plant was at my friend for a month, It has been overwatered. All roots are rotten, and plant has 5 big pseudobulbs. There is just one bulb which is growing new roots, and also plant has two new shots! Leaves are very firm and green, there is still no signs of dehydration... I hope It will manage to make new roots before leaves start to wrinkle. I am very afraid for plant's health because that is my only Cattleya... I am misting it few times a day. I suppose that new shots are good sign?

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by Aleksa

I repotted my Cattleya ... overwatered. All roots are rotten,... growing new roots, ... two new shots! ... no signs of dehydration...

If it is growing new roots and has 2 new shoots started and there are no signs of dehydration, I think you'll be in good shape eventhough the old roots are all gone. My observations indicate that cattleyas usually only grow new roots form leads, that the back bulbs usually don't grow new roots. The bulbs may shrivel a little as the plant will be drawing off those reserves until the new roots start taking up the slack.

Cattleya Alliance orchids are some of the toughest I know. I've got one that was infested with scale, got burned in our Australian heat, suffered some serious setbacks, and was given up for dead, yet it is still recovering and though the growths are back to seedling size, they are still growing, each new growth bigger than the last and now after about 2 years of disaster, I just bet this thing is going to pull through.

Your catt is starting from a much better place. I can't wait to see it bloom!

Oh and I almost forgot. I dont' think I'd mist it. I'd water it normally. Others may have other opinions on this. The reason I say this though is because in general I am of the opinion that we should treat "special needs" plants (i.e. plants with no roots or that have been set back, etc.) as much like a normal healthy plant as possible because this would be what the plant is expecting.

[Aleksa]

Originally Posted by kmarch

If it is growing new roots and has 2 new shoots started and there are no signs of dehydration, I think you'll be in good shape eventhough the old roots are all gone. My observations indicate that cattleyas usually only grow new roots form leads, that the back bulbs usually don't grow new roots. The bulbs may shrivel a little as the plant will be drawing off those reserves until the new roots start taking up the slack.

Cattleya Alliance orchids are some of the toughest I know. I've got one that was infested with scale, got burned in our Australian heat, suffered some serious setbacks, and was given up for dead, yet it is still recovering and though the growths are back to seedling size, they are still growing, each new growth bigger than the last and now after about 2 years of disaster, I just bet this thing is going to pull through.

Your catt is starting from a much better place. I can't wait to see it bloom!

Oh and I almost forgot. I dont' think I'd mist it. I'd water it normally. Others may have other opinions on this. The reason I say this though is because in general I am of the opinion that we should treat "special needs" plants (i.e. plants with no roots or that have been set back, etc.) as much like a normal healthy plant as possible because this would be what the plant is expecting.

Thanks kmarch! I hope that this injure will not set back the plant much, because i would like to see flowers soon..

Strange thing is that, this plant have lost roots more than a month ago. And still there is no sign of dehydration. Leaves are extremely hard and succulent... Miracle!

[BunnytheOrchid]

kmarch is probably right about misting. I mist my cattleyas at most once a day in the morning, but they are not high humidity orchids, so misting several times a day is probably not necessary, and will save you some work

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

IF you start to see signs of dehydration, put a large clear baggy over the plant, but open at the bottom, to raise the local humidity and shift the water intake/loss ration for a little while. A few roots may be enough to prevent dehydration as you don't live in a low humidity area.

[Aleksa]

Originally Posted by Cynthia, Prescott, AZ

IF you start to see signs of dehydration, put a large clear baggy over the plant, but open at the bottom, to raise the local humidity and shift the water intake/loss ration for a little while. A few roots may be enough to prevent dehydration as you don't live in a low humidity area.

Thank you all people! Plant is growing a lot of new roots from the last bulb which grew.

Yes Cynthia, spring here is very humid. It's been raining for a last few days and air humidity at the moment is around 80-90 %... In summer humidity is very VERY low... But that is not important because I have covered balcony which works as mini greenhouse.

[Aleksa]

My Catt is doing very well... It is growing a mass of new roots which are emerging into pot, and two new shots are growing fast (for an orchid)... Also, leaves are firm, and maybe a bit wrinkled.

But only one thing worries me: Bulbs are still shriveled. Plant is watered when the media becomes dry, leaves are firm, but bulbs won't plump up. They are still shriveled... Is that the problem. I thought that, now, when plant has new roots and can accept moisture, the bulbs will fill with water and be normal. Where is the problem? Maybe I should water plant more frequent?

[Brooke]

Without roots your old backbulbs will wrinkle. As long as you have roots growing on the new growth, your plant is fine.

Backbulbs can only plump up when you have live viable roots on them to take up the moisture.

Brooke

[Aleksa]

There are the roots on my 'rootless' Cattleya... They have already filled whole pot and a few of them are starting to go out through the holes on the bottom of the pot.

[Tobi]

Now those are what I call healthy roots. I have had a similar situation with some of my
Catts. in regards to the older PB's shriveling due to root loss under them. But as Brooke
stated as long as the new PB's grow and are plump, it should be fine. I usually end up
removing the older shriveled ups one eventually when I get newer growth.

[Aleksa]

I was very surprised when I saw so much roots... Should I expect flowers when new growths become mature?

[Tobi]

Originally Posted by Aleksa

I was very surprised when I saw so much roots... Should I expect flowers when new growths become mature?

I'd say your chances are very good you'll get blooms