un-mountin orchid

[Anisa]

Hello. I don't know if this is the correct place to post but i need advice how to UN-MOUNT orchid. It was NOID, but i think it is some sort of vanda. Correct me if i am wrong. It is mounted on a tree fern slab with a ball of moss and it is not doing too well - loosing roots and leaves. Leaves are getting wrinkled at the base, then yellow and fell off. I was thinking it doesnt get enough moisture. But then again the slab don't dry completely thru the night if i watered it well that morning. And some of the roots are roting. I think it would be easier for me to keep evenly moist if i unmount it and put in a pot with some chunks of lava rocks.
Does anybody know how to unmount it? The orchid has thick roots but they are well embedded. (see picture) I don't want to injure orchid.
Thank you for your help!

[exasperatus2002]

If you want to try to unmount it, soak it good (20 min?) before working on it. This will make the roots less brittle.

[Anisa]

Thank you for your answer Exasperatus! Should i just pull the roots out or cut them out? And could somebody confirm that this is really a vanda... pls

[exasperatus2002]

gently remove the roots. Try not to cut them.

[LouisW]

I would recommend against removing it if possible especialy since it has a long root well fastened to the tree fern. My first choice would be to alter the care of the mount. If the roots are rotting then it would seem that you are watering too much. Perhaps removing the moss is the answer, you could also put the mossless mount into your basket with the lave rock.

If you feel that you much remove it I would cut the tree fern around the root so that the roots are disturbed as little as possible. Cutting healthy roots should be avoided at all costs, and attempting to remove the attached roots from the mount will likely damage them badly.

P.S. it looks like a Vanda to me but it could be any related genus such as Ascocenda. Luckily most of these require similar care.

[Anisa]

Thank you LouisW! You the best!

[Anisa]

Ok, It is in a pot and i keep my fingers crossed. It already seems like orchid gets better hydrated. Un-mounting wasn't as complicated as I thought. I just soaked it for a while, took off ball of moss and pushed healthy roots out of the mount with a soaked wood skewer. I really hope it will work out.

[Anisa]

Update. It DID work out... i think... who knows with orchids?? Anyways... during last summer it made lots of new roots and more are coming now. But... it havent made any new leaves. What should I do now?

[LouisW]

Just wait. Roots are the sign of a healthy plant, so leaves should follow.

[Anisa]

Originally Posted by LouisW

Just wait. Roots are the sign of a healthy plant, so leaves should follow.

That is good news. Could it also be that the plant don't enough moisture?

[LouisW]

How do you water the plant? What is your humidity and temperatures? This can help tell how the plant should be watered.

Signs of dehydration include:
-withering of otherwise healthy roots
-leaves begin to wrinkle or become floppy. (in your case you would see small wrinkles along your leaves.
-flowers drop
-growth stops (including roots)

If you don't see these things then you shouldn't worry, just give it a little time.

[Anisa]

I soak it about twice a week. Less in wintertime. Humidity is not hight It is indoor/living room plant. I spray it several times per week. More so when it is hot.
i do see a little tinny wrinkles on the base of leaves.
I don't see withering of roots. It never flowered for me. It wasn't growing at all during winter, but now i see a new root coming out above the pot, right next to the bottom leaves. (odd place, but i like arial roots
I try to keep my plants on a dry side. I have overwatered my firsts orchids so i now am trying to not too.
So.. tiny wrinkles are warnings of not enough moisture?

[maria1971]

I would unmount it. Soak soak soak soak. if you do that enough the tree fern slab will start to disintegrate on its own.

[Anisa]

It seems like the thing i though was a root, perhaps is not root at all!! I think it is a spike!!! This orchid has never flowered for me I am so excited. Now i wish i had a better camera with a better zoom, so I can show you the spike to you guys and confirm.

[Anisa]

Update - it is not a root but spike. I am not sure what happened but middle of the flower got bad and only few flowers are there. But i am still happy, because that is first time i have seen it blooming.
Now maybe someone can identify it, please?
Also what are those yellow/black spots? something i should be concerned about?

[orchids4me]

Hi Anisa,
What is it potted up in (media) I think I see sphag is there other media in the pot?
What sun is it getting and facing window?
Can't tell if its burned or if you got a fungal/bacterial problem.... Have you checked the roots in the media? I noticed you posted this back in April .... How's it doing these days and did you figure out what was going on with it?
Thanks,
Emmaye