root rot

[c.whitcomb]

okay, damnit! i have clear signs of root rot on my cattleya, and one leaf has signs too. will post a picture later. am about to cut back, sanitize and repot. i know this is not the season to repot, but i don't want to risk losing much more and having to go through what sandra just went through.

please advise

-colin

[c.whitcomb]

oooof

well, i had to cut off a LOT roots which were all mushy, and i've learned my lesson and mixing sphag in with catts... they don't dry fast enough. the camera was out of batteries, so i couldn't show the mutilated and slimy underside of this plant.

i feel impulsive, but i felt i had to take action.

am trying bag & sphag in hopes it will help.

on the plus-side the plant was growing a new root and there were some still firm and white i left of the plant.

[robb]

c.whitcomb: i am not even an owner of any cattleys, but i believe sphag & bag will work well, based on discussions i've read. i am sure someone will clarify further

new growth is always good, and generally roots should be firm, colour may vary from green to white to yellow.

[tom499]

Moss is often a problem for alot people. This is often down to the quality of the moss and not the culture used.

I use moss for my masd but i mix it with bark. I also keep the moss quite open. The moss should feel almost fluffy and light.

THe problem with moss is when it becomes a solid lump and breaks down.

Moss may not be good for your catts, but dont think it wont work for other plants

I only this, as there has been a lot of negative feedback for the use of moss, and It would be a shame to stop using it except for mounts.

Fred uses moss very successfully I'm sure he has a few posts on the kind of moss he uses, its of very good quality, it just needs to be replaced regularlay to stop rotting.

[tom499]

Missed abit out, sorry -

If your catt still has some good roots remaining It should be fine, and recover quite quickly.

Maybe using a small pot would be good idea, It depends on how many roots are left though. A small pot of spag means the plant will still be in similiar conditions (but with improved medium) so will mean you wont have to pot it up again so soon.

[fred]

Yes Tom is right I do have great success with sphagnum moss
the sphag is very fresh
I am able to get the sphag from the mountains here
I grow just about all my mini Catt's in sphag

when re-potting with sphag the moss must not be potted up tight or packed tight
when I re-pot with sphag I place a small amount of sphag in the bottom of the pot and with holding the orchid I place strands of moss around each on of the roots when I have the roots covered I wrap a few strands of sphag in a clockwise rotation basically to keep all the moss together.
When it is almost like a ball with all the roots covered I then place into the pot

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

I don't think sphag & bag is appropriate if the plant has some good roots, and especially if it is starting to produce new roots. I would suggest potting up in the mix of your choice, then you can throw a baggie over the top to raise the humidity a bit, but be sure to have it open at the bottom. For the health of the plant, you want the mix to go thru a wet dry cycle, which will require some air exchanges on a continuous basis, just a little more slowly.

[c.whitcomb]

okay! awesome, you guys have calmed my nerves again, i will have to do some more research on the sphag.

-colin