Orchid Repot Extremes | Dealing with No Roots & Rhizome Pseudobulb Rot Winter DAmage #ninjaorchids

#orchid #repotting #tips
A challenging but crucial orchid repotting and recovery process for two different orchids, a Catyclia Atrowalker hybrid and a Myrmecocattleya. The central theme revolves around addressing severe root loss and winter damage in a semi-hydroponic (semi-hydro) setup, specifically in the dry and cold winter conditions of Southern Spain.
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Saving Orchids with No Roots: The creator tackles the daunting task of repotting orchids with zero viable roots, a common and distressing problem for many growers. This video offers practical steps and a realistic outlook for orchid recovery.
Catyclia Atrowalker Root Challenges: The Catyclia Atrowalker hybrid, despite having famously fragrant parents (Encyclia cordigera and Cattleya walkeriana), exhibits poor root growth akin to Cattleya walkeriana rather than the robust Encyclia roots. The video highlights how evaporative cooling in LECA combined with low winter temperatures (even 14°C) exacerbated root rot and led to complete root dieback.
Myrmecocattleya Rot Recovery: The Myrmecocattleya faced pseudobulb rot and aborted a spike due to harsh winter conditions. The video details the drastic measure of removing infected pseudobulbs and treating the wounds with Dragon's Blood and cinnamon (with a note on strategic use to avoid desiccating new roots). It shows the orchid's initial struggle and the encouraging signs of new growth after six weeks.
Semi-Hydroponic Adaptation in Cold Climates: The video provides critical insights into the difficulties of maintaining semi-hydroponic orchids through cold, low-light winters, explaining how the evaporative cooling of LECA can drop pot temperatures significantly, causing stress and root demise.
Repotting Strategies for Rootless Orchids: Key repotting practices include combining two struggling Catyclia seedlings into a single, more stable pot (moving away from tall, wobbly containers) and strategically leaving some dead roots for anchoring and potentially fostering beneficial bacteria in the new LECA setup.
Orchid Recovery Mindset: The creator emphasizes a realistic perspective on orchid recovery, acknowledging the setback of lost blooms and reduced plant size, but focusing on gratitude for having a chance to save the orchids. The video also touches on the energy demands for recovery, suggesting that blooming might be postponed.
This video is a must-watch for anyone struggling with orchid root rot, winter orchid care, semi-hydroponic problems, or seeking advanced orchid rescue techniques for hybrids like Catyclia and Myrmecocattleya. #orchids #orchidee #orchideen #orchideenpflege #orquideas #tricks #tipsandtricks #beginners #care #guide #tutorial