Orchid Culture - Questions & Answers from This Month
by Sue Bottom, from the St. Augustine Orchid Society Newsletter. Email us with any orchid question. If we can't answer it, we'll find someone who can! Send photographs too!
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Epi. Stem Broke in the Wind
Q. I’ve had a hard time getting this epidendrum to grow, much less bloom, and now the rain seems to have knocked this part of the plant off. Will it grow with its two little roots, or should I toss it? Should I repot it in something else, maybe Sphag?A. By all means root the Epi, it'll just keep rooting from the stem as it grows up. I probably wouldn't use sphagnum moss, a coarse mix that can handle the rain might be better. You might consider putting it in a basket so you can tie the stems up around the wire hangers. (Sep-26)
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Habenaria Stem Mushy
Q. One of the two new growths on my habenaria are all mushy at the stem. I guess I watered it too much. Any remedy?A. You can only hope it will sprout from a blind eye, but the question is how deep has the rot gotten, has it entered the tuber? So you'll have to fish out the tuberoid and feel it for softness. Any soft spots have to be excised with a single edged razor blade. Then let it dry out on newspaper for a couple days, and dust it with Banrot before repotting it. Withhold water until you see the new rosette, and then be careful to not get water in the rosette. Ellen reported back that there was nothing mushy on the tuber itself, so she is just letting it dry out and will repot it. (Sep-26)
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What's on this Root?
Q. I was cleaning up this Catt when I saw this. Is it okay or evil?A. They are lacewing eggs that are actually beneficial. Lacewings can eat aphids, thrips, etc. so they're a good thing. (Sep-26)