I am somewhat unsure if this is a spike or root at the moment, but it's starting to show signs of being a spike: mitten 'sectioning', no velum, and much less tender flesh than a new root. October, November, and December is also "spike season", further solidifying that this may be a spike.
This will be the first time blooming since purchase and a solid sign that this phal has recovered from its sunburn.
EDIT:
One week has passed and I am now 100% sure it is a spike! I have inserted a metal rod and rubber band, ready to steak the spike when the time comes.
I had bought a blooming den hard cane. after it was done blooming I repotted it n noticed that the roots were almost all rotten due to tightly packed coc-husk i guess. my problem is it has lots of shoots,like 7 and rarely any healthy roots. what do i do to save it? there were 5 new shoots,2 died and the 3 left are way thinner.
ReplyDeletehow do i introduce root growth ? and how can i use leca to pot it as it being heavy can be toppled very easily from leca ?
Hi Megha,
DeleteHonestly, you can not do much, except provide an ideal environment for regrowth. It all comes down to good luck and the plants willingness to live. Some of my most cared for orchids died, for no known reason other than its own willingness to live.
I know little about dend hard canes, but I will explain what I do with all my sick orchids.
First thing, trim all of the dead roots! They are nothing but a breeding-ground for bacteria and fungi. Any black or dark brown roots can be trimmed. Leave green or cream-colored roots intact.
Afterwards, repot into new potting medium. I prefer large coco husk. LECA is good for orchids that like dry environments or as a mix-in ingredient to other potting products. If you would like to use LECA, you will have to mist generously daily, or mix with other potting medium.
I also recommend you use a stick or stake to anchor your plant. Wiggling orchids are enemies to root growth. Tie the plant to the stake with rubber bands or thick string. If you think the pot will still fall over, you need to pick a heavy-bottomed pot, like ceramic or terra cotta. There are many beautiful ceramic orchid pots at a reasonable price online.
In desperate times, there is a product called "rooting hormone". It stimulates the plant to focus its energy on producing roots. I have used it a few times with little success but some orchid growers absolutely love it.
I hope I answered your questions.