I think my Renanthera is dying

[rasm...@aol.com]

Dear Doc,

After some good success with two other orchids I bought a Ren. Scarlet Yuka at last years Pacific Orchid Expo from one of the vendors.  I fell in love with the display plant they had not knowing and not being told the special requirements they need (novice grower here).  So far it had been doing OK, it put on some leaves ect, so I thought everything was going good.  Recently I've noticed that I was leaning to one side and upon further inspection it looks like the roots have almost completely rotted out.  Most of them feel soft, there’s no odor of decay, but it just doesn’t look healthy.  I've also seen some small black specks on the under side of some of the leaves, and some brown tips on the new growth.  I’ve been trying my best to keep in front of the window to get as much light as possible (by the way I live in the central valley in CA), and keep on a regular watering/feeding schedule.  If you can, take a look at the pics and see if you can give me a diagnosis and tell me if my plant is still salvageable.  Any questions mail me anytime.

 

Thank you,

Ryan Avelar

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[dennis...@aol.com]

Dear Ryan:

This plant needs warm to hot conditions (meaning days can be as warm
as 85-90 in the summer, and nights should never be below 60, with a
minimum of 65 being ideal), high humidity, and to be potted in a
chunky medium (coarse bark, old wine corks, or similar). A classic
orchid pot (one of those terra cotta pots with holes or slits on the
side) or slat basket is best. It wants to be watered fairly
frequently, but the roots must dry out quickly between watering. It
also needs very bright light, and will easly adapt to a window where
it gets morning sun.

You certainly have the light and warmth for this kind of plant in the
central valley.

I suspect that your watering schedule was too regular given the
plastic pot it is in, and the roots just stayed too wet through the
winter. Thankfully you have the roots that have grown along the stem
to work with. Get the proper pot (the orchid pot or slat basket) and
the proper coarse medium. Remove all the old bark and all the rotted
roots. If any of the stem is rotted, cut that off as well. Pot the
plant firmly, and deeply into the pot, and stake it so the stem is
stable. Allow thwe potting mix to get quite dry between watering for
now, and try to keep the plant hydrated by misting the roots along the
stem every day. Mist them till they are about to drip, than come back
in ten minutes and mist them again. Hopefully they will grow and allow
the plant to get strong enough to produce more rooths in the pot. Once
you see roots growing in the pot you may water the pot more
frequently, but keep in mind the roots must dry between watering, and
thought the roots exposed to the air along the stem do this, the roots
in the pot do not.

It is not certain that your plant will recover, but there is a good
chance of it. I suspect that the leaf problems you have are related to
the root loss.

Sincerely,
Dennis

[rasm...@gmail.com]

thank you very much for your advise. just one question about
replanting, do i replant deep enough to cover the lowest set of leaves
of just above that? thank you, ryahn

[dennis...@aol.com]

Any leaves that would be below the surface of the potting mix should
be removed. If any part of the stem currently in the pot is rotted or
dried up, that should be removed as well.

Dennis

[dennis...@aol.com]

Ryan:
How did you get pictures to appear in your post? I have tried to do
that, but there are no instructions and nothing I have ever tried has
worked.

Dennis

[rasm...@gmail.com]

I have aol mail, and all I did was send the pic as attach ments.