Regrowing roots, esp. in Laelia harpophylla

[Alexis]

I'm going to put this post here, because it's fairly basic. But for the life of me, I'm not sure how to proceed in saving this little charmer.

I recently acquired this plant, and because I left it in sphag for a week in my conditions, ALL of the roots turned to mush. I cut off all of the decaying matter and stuck it bareroot in my orchidarium. Today I noticed that there are 2 new roots budding, but each is still just a nub, less than 1mm.

So my question: do I leave it in the orch, or do I put it outside in my shadehouse? My orch gets daily water and stays above 90% RH - i.e. very wet; temps in the 70sF. My shadehouse is getting water every other day now; RH averages around 70, and temps soar to the 90s during the day, nights in the 50s.

I'm worried that the orch will rot the roots, but the shadehouse might cause them to dessicate. I have great air circulation in both environments. Which gamble is best?

TIA

[Jon]

I say leave it. The orchidarium seems to be working, right? Plus, I've found that most bareroot plants won't rot if left bareroot. Give it a few weeks, and revisit the subject. And when you decide to move it back out to the shadehouse, don't put it in sphag.

[Alexis]

Ok, thanks Jon. Sucka should have been ok for a week, simply wrapped in sphag. Long-term sphag culture is the kiss o' death around here...

[Brant]

so how's the little Sucka doing now ?

[Alexis]

Brant, I mounted it and put it outside last weekend. The 2 little roots were growing nicely. I want to acclimate it to my outdoor conditions before hell's furnace doors open this summer. We'll see.

[Jon]

You may also consider dunking it in rooting hormone. That might speed things up.

[Brant]

i am sure it will recover. you mean you don't await with glee, hells furnace doors opening

Jon would that be powder or a liquid - if liquid, what chem, brand, whole plant or.. if you don't mind answering

[darin]

Brant,

Try K-L-N by Dyna-Gro (its a liquid you add to your water). I have has great results stimulating root growth using it.

D

[Jon]

The rooting hormone I'm thinking of is a powder. You wet the base of the plant, and dunk it in the hormone.

[Brant]

i use a powder on other plants, it never occured to me to use it on chids - THNX Jon

Thnx Darin for the KLN suggestion

[Alexis]

Originally Posted by Jon

You may also consider dunking it in rooting hormone. That might speed things up.

I did - Superthrive. I may try KeikiPro on it, too, this weekend. It supposedly stimulates root growth.

I think I have some of that powder agent around here somewhere. Poor plant will be sputtering for a clean breath when I get done forcing it to root.