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linda_leaf

broken orchid

As I was moving my orchids to safety before Irma, one tall one broke in half. It has looked sad for a while, but now it is in two parts. My question (before I trash it) will the part with the roots grow new leaves and will the part with the leaves grow new roots? If so, how do I baby it back to life?

Any help will be appreciated. Linda Leaf


Comments (9)

  • 9 years ago

    You can take the upper part with the leaves and try some rooting hormone on it. It might produce some new roots.

    Not a good prognosis. Your only hope is to get the upper half (with leaves) to produce new roots. I think the bottom (roots) will die off.

    Post your pic on the Orchid forum, maybe someone has had this happen.

    Jane Orchids

    linda_leaf _z10a_southwest_fl thanked jane__ny
  • 9 years ago

    I've had this happen. Keep the bottom. It can still put out a baby plant or two. I would keep the top and hope new roots spring up.

    linda_leaf _z10a_southwest_fl thanked soflamommy3
  • 9 years ago

    The propagation method listed above does work if you have some roots growing on the upper stem. Your best bet for the top would be to try a rooting hormone, but without any roots on the stem, that is unlikely.

    You won't get anything from the roots unless there is still a leaf on the stem. Being a monopodial orchid, the roots will die without leaves.

    I do not see any roots in your picture. You could try the rooting hormone and hope for some roots.

    Good luck,

    Jane

    linda_leaf _z10a_southwest_fl thanked jane__ny
  • 9 years ago

    what nobody is mentioning is that the plant broke at a weak spot that was rotting away. A healthy vanda trunk is very strong and flexible. If you cut the plant a couple of inches away from damage and see any black in center of plant, the outlook is very dim. If trunk is clean, then spread some fungicide on the cut and keep in the shade until the cut is calloused over. then slowly move back to brighter light. You can turn top upside down for a few days while wound (if clean) heals and mist the foliage. Bottom section may have a better chance at sprouting a side growth, here again, trim trunk a couple inches away from damage and assess if trunk is clean. The best scenario is maybe the plant will start new growth, but it will take a couple or three years before it will be strong enough to re-bloom.

    If you see black in trunk area cut away from damage, then it may be time to toss it and send it to the big greenhouse in the sky....

    linda_leaf _z10a_southwest_fl thanked Ben(8b/9a north FL)
  • 8 years ago

    I thought I remembered that Linda had saved one of hers! I've seen broken ones sprout from the bottom, but they did have a leaf or two left. My understanding, though is that if the bottom half has roots, it will try to send up an offshoot to feed them. I wouldn't count either part out for the count before I tried to save them. Nature is a wonderful thing.

    linda_leaf _z10a_southwest_fl thanked dirtygardener
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    I've had falling palm fronds break Vandas and both ends finally grew on. Had the broken off tip of one with only 2 and a bit leaves sprout roots and grow on into a new plant. Also had some failures. But give them a chance, there's always a possibility they might grow on, even if it takes a long time.

    linda_leaf _z10a_southwest_fl thanked tropicbreezent
  • 8 years ago

    Good job Linda, your re-invigorated plant looks great. Too bad the bottom part did not sprout to life as well, from your original picture it looked like it had plenty of live roots to make a go for it. Those internal rots are an almost always "death sentence" for vandas. Your plants' new leaves are darker that original ones, indicating a shadier environment that was needed during recovery. I think your plant is ready for normal (and very bright) vanda culture and heavy feeding (1 TBSP per gallon, weekly) for that push towards a bloom spike, pls post a bloom picture when that time comes...Congrats....

    linda_leaf _z10a_southwest_fl thanked Ben(8b/9a north FL)
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