Hootie Pie’s roots have been getting thinner and browner. I’ve been browsing Facebook Groups, Reddit, and YouTube and to find some answers and after a reminder about the Orchid Whisperer, I landed on this video: Vanda in Glass Vase / Modified Water Culture Method, 2024
So once again, I’ll try water culture for Hootie Pie; this time adding CalMag to the water. I should see improvement within a month, so here are current photos.
Even in Water Culture, Hootie Pie’s roots seemed to be withering more and more, and the two new roots that had started growing seemed to have stopped growing. At this point, her upper leaves are definitely dehydrated.
THE PROBLEM
Getting water to the roots while keeping the base dry when only two roots extend below the base. Also need to encourage the new roots to grow.
WHAT SEEMS TO BE WORKING
I cleaned off as much of the dead leaf debris on the stem as I could to allow new roots to develop more easily. Rocks were added at the bottom of the glass to elevate the base above the water. I have been using filtered water with 1/2tsp CalMag per gallon. Strips of microfiber were added to wick water to the existing roots. After the first 12 hours, the microfiber was working so well that adjustments needed to be made to keep the microfiber from touching the stem.
After 36 hours, all roots have water and the base is dry. She is also taking in noticeable amounts of water. The two new roots appear to be more active than I’ve seen them in quite a while. There are also some new root nodules on existing roots that appear to be coming back to life again. The best news is that there appears to be a new leaf emerging!
my Plants 
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