Encyclia ambiguia part 2 See part 1
This plant had no living roots when it was re-potted. Saving it is based on the orchids ability to generate new growth. Inspecting the plant after two months shows both good signs and bad signs.

First the bad news. We knew that saving this plant involved a race between the plant using up its water and nutrients on one side and generating new growth on the other. There were no live roots at all, so all the plant had to work with is what was already stored in the pseudobulbs.

As you can see in the photo on the right, the plant is potted on granite peices. It is in a greenhouse receiving about 1000 to 1500 foot candles of light and a temperature range of 55 to 75 degrees. There is a daily watering to maintain humidity.

There are clear signs of deterioration. All the leaves are turning yellow and I expect that they will fall off soon. One of the pseudobulbs is completely dried out and dead. The other pseudobulbs are showing increased wrinkling. All except one.

The youngest pseudobulb is still in very good condition, showing only very slight signs of dehydration. All of the energy from the older pseudobulbs is traveling through the connecting rhizome to the youngest. It is this pseudobulb that is starting the new growth that will save the plant.

Two months ago the active eye was a flat tab lying against the pseudobulb. Now it has changed shape and is becoming a separate growth. In addition, there is a new green-tipped root.

If one or two more roots get started and develop to an inch or two of length they will begin to absorb new water and nutrients and this plant will have a good chance to recover.