I'm so glad I found your photo because I didn't know the name of my flower. I moved last year, and my orchids were the only plants that came with me. My Hookers was in an 18" pot and was outgrowing it (aka cracking the talavera ☹️) and all I had were smaller pots. So I split the rootball into three and repotted. Have you ever done that? The result looks heartbreaking, but I don't know if maybe the roots survived. Oh yeah, forgot to mention I missed a cold front report and didn't get them moved in—froze most of the stems. ☹️☹️ I usually do really well, but the move threw me a curve...I feel like I'm watering dead wood...any thoughts? I have two stems that are holding on and I wonder if I should cut and repot those. And keep praying. I appreciate any thoughts you can share.
Are you able to post some photos of your plants. I've never split a root ball on an orchid cactus but I don't see why it would not work. Also do not have to worry about freezing over here so no experience of that.
I would ease up on the watering, maybe once every couple of weeks unless its really not. I would not repot but would cut back any obvious dead or frozen stem.
I've had some disasters with the Hookeri (strictum) but each time I cut the living branches back they always seem to put out new shoots.
Good morning, Mike. I can imagine you have NO probs growing in HI.. .wish I was there...however, I've taken pics for you. The top wood looks dead but I'm wondering if the roots survive. This plant originated inCorpus Christi TX (think HI, but HOTTER) it lived on the back porch with only early sun, and watered about every couple weeks as you said. It was huge. After the surgery, I overwintered all inside, but it's really dry here so I continued watering. At least I have one good branch left. And I'll probably not know about the others until I unpot and check roots. It's finally warming up here in south Idaho, so I'll be getting on those as soon as I get lawn mowed...I could find a millions reasons to put that off.