{{sigh}} there was not a single living root on that plant (or if there is, it is one and tiny and very sad-looking)
Someone said this must be one tough plant...I'm telling you, it must be because it is amazing that there is this crazy spike (must be two inches or more long by now and it only showed up about 3 weeks ago) and this amazing tiny leaf. It's amazing there is any sign of life left in this plant. Whatever energy it has must be in the stalk...
I dumped all the nasty sphagnum (there was a ton of it including a huge dense chunk of it buried) and just left the barky stuff...the roots (if you can call them that) and crown are in the light now...
I know it's hard to grow these at first, but I read everything when I first got the plant and tried so hard (didn't have the nerve to repot it though) and part of me wants to give up. I mean, I can purchase a new one for $30, have it bloom for 3 or 4 months and then plan to get another one next spring. I wanted to grow these...buy more, but I am afraid I might not even have the time. I'm having a baby around 5/10. When my daughter was born I didn't even have time to water my houseplants...I let a pothos die, isn't that horrible? Who kills a pothos????? If I didn't have time for a pothos, what makes me think I'll have time for an orchid!
Have you guys EVER heard so much self pitying drivel from an orchid newbie before??? LOL! I'm being so silly I'm actually cheering myself up.
Seriously though, I admire you guys tremendously and I am very grateful for your sage advice and all of the white sheets on this site...I love orchids so very much and you guys who are growing them are some of the nicest folks I've encountered on message boards. Thank you!