Rootless mini phal

[loviek]

Well, I went out on a limb and purchased a clearance mini phal from Lowes. My husband thinks I'm crazy to buy a half dead plant and maybe I can't save the little thing but I sure want to do all I can to try to revive it. My question is this, I don't have any sphagnum, can I use just perlite only? Or just leave it bare root in a plastic bag with the top open? I left it bare root last night on top of my grow stand and this morning the roots were dry and shrivled...I gave it a good soak and they are now green with the rot at the ends(like in the picture I just took a few minutes ago). Can I keep doing this?


Thanks in advance!!

[Olive Cook]

yours has more roots than mine, mine just has a single nub of a root. I would get some moss... I've had mine in damp moss (in a bag) for a couple of weeks now, I haven't noticed much root growth, but the plant is still hanging on. I think that would be your best bet to try, but I'm sure someone else has better advice to give

[FLBob]

Sphagnum in a bag is a very good approach to growing roots, the moist not wet sphagnum will keep the humidity up around the plant. The BetterGrow Premium orchid sphagnum that most of the big box stores carry is actually very good stuff.

I would also use a root stimulant like KLN to enhance your changes of recovering.

[mehitabel]

I agree with Bob about the need both for sphag and for rooting hormone.

[Brooke]

You can put it on a wet paper towel until you get the sphag. You can also soak the foliage in a fertilizer solution until it has enough roots to survive back in a pot.

Brooke

[mytwogirls]

I agree with everyone above. Use moss. Good luck! Way to go rescuing that plant! Show us some pics when you get a chance!

[-k-]

Clean off as much rot as possible, rinse the roots thoroughly, def get Sphagnum, soak and squeeze lightly as to retain moisture but not have it soaking wet (I like to soak the Sphagnum in a light balanced fertilizer mix); and repot lightly to allow for air movement in a small pot. Root hormones (Idole-3-butyric acid 0.10%) can be applied directly to roots or as directed usually a water-soluble mix; I use Bontone Rooting powder.
Good Luck

[davetheorchidaddict]

If that were mine I would leave the roots bare and mount it on cork or wood with some cocoanut fiber around it and let it grow, could be a beautiful addition to your collection. Don't put in a plastic bag and cut the air from it, they like air on their roots.

[katsrevenge]

This ain't that bad! Lay it on nice damp moss and keep moss damp and mist it daily. The roots like the sun and air on them anyways; and it will dry down to prevent the rot from spreading. If you are really worried about the rot cut as much as you can off with a razor/sharp knife and put damp cinnamon powder only on the cut part of the root. Seals the wound. Keep it off the rest of the root.. it dries the flesh out... learned that the hard way!

If no moss you can use damp paper towels all shredded up. I've a few I 'rescued' in that shape.. never used rooting hormone but did the rest of this and they made it. (other then the one that had crown rot). Love Lowes clearance rack!

[loviek]

Thanks everyone for the tips/advice! I checked with Lowes today and they don't carry the sphag, neither does the walmart here. So...I'll have to wait until next weekend when we go to Dallas to get some. I will put the shredded moist paper towel until then and keep it propped up. I am pretty sure I have re-hydrated the little thing-lol, I took a picture of it 7 days ago when I bought it and then one tonight...the difference is amazing-now if only it will grow some roots. Come on little one-grow! grow!
11-20-09:

11-27-09:

[lmartiny]

He doesn't look so bad. I know you have gotten a lot of advice. Here's mine.
I had a two root Phal. I put it in the store bought bark mix which I soaked; clamped it down so it wouldn't wiggle and it grew new roots like gangbusters. Less than a year later it is putting out double spikes.

[katsrevenge]

Originally Posted by lmartiny

He doesn't look so bad. I know you have gotten a lot of advice. Here's mine.
I had a two root Phal. I put it in the store bought bark mix which I soaked; clamped it down so it wouldn't wiggle and it grew new roots like gangbusters. Less than a year later it is putting out double spikes.

I keep reading about clamping to prevent wiggling... what do you use for this? Because all mine wiggle about.

[loviek]

Wow! so you didn't have it in sphag at all? Was the plant grown in high humidity?

Ok-what do ya'll think about this, I was looking a little more closely at the root base and noticed a.....spike????...this plant has a flat/pointed growth emerging. Aren't roots round and knobby? Eeek this poor baby is trying all it can to say 'Thank You'. I hope it is a new root!

[lmartiny]

Pot clips can be found at Lowes or Home Depot and work on terra cotta pots. Not sure for plastic pots. I grow outside in Florida so yes, a lot of humidity.

[Brooke]

Loviek you need a bigger bag so the bag retains the humidity around the leaves of the plant. You can also place a bag upside down over the plant leaving the bottom open. You can use two stakes placed in two corners to keep the bag from touching the leaves.

I don't know how to use a rhizome clip on a monopodial orchid so I use two tall stakes placed on each side touching of the plant. I then twist tie the two stakes at the top to hold the plant secure until the roots anchor it.

Brooke

[Undergrounder]

loviek its hard to tell from the angle you took the photo, it's in the right place for a spike but it looks kind of like a root as well...

I think if you just keep it in some loose sphagnum potted up normally, and out of direct sun or wind it will recover! humidity doesn't make roots magically appear, it just stops too much water transpiring out of the leaves. You can mist the -underside- of the leaves -at night- and that might help give it a bit of water

[mytwogirls]

I cannot tell if it is a spike or not. If it is a spike or root either way is good progress! Your plant is looking great. Keep up the good work, your plant will reward you in time :-)

[katrina]

Brooke recently posted an awesome thread showing how she saved a rootless phal. This should help a lot! Very detailed instructions as to what she did.


http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/orc...less-phal.html

[mytwogirls]

Any updates on this? I am curious to know how it is going?

[PhalNewbie89]

Hope this little guy is holding in there. You ever figure out what that new growth is? My phal just started a new growth that had a flat end rather then pointed and I just figured it was a root but not it looks like a point is growing on the top of it. I am so confused, but I am sure it will tell me what it is up to soon

[loviek]

Ah! Sorry for the late update...the little phal is doing about the same...the only growth I can see right now is the little spike it's putting out. It's a mitten now and so it's a confirmed spike.:-D Yay! I can't see root growth as I have it in the pot w/medium-I tried a bigger bag but it caused mold even with the top of the bag open. So it's in the open air and doing okay. Thank you to everyone for the advice!! I can't wait to see how the plant continues to do in a few months.

[mytwogirls]

Hey a spike, that is GREAT news! Keep up the great work!!!!!

[Undergrounder]

Great news getting a spike loviek, but i don't know if the plant will have enough energy to bloom it out without any roots... if it were my plant i would probably cut the spike so it can put that energy into growing roots first. It would give it the best chance of recovery.

I don't know.. hard choice to make.

[mytwogirls]

That is a tough one. I might see how it does with the spike growing (very hard to cut a spike!) but you do need roots at the same time. Tough call.