bagging a rootless phal ?

[garyorchids]

i have just repotted my phals and one of them had very rotten roots which i have now cut off, which has left me with a plant with no roots at all. i am fairly new to orchid growing but i am quickly becoming hooked.

i have repotted the plant in the smallest clear pot i have with a relatively corse medium (graded bark and coconut fibre chips). i have put a clear plastic bag over the plant, just a little wider than the pot so it can breath.

my question is how long a period should i leave the bag over the plant, obviously i will have to remove the bag when watering, which i presume will be less frequent with the bag on and causing the plant to retain moisture.should i leave it on until watering periods or remove it for perods of time, or will it be just a case of altering the ventalation so a mildly humid atmosphere ( slight acumillation of water droplets are apparent) is achieved inside the bag ? also is there any thing else i can do to encourage root growth, a lowered dose growth feed every few weeks etc.

thanks in advance
Gary

[Brooke]

Maybe this will help http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/orc...less-phal.html

Coarse bark will not hold enough moisture around the stem to encourage root growth unless the bark is sopping wet.

Brooke

[garyorchids]

thanks, i will obtain some moss asap

[mehitabel]

Originally Posted by garyorchids

how long a period should i leave the bag over the plant, obviously i will have to remove the bag when watering, which i presume will be less frequent with the bag on and causing the plant to retain moisture.should i leave it on until watering periods or remove it for perods of time, or will it be just a case of altering the ventalation so a mildly humid atmosphere ( slight acumillation of water droplets are apparent) is achieved inside the bag ? also is there any thing else i can do to encourage root growth, a lowered dose growth feed every few weeks etc. Gary

Hi, gary. You do have to be careful that the atmosphere in the bag isn't *wet*, and that the air in the bag is fresh. Stale air is a place where all sorts of nasties thrive. I have had bagged bits rot when the bag stayed too wet.

I would loosen the bag for 15' or half an hour daily. You're right that you won't be watering often with no roots.

I would loosen the bag somewhat if I saw condensation (too wet IMO). I also would not close the bag up really tight. Leave a crack or two for air exchange.

To accelerate root growth, root hormones, and soaking the leaves in sugar water with Superthrive, per advice given previously helps.

If you have several good leaves, you have a good chance to save it, especially this time of year. The weather is working with you now. With root hormones, I usually get new roots started in about 6 weeks. Once you can see the plant looks a little perkier, loosen the bag more, and repeat until the plant looks like it can handle life without the bag.

It's a judgment thing-- giving the leaves humidity without such a close atmosphere that it encourages disease. Self correct as you go along

Good luck. I hope you let us know how it turns out.

[mytwogirls]

Once again mehitabel gives GREAT advice! Good luck and keep us posted.

[Aine2]

Didn't think I should post a new thread, I have a similar issue. I repotted
an orchid I bought a couple of months ago yesterday . Should have done this sooner Mehitabel. It was in spag & I'm a newbie, need I say more.
Well roots were in pretty bad shape but the surprise was there were two
chids. One of the chids has no leaves & only three green roots. My question
is there any possibility that I could save this chid with the method described
here?

[mehitabel]

Hi, Alne. You can always try. You will learn a lot from trying, even if you fail in the end. And it feels better if you have to let them go, to do it in stages. But don't flog yourself if you fail-- success with tiny things is well under 100%. With no leaves, it will have to put up a new crown from below, but sometimes they have reserve growing points, and do that fairly readily. But I'd say with no leaves, the chances are well below 50%, maybe less than 20%.

I think the poor little thing will do better if you can put it back into the same pot near its sister. Peter Lin recommends keeping little guys with other little guys. Claims it helps them all.

I personally don't do well with tiny things. Save and grow some, but definitely not all. So I can't say, oh yes, it'll do great. But is it worth a try? If you want it and have the patience, then yes. You'll know fairly quickly if it is responding.

[Aine2]

Originally Posted by mehitabel

Hi, Alne. You can always try. You will learn a lot from trying, even if you fail in the end. And it feels better if you have to let them go, to do it in stages. But don't flog yourself if you fail-- success with tiny things is well under 100%. With no leaves, it will have to put up a new crown from below, but sometimes they have reserve growing points, and do that fairly readily. But I'd say with no leaves, the chances are well below 50%, maybe less than 20%.

I think the poor little thing will do better if you can put it back into the same pot near its sister. Peter Lin recommends keeping little guys with other little guys. Claims it helps them all.

I personally don't do well with tiny things. Save and grow some, but definitely not all. So I can't say, oh yes, it'll do great. But is it worth a try? If you want it and have the patience, then yes. You'll know fairly quickly if it is responding.

OH THANKS Mehitabel. You have helped me so
much with this post in how to handle this little girl. The suggestion to put
her back with her sister feels so right, & if she has to go you are right it
will be easier to do it in stages. I am going to do that right now. Again
thank you for your kindness in helping me with this. You are the BEST!!!