Please Help!!

[caleb69]

Hi guys, I could really do with some help in caring for my orchid. A few months ago I repotted my Phalaenopsis. At first it seemed like it was all going ok. But the pot kept getting knocked which meant I had to resit it in the pot. The plant now seems to have gone into some sort of dormancy: there aren't any new leaves or roots growing and I'm worried that pretty soon the leaves it has left are going to start dying. Although it's always had more aerial roots than normal ones it only has one small normal root left as some plonker over-watered it and the rest rotted away. As it doesn't have a proper roots system anymore I'm worried it can no longer absorb nutrients and that's why it's not growing. Is there anything I can do to help it?

[Aniko]

Yes, you can! This plant is starved and dehydrated because of the lack of roots.
I would soak it well in a superthrive & fertilizer solution, then re pot in sphagnum moss, pressing gently around the roots, covering all of them.I would place it deeper in the pot so that the leaves could get support from the edge of the pot.
Aniko.

In fact no difference between aerial and regular roots, just the first are "searching" for new medium to grab.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

I think leaving the longest roots out of the pot is a good idea, then mist these heavily twice a day to supply what the plant needs in the way of water until it can grow some roots down into the pot. I would not try to put all the roots into the pot. If after you do this for a while, the leaves are starting to look dehydrated, put a little plastic wrap or clear baggy over the plant loosely to raise the humidity a bit. Leave plenty of opennings, as you still want a wet dry cycle, but just with higher humidity around the plant until new roots grow into the pot. I would not worry about leaf growth right now, just maintain the plant until the roots get established.

[caleb69]

Thanks very much for the advice! I've just got a few more questions. I've repotted the plant now; I couldn't get any of the moss but do you think I should put it a bit deeper? The middle roots are only just below the surface (ie. only have 1 piece of bark above them). How long do you think it should take for new roots to grow? Also, are there different types of superthrive? I've found this one:

ht
tp:/
/ ww
w. grow
ell . co.
uk/p
/ 0600/ Supe
rThrive .ht
ml.

And finally, what sort of fertiliser should I use? I've been misting the plant twice a day but I can't really see any difference so far.

Thanks very much

[gerneveyn]

There's only one type of Superthrive. You can also use Dynagro KLN instead. The plant looks fine to me, but I would do what Cynthia mentioned with the bag to raise humidity.

[Aniko]

I would try to find some sphagnum moss to cover and keep wet at least a part of the roots.This very coarse bark has no contact with them - But I don't want to contradict Cynthia.

The recommended fertilizer is an orchid food or any other balanced fertilizer(like:20-20-20)for example Miracle Grow, in a light dilution: 1/4 tsp per gallon of water.
Don't expect results very soon, the recovery takes time: weeks, maybe months.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Looks good to me, and being only a single layer deep is probably best for roots that have been air roots. Adding moss to the top seems like it could confuse your ability to see when things are just right, but then since I haven't done it, I really am no one to judge. I think the misting may be enough. There are always a number of ways to approach any orchid problem, and only rarely is there really a best way.

[Aniko]

Based on my experience - which I admit honestly is not much - I say that aerian roots can be converted to regular if are slightly covered by moss so the air can circulate yet, and they get wet/dry completely in short sequences.I say dry completely because on the top they dry rapidly, before the whole medium is dried.This way we create a kind of transition.
Aniko.

[snowflake]

when you mist it you could also use thrive alive b-1 (the green type) orchids seem to love as a foliar

jmhe i see no difference in air or other roots, mostly cosmetics. when repotting older phals i've cut off the lowest roots and stem to keep the plant at a resonable height without ill effects when done while the plant is showing new growth. following any repot i do take it very easy on any fertilizer waiting until i see signs of adjustment. that's just me.

[caleb69]

Originally Posted by Aniko

I would try to find some sphagnum moss to cover and keep wet at least a part of the roots.This very coarse bark has no contact with them - But I don't want to contradict Cynthia.

The recommended fertilizer is an orchid food or any other balanced fertilizer(like:20-20-20)for example Miracle Grow, in a light dilution: 1/4 tsp per gallon of water.
Don't expect results very soon, the recovery takes time: weeks, maybe months.

Hi there, just one more question: how often do I need to use the superthrive&fertiliser? Should I do one soak with it before repotting and then water once a week with it?

[Aniko]

After a good soak with fertilizer & superthrtive I would just water a while when needed, until I see the roots growing - not necessarily a new root, but at the tip of the old ones.Than, I would continue the usual pattern of fertilizing, about every other watering. Meantime I would take care of the upper uncovered or partially covered roots spraying them if necessary.
If after about a month no changes can be seen, I would repeat the soaking.

Superthrive I use from time to time, I haven't a strict program for it .
Aniko.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

I think I would continue to water and fertilize like normal , 1/4 strength every 2nd, 3rd or 4th watering would be good. Full strength (according to directions) if labeled for orchids.

[caleb69]

Hi there; I'm still having problems with my orchid. It's started growing a new leaf (albeit a very small one and very slowly) but the plant still seems to be pretty much dormant. It also has even fewer roots than it did before now. All the proper roots have died so the only ones left are a few rubbish aerial ones. Is there any way of forcing it to grow more roots? Like an orcid rooting powder or something?

[Aniko]

In my opinion this type of coarse bark is not the proper medium for Phal, especially for a troubled one. Potted in sphagnum moss or other moisture retentive medium, it would be OK by now...