very sick phalenopsis

[brazilianfernie]

i was telling my friend at school today about how I've been doing great with some of my orchids and one of my friends told me she had one that was really sick and she didnt know what to do with it and was going to throw it away! I told her to bring it to me and I could let her know if it was savable but I dont think this little fella is going to make it. It was severely dehydrated, sphag moss was crispy dry as were ALL of the roots. the leaves are still green (2 of them) and there is one aerial root and a little green nub of something poking out that looks really healthy. I took some pics and need some advice. Is she savable or should I throw it away?
if she is savable, what the heck do I do?

[brazilianfernie]

I have it soaking in a bowl of water right now.

[edgy]

Oi...look, the little one is in bad shape. My advice would be to replant this one loosely in Sphag and then give it the conditions Phals need. Worst case scenario it continues to decline until it's gone. Best case scenario...it improves and slowly but surely comes back to health. I have one my sister, the most diabolical killer of orchids this side of the Mississsipi, gave me right now. It had a couple more roots than yours but the leaves are limp and floppy and leathery feeling...I did exactly what I suggested with it. Still too early to tell on mine, but it hasn't gotten any worse....I'm sure some of the more exerienced memebers will be along shortly to chime in. Good luck, keep us posted

[NewGrower]

I have a sick Catt (not quite that bad but I had to take off about 90% of its roots)... I soaked it and took all the old moss/bark/junk out of the roots and soaked it an hour. I was advised to put something to clean the roots with and I put it in a less moist medium... although yours seems to have had the opposite problem (not enough water... while mine was over watered with root rot)!
I agree with edgy, get it set up in proper phal conditions and hope for the best!
(I am sure someone will come along with more advice.... until then good luck!! I know waiting for good advice can be tough lol)

[brazilianfernie]

Has anyone on this forum used rock wool instead of sphagnum moss? what are your thoughts?

[NewGrower]

Rock wool? I havent even heard of that!

Mine are just in rocks

[brazilianfernie]

it kindof looks like sphagnum moss but is made of rock, its very fine and "thread" like.

[edgy]

There really shouldn't be any issue with using rock wool....dpending on how its used. Are you cutting it up into small cubes or what? Remember, key to success with the phals is airflow around the roots. Rock wool, if packed too tight, might not provide enough airflow.

[Jenny Ryan]

Originally Posted by brazilianfernie

Has anyone on this forum used rock wool instead of sphagnum moss? what are your thoughts?

Yes, I've had 2 orchids in rock wool with some styrofoam balls mixed in.(1 Phaph, 1 Cym). I bought them like that and they died faster than anything I've ever experienced.
The cym. was a large-flowered wine-coloured beauty which looked like it was planted in bark, but actually had rockwool at the centre of the roots. Maybe one should lift any newly purchased orchid out of its pot to see what the medium is.
With the Phaph. it was as though the rock wool never dried out. The wooden skewer gauge method would be a very good idea.

[Jenny Ryan]

Originally Posted by NewGrower

Rock wool? I havent even heard of that!

Mine are just in rocks

My dictionary says: Rock wool is a fibrous material that looks like spun glass, made from molten rock or slag through which steam is forced. It is used for insulation, especially in buildings.