saving a dying phal...!

[dexter391]

hi there i'd like to know if i could use a growth hormone like seradix-B (butyric acid) to help save a phal,or to see if it whould grow more roots...?

[tom499]

if your phal has no roots it wants spag bagging!!

Or plant it up with moss quite tightly packed around the base where roots form. This usually induces roots.

rooting powders are expensive and havent really been proven to work.

[dexter391]

thanks i'll try it.. but the phal, has no leaves , only a couple of roots, and the 2 stems, that havent died yet, do you think i can stil save it or is it to late?

[tom499]

if its got roots and a green bit you've got a chance.

It will be a long recovery but abit of moss and a pot shouldnt be too much of a price to pay to save it

[mayres]

Don't want to be a downer, but I have yet to learn of anyone saving a leafless phal on this forum. A number have tried and no success yet - not to say that it cannot be done. I gave one a chance for 3-4 months and finally decided it was pointless. Except in extreme cases I would think your efforts might be more rewarding concentrating on a healthy plant. They are relatively inexpensive - you can often find bloomed out plants in the clearance section of garden departments of multiple types of stores for just a few dollars - with nice big healthy green leaves. Regardless - good luck! mike

[PhalPal]

Welcome to the forum dexter391 - sorry to say but I agree with mayres above. I have saved phals with leaves and no roots, but never the reverse. Simply put, the orchid needs leaves to produce energy for the plant. Any money you may spend on your sick plant would be better spent on a new orchid.

[cupcake]

Yup! I'd buy a new orchid! Sorry! Judi

[tom499]

A spare pot and moss is hardly costly, As long as the crown isnt dead theres still the chance.

Any of those roots aerial? keep the roots moist and with some light. that green colour is the root outer later getting moist and so turning transparent. the chorophyll in the roots will do some photosynethesis for you

ghost orchids are just one example of leafless plants.

being its a "lost cause" get some moss from the garden, find the long stranded stuff, give it a good soak and use that. keep the roots moist but give the roots some light too. Watering will be a 20 second job a day, and see what happens over the weeks.

Of course, buy more orchids as well to give you some flowers but theres alot that can be learned about orchids by trying to save the ones most would throw away.

[Jo_Pyeweed]

Hi Dexter391 ! Welcome to the forum. I noticed that you said your plant has 2 stems. Can you please post a picture of the plant ? Maybe it isn't a Phal, but some other type of orchid.

And, as tom499 notes, if the crown isn't dead then there may still be a chance

Cheers,
Jo

[dexter391]

last nite when i got back , i actualy saw that the crow has came lose and fell off, so now i'm stil woundering if there is anything i can do, i'll post some pics, for you guys , and i've got moss, and a growth regulater....maybe i can cutt of the node on the spike and try to save it ? im not shure, and i'm relatively new to this ? oh yeah, does the spikes and roots die, if the crown is gone?

[PhalPal]

Okay Kids let's review!!! Do I have this right? No leaves, no roots, no crown. But you have two flower spikes??
If you have no crown you have no plant and no chance of saving it. You can induce more flowers from a node only if it is still attached to a healthy plant, and the practice is spotty at best. If your crown has truly died your flowers will soon fade as well.