Trying something new.....

[orchid_girl]

One of my phals, I find out has lost all of its roots. I have noticed everyone is talking about the sphag and bag method...I was wondering could the same thing be done with a large jar over the plant instead of a bag? I am trying that considering my poor phal does not have much to lose. I will post some pics of what I did later. Any opinions about this would be appreciated

[joan gero]

Well, you'd want to know what made the roots all die! If it is disease, well... sigh. If it's over-watering, I'd put it the crown in a very fine medium like what we call "Aussie Gold" (it's also called something else on this forum) and water it very sparsely to see if new roots form to "look for" water... and keep it out of bright sun during that time. I don't know that the increased humidity would help...

[orchid_girl]

I should have said what caused the root loss sorry It was from over watering not disease.

[pikevi]

I think it will work, new_to_orchids.

Are you thinking of an apothecary's jar?

Good luck.

[orchid_girl]

Yeah something like that. Growing my roses I used jars to cover them untill they grew roots. I figured it might work with the orchids as well....I guess we will see

[sandra]

I have one phal in recovery now since mid September. It happens to be one of my favorites, a Harlequin so when I noticed the leaves (3) were becoming limp, I unpotted it to find not even 1/2" root left....everything else, dead, I panicked. I went to a nursery that grows mostly phals for displays they put together. Every phal there was growing in Hydroton with just a small amount of coir, perlite, charcoal layered on top. The owner told me to put my sick phal in the Hydroton with nothing else and water every 3 days. I did put a tad of sphag around the parameter of the pot, away from the plant just to keep the humidity up. I use worm tea with every watering. The phal lost 2 of it's leaves, the other leaf is now firm and has rallied back, and 2 new leaves growing, all within 3 weeks. Yesterday, I noticed a nice, healthy root on it's way so I think it's going to rebound. I can't imagine expecting more than this and all in less than a full month.

You might want to give this a try. Whatever you try, I hope you're as lucky as I've been with mine.

[pikevi]

Mine are in very bad shape. I don't know why they potted them with 'good' plants. I have not tried Hyodroton ever. I will see if I can them locally.

I am going to leave these two as they are since I consider them a 'bonus' if they survive