damaged roots!?

[dragonflylady]

a phaleonopsis from 1800 flowers has damaged roots. i dont see any green roots. some are dark and mushy, some are dry and stringy. is there anything i can do to help it. it still has two flowers on it. or will it die, any help is greatly appreciated

[janet_a]

i'd whack the spike off at the base, clean off all the bad roots, pot it in damp sphag in completely indirect light, and cross my fingers. putting the whole thing in a baggie might not hurt either.

you could also call 1 800 flowers and yell, but their reaction might be "but the blooms were ok, right? so what are you complaining about?"

[mayres]

I'm with Janet - call and tell them you got a bad plant and would like a replacement. You were buying a "healthy" blooming "plant" - right?

[jerrymeola]

You deserved a healty plant. You should not have to go a year or more trying to cure this plant.

Ask for a replacement and if you do not get it write off the supplier, there are plenty of good places to buy plants.

[dragonflylady]

the plant still has 2 flowers on it and what looks like a bud trying to grow on the end. should i fertilize it. should i wait until the flowers fall off to cut it and bag it im really apprehensive since it cost 90 dollars i dont want to hurt my husbands feelings by killing it. thanks for the suggestions....

If you paid $90, I would DEFINITELY complain.

[dragonflylady]

well i just emailed them. i just need instructions from someone on how to bag it as mentioned earlier. should i wait for the last two blooms to fall, or should i do it now. the leaves are looking a little droopy and slightly wrinkled. please help this innocent orchid....

you should get a replacemnt, refund, tickets to the circus or something for $90.00! does it have a name tag?

[janet_a]

bag it *now* even if it's the whole plant. the wrinkly leaves are an indication it's not getting any water. clean off all the dead roots, rinse it down with a disinfectant (one ounce bleach to one gallon water is one) let it dry then stuff the whole thing in a baggie, spike sticking out the top if you want to save the flowers.

you can put some damp sphag or a wet tissue in the corner of the baggie to provide some moisture.

see also

http://firstrays.com/sphagnbag.htm

prepare to wait a *long* time for it to recover. and definitely call and yell; $90 is way too much to spend on a non healthy plant.

[dragonflylady]

thanks for all the help its a shame it was just an innocent orchid and someone wanted to sell it not keep it alive..