help me save my phal!

[eolion]

SO I am another newbie orchid grower. I have only 1 but I really like it and want more if I can recover this one I have!

So I have moved across the country to a much wetter climate. During the trip my phal (which is my best guess as to what type it is) may have been exposed to cooler than normal temps but seemed to make out fine. I have not previously had any problems with it since I got it this past Oct. It has been in bloom the whole time, had a few unopened buds when I first got it and has only lost a few blooms. The blooms it has left seem like they are on the way out, which I half expect by now! The thing is one leaf got super mushy and dried almost up, another has some dark brown spots. All the leaves are just beginning to wrinkle. It has been in the basement beside some growing lamps because I thought it might be helpful for recovering after the week long trip across Canada.

But before I do I decided to see how tightly packed the moss was and check out the roots after reading some posts here. it is bad. the moss was very tightly packed and soaked and smells musty. So I took it all out from arround the roots. there were little to no tiny roots and the ones that were there were brown. the larger roots are brown, yellow and green and most of them have dark brown cracked parts in a number of places. There is 1 single root that is a nice pale green, kind of waxy looking and is firmly attached to the stem area above where the moss was.

I can post pictures tomorrow if necessary. My question is what do I do to give this phal the best chance of surviving. I am not going to throw it out. I do not have money for fancy things right now but maybe in a few weeks. I am going to place my phal back in its pot with moss lightly packed, without doing any except having removed the very yellow and mushy leaf. Left over moss is going to be left to dry and saved in case I need it. I am also going to move it upstairs by a west facing window where a number of other plants are growing well. And later today or tomorrow I am hoping some of you will have some advice for me as to how to save my precious phal.

THANK YOU!!!
Eolion

[eolion]

oops I forgot to mention: I think my father in law is watering it everyday! he does not take care to keep the leaves dry. I have asked him not to water my plants but he does anyways =) so there is that it has likely had lots of water. I used to water it weekly or maybe twice a week if I find it dry.

[Emma Grey]

First off, a picture of the plant can help since we can make an identification of the type of orchid it is. Post 5 times and then you can add pictures.

Second, orchids need air around the roots so don't pack the moss in tightly.

Third, watering every day is way too much!

Once you know what kind of orchid the plant is for sure you should check out the culture sheet for it at AOS (American Orchid Society) because that will tell you exactly how to care for the plant.

[orchidea]

Welcome to the forum!
The most common mistake in growing orchids is overwatering.....
They need air at the roots as much as moisture if not more.
I would suggest to cut all bad roots and to re-pot into a smallest possible pot with some fresh medium that is just little moist not wet and not to water it for a week or so. Make sure the pot has holes for the water to drain through and for the air to get to the roots.
Pictures will help a lot.
Goos luck and keep us posted.

[eolion]

Thank you both.
I do know that overwatering is bad. But my orchid has been left in the area of the basement where my FIL starts his garden vegetables, which he waters every day and receieves lots of light. Even though I specifically asked him NOT to water my plants (I have a few different kinds) he does so anyways. He is elderly and hard of hearing so I am not about to get into an argument with him. The only type he does not overwater are my aloes which obvious to him dont need a lot of water. Since he overwatered and killed my beautiful but damaged african violet I have been careful to observe my other plants daily. I have twice repotted a small jade tree because the soil was completely soggy and I needed to make sure that one does well as it is extremely sentimental. I have chosen to move my plants to my bedroom or to the livingroom window area where my MIL tends those plants and hopefully they can be saved. My jade is doing well and growing new leaves. But my orchid is not.

So I understand that it would be best to cut back any roots that have turned yellow or brown or have any cracks in them and repot into a small pot with new medium. So I have questions about this. First, I do not have the means to buy fresh new medium at this time and depending on the cost it may be weeks before I can afford to buy some. The moss that was in the pot was a bit musty but after I let it sit in a bowl pulled apart and fluffed a bit it has dried up somewhat and does not retain that smell. I have lightly placed it arround the roots and replaced the plant into its pot for now. Is this going to cause a big issue? or should I just replace the moss as soon as I can? Second, if any part of a particular root is bad should I remove the whole thing or just remove it until the root looks healthy. I have one or two roots that do not look too terrible nearer to the leaves but their very ends are yellow or brown, can I just remove the bad parts? Third, the pot it is currently in is only 4 inches diameter. Do you still suggest I find a smaller pot to repot it in? I will describe the pot. The outer pot is a regular decorative pot that has no holes in the bottom. I have been careful not to let water pool in there for longer than 30 mins (although I have had instances where it was watered and I poured it out after who knows how long). the inner pot is clear plastic with vertical slits all the way arround. The inner pot is the one that is 4" and the outer pot give a 3/4" gap arround the inner pot.

Chat soon, I have to go for now.

[orchidea]

You should cut just the bad part of the root and leave the good one. If you use the old moss, there is a potential rot left there. So, I would check the roots more often and keep the plastic pot only for a while without the decorative one. This way there is more air getting to the roots.

[Emma Grey]

Also, sprinkle cinnamon on the cut roots to prevent infection.

[dounoharm]

follow the above advice....replace the media as soon as possible for you....do not put the plastic pot within the decorative pot....it will inhibit air flow around the roots and at this point you need all the air you can get to the roots....defend against the daily waterer!! gl

[eolion]

Alright. Surgery this morning =(
I took pictures of before and after. And of the flowers but I can not post them yet. Now that there is less roots and moss in the pot it wants to tip over from the flowers being so heavy! So I am afraid of placing it near the window in the livingroom yet. Should I cut back the flower spike?

[eolion]

Theres a picture of the flowers to help in determining what type it is.

This is one of the roots before I did any cutting. I now think I should have waited. But too Late!

Another side of the roots before.

Brown sopt on the leaf.

After I cut the roots.





And thats it back in it's pot before I brought it back into my bedroom.

So what do you think?

[PhalNewbie89]

Honestly, I think I would cute the spike to allow the plant to focus on root and leaf growth. It also looks like you may have cut off a bit too much root. Hard to tell in pics but unless the roots are mushy or hollow they are still good for the plant.

Welcome to the Forum! You will love it here.

[PhalNewbie89]

Also, definitely a phalaenopsis orchid.

[tjlorchids]

Hello! You should repot it for sure. Even dead roots can still help the plant survive under stress. You may need to mist the leaves until the roots are recovered enough to supply water to the plants. If the leaves tend to look limp, you can mist them in the morning on a daily basis. You should be watering well about every 7 days or so. DO not let it sit in water, make sure your pot has good drainage. Good Luck! By the way orchids are like potato chips, you can't have just 1! Soon your collection will be growing!

[eolion]

I am sad. My plant may survive but I think I know now that most of the roots I cut off were likely ok. I didn't understand that the brown cracks were normal and so I cut off perfectly good roots because they were cracked. All I probably needed to do in this case was loosen up the moss and replace it when I could. Too bad.
I will cut back the spike though and see if that helps. Thanks for your help.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by tjlorchids

Even dead roots can still help the plant survive under stress.

I disagree. A dead root is a non-functioning root, it is of no benefit to the orchid as it can not take in the moisture and nutrients the plant needs.

Originally Posted by tjlorchids

You may need to mist the leaves until the roots are recovered enough to supply water to the plants.

This may be of some benefit in raising the ambient humidity level temporarily and thus reducing the amount of moisture lost through transpiration but misting leaves will not replenish the plant with moisture.

Originally Posted by tjlorchids

You should be watering well about every 7 days or so.

Watering frequency depends heavily on a number of factors like temperature, humidity, and the mix the orchid is potted in. A dry mix during a dry summer might mean watering every day. A moisture retentive mix in high humidity might mean watering only once every 10 days or so. While tj may water his/her (it's tough to tell with screen names sometimes ) phals every 7 days, she/he does so using a particular mix in a particular set fo conditions (temps, humidity etc).

Rather than just watering after a set number of days, I suggest using the skewer method to see how long it takes for your orchid to dry out. This will help your figure out how often you should water in your mix in your conditions.


DO not let it sit in water, make sure your pot has good drainage. Good Luck! By the way orchids are like potato chips, you can't have just 1! Soon your collection will be growing![/QUOTE]

[koshki]

Eolion, first, welcome to Orchid Geeks!

Second, we have all made mistakes with our orchids. They are tough lessons, but hey, we're human!

I did not know that certain masdevallias will bloom sequentially on their spikes. I cut off at least a dozen bloomed-but-not-dead spikes on my infracta, which is a sequential bloomer! So I know EXACTLY how you feel. I guess the carpenter's adage, "measure twice and cut once" applies, although I'd substitute "research" for measure! LOL!

But you've got at least one good root, and I'll bet that your plant will respond. It's probably just happy that you got it out of that old nasty sphag! Take a look at this thread for some more ideas: http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/gee...and-media.html

Good luck, and stick around here with us...you're sure to make some much more advanced mistakes with us

[Mamarazzi]

As far as your FIL watering everything every day, perhaps you could color code for him? Popsicle sticks, rubber bands or pipe cleaners?

Good luck with your 'chids!