what is this?

[Evangeline Bourne]

can anyone tell me whats wrong with this plant? that white spot has me pretty worried.

[jbigio]

I would have to say since the other leaves look ok that it is sunburn.

[mayres]

Not only sunburn, but the rest of the plant is suffering from dehydration caused by root loss. You have a long rehabilitation perod on your hands if you hope to bring this back to health.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Mike, I am not so sure about the dehydration thing. If those roots we see in the picture are firm, I think it is OK in that respect.

[Evangeline Bourne]

Thanks guys.
Do you think it would be a good idea to remove a couple of the leaves? I really want this plant to live, I honestly think its the most beautiful orchid I've ever seen. I wish I had a photo of its flower



that is the underside of the roots when I took the original photo. They have improved a little since then, but not a whole lot. there is also a little bit of new root growth.
Do you think that the amount of leaves would be putting unnecessary strain on the plant?
Also... Trying to get better at identifying the diff types of orchids, would I be correct in saying that its a phal?

[norris]

Hi Evangeline, I would think the leaves are producing energy for the plant as long as they are green and live, and definitely would not cut any off.

[Evangeline Bourne]

ok good.
Ive spaged and bagged it... just hoping for the best at the moment.

[berkeleysgr8]

In the first photo it looks to me like you have two plants... the older "mother" plant and the smaller sunburned basal keiki plant. If there really are two plants, I would pot them separately. Am I the only one seeing the sunburned plant as a basal keiki? Would you post another photo or two from different angles so I can be sure about what I'm seeing?

[norris]

berkeleysgr8, I think you're right about the basal keiki.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

If those roots are firm, the plant needs to be potted, not bagged. It does look like the keiki with the burnt leaf can be removed unless the poster wants a full looking plant. Both pieces tho should have a few roots each before separating them. If your humidity in Barbados is normally pretty high, potting up only is fine. If not, a little clear plastic sheeting like a big baggy can be put loosely over the the plant to raise humidity for awhile, but you must leave openings to allow the plant to go thru a wet/dry cycle.

[Evangeline Bourne]

I dont mind it not looking so full, I just want to do what I can to keep it alive. we're really humid, its currently 78% humidity and its 9pm at night.
splitting the 2 plants would give them a better chance? I'll go get some more pics now.

[Evangeline Bourne]

ok....
got some photos.
first of all, yes it was 2 plants. when I was (gently) examining it they seemed to want to pull appart at a certain point, and with a tiny gently tug one plant became 2. I think the bacterial infection that rotted all the roots may have helped that process along a little :/

this is the bigger plant





as you can see, very very very little root value

The small (baby?) plant on the other hand...


seems to be coming along quickly... there are little green root things starting where there was none only a day or 2 ago.



then theres this one....
this is another that my boss gave me... its depressing has a very pretty flower also




as you can see in the first picture, we have just treated it with peroxide again. it isnt improving anywhere near as quickly as the others.
*sigh*
let me know what you think.
pot VS spagh & bag for all of them

[mayres]

There are a lot of potential responses to how to recoup plants in that condition - part of the success will depend upon your environment vs. someone elses and how much personal attention they will receive. Probably more than one concept will work. Phals are amazingly resiliant - it will take some significant time, but they all look salvageable. I would assume in your area there is pretty good humidity in the natural environment? If they were my plants I would plant them in small pots of coir mix - my guess is that the scheme you have already embarked upon will get the most votes (sphag and bag). Good luck and keep us informed with your progress.

[Evangeline Bourne]

argh! We allready took them out and potted them again.
Put them back in the bags you think?

[Brooke]

You can sit the pot in the bag but leave the top open for air exchange.

Brooke

[Evangeline Bourne]

with 89% humidity at night and that or more of a day is it necessary?

[Brooke]

At that humidity I wouldn't but I was responding to your question "Put them back in the bags you think?". Because of the humidity in Barbados it is why I warned you to keep the bag open at the top.

Good luck with your plant.

Brooke

[Celcat]

Evangeline,

I will repot these plants in medium bark compost. Personnaly, I do add some pieces of polysterene at the bottom at the pot. My phals do pretty well that way. I would as well put some sphag at the top of the pot initially until I get few new roots, but then I do live in a flat where humidity is pretty much difficult to control. In any case, it will take time: Patience is a vertue

Good luck

Celcat

[Evangeline Bourne]

Thanks guys, I'll let you know how they go.

[Evangeline Bourne]

Hey guys. Just thought I would let you know that unfortunately one of the phals that we spaged and bagged died all the others are looking like they are going to pull through but theres still a bit of bacterial infection we are struggling. Thankfully we are seeing some new root growth and new leaves. Fingers crossed

[norris]

I am curious, was the one that died the mother plant or the basal keiki?

[Evangeline Bourne]

actually it was neither of the pictured plants. They both have new root growth and new leaves.
It was another Phal that died.