orchid rehab

[ticketyboo]

Hi,
I'm new to this site, and am hoping to get some good advice. The cleaning lady at work who loves flowers always brings abandoned plants to me. This time she brought me an orchid but it looks like it was put in regular potting soil, the pot is clear glass and there is tons of dead root and algae and the only live root seems to be the few that are growing above the soil. I attached images of both (hope I used the attachment thing correctly). honestly it looks pretty disgusting.

I have the feeling that I ought to repot this plant but I'm a bit nervous about it due to all the dead roots beneath the soil and I'm sure I can't just take the plant from the top. I noticed another new root growing above the soil today, so this one is definitely a fighter

I wondered does anyone have any advice on approaching how to rehabilitate this plant? I'm not even sure what type of orchid it is, so I guess it's referred to as a noid

Thanks so much!
Caroline

soil_ugh.jpg

soil2_top.jpg

[justloveorchids]

Looks much like several I have resurected from abuse by their previous owners

1) remove the orchid from the soil carefully

2) rinse off all the soil

3) with a sterile pair of sharp scissors cut off all dead/sqishy/roots and rotten ends of any good roots
if they are firm and green or greenish grey as they will be above soil they are fine

4) carefully repot in a pot that has drainage holes at base using either LECA or proper orchid compost

If you can get some Worm Tea dilute that 1 to 10 parts of water and use that to soak the pot well now and then once a week

It should not be long before new growth and new roots form
its ok to keep aerial roots above soil but you do need some belove

[kmarch]

Caroline,

From what I can see of your orchid it looks to be a Phalaenopsis. Go to www.aos.org and download their free culture sheet n how to grow Phalaenopsis (Phals).

The plant really needs to be removed form this horrible looking mix and the glass with no drainage. Orchids must have good drainage or they fall victim to root rot. Get some good mix, a commercial mix for Phalaenopsis will probably be ok, and a plastic or clay pot, it looks like a 3-4-inch pot will do, get one just large enough to comfortably hold the roots.

Water the orchid good, and let it sit for a few minutes so the roots (if there are any) will soak up some moisture. Pull the plant out of the pot. Healthy roots are crisp and white-ish. Dead roots are grey or black and mushy. Cut off all dead roots. If there are good roots, pot the orchid in the mix you've bought (and soaked overnight) in the plastic or clay pot.

If you have no good roots left, look up the "Sphag and Bag" method (found on this forum) of nursing a rootless orchid back to health.

Let us know if you have questions.

Good luck!

[fred]

Hi and welcome to the forum
I hope that you enjoy your stay here with us

You will find the sphag and bag method in the section
Orchid Data Information For Newbies
http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/orc...tructions.html

feel free to ask as many questions as you like as the members here are a great bunch of folks, full of knowledge and always willing to offer there advice

[Anton]

Ticketboo, could you update your personal details to show where you are located, as this will aid with future help.

Sometimes questions can be answered better by people in your region who have local knowledge of conditions etc.

My guess is you are from Australia, somewhere ?

[pikevi]

Welcome to the forum, ticketyboo.

I am surprised that the orchid survived for this long!

Good luck.

[Tess1]

Hello ticketyboo, welcome to the forum. I don't have your type of orchid, but plenty of people here do and will put you on the right path. (the path to orchid-heaven).

[ticketyboo]

I have to express my surprise and joy at all the welcomes and great advice in this forum. Thank you thank you!!!
I've always wanted an orchid and spent a lot of time eyeing them, so when the cleaning lady brought me this one I was pretty excited about rehabilitating it. Thanks for all the wonderful advice, I'll definitly document the progress. I'm surprised it's still alive too!
Thanks again!!!!
Caroline

[robb]

welcome!

follow the suggested steps re: repotting/soaking and your phal will recover just fine. orchids are just as eager (if not more!) to survive. apply love and patience and they will be very happy!

[PhalPal]

Good luck with your new Phal Caroline! Sometimes it just amazes me how these supposedly 'delicate' plants survive. It couldn't possibly have been in that glass for too long. Yikes.

And Welcome to the forum. - Connie