Phal help: keeping remaining aerial root hydrated + stem rot - Orchid Board

yvresse · #1 03-11-2019, 04:27 AM

Hello all!

One remaining (small) aerial root
May have stem rot(?)
Healthy looking keiki on a spike but no roots so I can't propagage it yet
Cold temps at home...maybe between 10~15C

Being the newbie that I am, I thought my phal's roots became dehydrated because I hadn't known to repot it. After trimming off the dead roots (and one drying flower spike) I repotted with spagnum moss and kept up the moisture level by misting and surrounding pot with bowls of water. The leaves were perking up but after a week, I noticed black nubs. It's possible that I had missed these on initial inspection but it's also possible that they developed after the more intense watering.

Now I'm in a bit of a bind. I understand the need to keep my phal humid but at the same time I need to reduce moisture if that is, indeed, stem rot.

The black nub is very near the aerial root so I'm quite concerned.

My plan is to (see sketch Error 404 (Not Found)!!1

Try hydrogen peroxide 3% on black stem
Use a pot with more holes so medium can dry
In addition to bowls of water around the pot, place water benath the pot (pot's base will have holes)

Any other ideas? Is it better to use wood chip with a layer of spagnum moss on top?

Thank you!

P.S. Sorry if this is a duplicate...I did skim through Stop the phal abuse up to page 14...

Jodsbods19 · #2 03-25-2019, 09:44 PM

Hi!

Super newbie (and sadly Phal killer) here, is not sure if I’m really qualified to help...

From your photos it is hard to see if the black nub is rotten. But on my Phals, the parts with stem rot are black, and mushy when you press on then lightly with a fingernail- liquid comes out. I’m desperately trying to save 5(!) phals with varying stages of stem rot so sadly I have seen a lot of it in the last few weeks!!

Oh well, they say you learn more from mistakes and when things go wrong!

The fact that the leaves are perking up and that it is growing a keiki both sound positive- either the phal May pull through, or if the keiki can grow enough roots to be potted on its own.

Good luck!

Mountaineer370 · #3 03-26-2019, 08:15 AM

I think you may be putting more emphasis on humidity than is warranted. My home is typically in the 25 to 35 percent range in the winter, and I do not supplement humidity. The biggest issue I see from your post are your temps. I'm sorry to be blunt, but if your home temps range from 10C to 15C (50F to 59F), I don't think you have much hope of rehabilitating your sick Phal.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #4 03-26-2019, 09:51 AM

No need for hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is such a strong oxidizer that it can cause more damage than do any kind of good.

What your Phal went through was root rot not stem rot.

Stem rot is actually the easier problem to deal with because a Phal can recover better with only roots (just water and allow to dry between waterings). It can be more of a struggle to get Phals with leaves only to produce new roots.

You might be able to increase the humidity by putting the Phal in a pot with bark, then putting this pot into a larger pot that has some moss at the bottom. This way it keeps the plant humid and it can prop the rootless Phal up as well.

Don't worry about the keiki, it will grow new roots without you doing much. It is the Phal's way of bailing itself out of a bad situation.

yvresse · #5 03-27-2019, 12:25 AM

Thank you everyone!

I eventually moved the orchid to the bedroom and kept the temperature up. I also bought some kelp and am keeping my fingers crossed. Will report with good news if any!

It looks like I may have double posted by accident. You can check out suggestions from other members here too: Phal help: keeping remaining aerial root hydrated + stem rot