Floppy limp 2 leaves.

[SouthPark]

Thanks very much Ray! Really excellent comments you made, that definitely helps me out a lot - regarding improving my understanding about all those different conditions. Your development and refinements of the semi-hydro techniques is just outstanding - together with your recommendations for orchid growing in general.

[early]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

Thanks very much Ray! Really excellent comments you made, definitely helps me out a lot - regarding improving my understanding about all those different conditions. Your development and refinements of the semi-hydro techniques is just outstanding - together with your recommendations for orchid growing in general.

You two, SouthPark and Ray along with many others have taught me a lot. But you two were my first teachers.

[SouthPark]

Early - we're all students of orchid growing. You, me and all. When we all team up together ----- we can achieve some fantastic results with our orchids. Ray is a professional! He certainly knows an incredible amount. His comments (to me) always makes excellent sense.

A real pleasure to encounter you on OrchidBoard Early.

[early]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

Early - we're all students of orchid growing. You, me and all. When we all team up together ----- we can achieve some fantastic results with our orchids. Ray is a professional! He certainly knows an incredible amount. His comments (to me) always makes excellent sense.
A real pleasure to encounter you on OrchidBoard Early.

.
I have a sweet spot in my heart for down under. And my friend Rae and her husband invited me to visit for a month but I had Lyme Disease and I have always been sad that I could not go. Good to have a friend like you here on OB. You have taught me a lot.

[early]

J read the Kelp Max fix for rootless orchids.
And here is what I did. Cleaned the roots. Let them dry our for a bit. Put them overnight in a solution of 1 tbs kelpmax to the gallon, only up to a few mm from the crown. Tented it over night. This morn I soaked some new LECA, left the white strings minus the brown, filled up with LECA, and watered with fresh KelpMax, stablized it with two sticks, tented and put it in a warm place until I get the seedling heat mat. so this is day two. photos.

I have to try to get those photo right side up. My project of the day is to learn how. That should take up the rest of my morning

[Ray]

The idea is to have the bag go over both the plant and the pot so it traps the humidity. Having it suspended on the plant alone isn't quite there.

[early]

Originally Posted by Ray

The idea is to have the bag go over both the plant and the pot so it traps the humidity. Having it suspended on the plant alone isn't quite there.

The only plastic bag I have now since I am out of large zip locks, is a grocery store non clear plastic. Will that work. other than what you just said, did you see anything else re the use of KelpMax, that I needed to do differently? I think either on your site or KelpMax site, it said to immerse the whole rootless orchid. did that mean crown also? and if so, how do you drain or dry it out?

[SouthPark]

Early ----- that bag at the moment is better than none. Nice work.

A clear plastic bag would allow enough natural light through to allow the plant to keep doing the photo-synthesis --- the conversion of light plus other things to food/energy. So if there's not enough light, then the plant can't do the photo-synthesis. Maybe there's still enough light that can get through with your bag. A clear one might be better though. But ----- having a bag for now that maintains humidity levels is definitely better than no bag.

[early]

SP I found one clear bag, on gallon size I think,
I split it up the sides and the zip lock off too. then took press and seal clear plastic, some wide clear tape and patched it so it would fit better. Thanks, so I am good to go.
I have ordered the seedling heat mat, a couple, cause this week I am starting seeds, in my atrium, where I have all my other plants and will keep them inside until I can stick some in the planters outside, mostly flowers and basil...
How long do you think, under the best conditions, does it take a rootless phal to grow some? I was checking my only one or two other mini phals that are not growing new leaves. and it was one of those that have two roots, on top of the media. Soon I will repot those.
Going to dollar tree to get more of the measuring cups I use for inner and outer containers with the two holes burned in one inch up. Since I live alone, I don't care about the beauty or lack of in my cups that are sturdy, and clear. I am having great luck with them. growing orchids is a wonderful distraction.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by early

The only plastic bag I have now since I am out of large zip locks, is a grocery store non clear plastic. Will that work. other than what you just said, did you see anything else re the use of KelpMax, that I needed to do differently? I think either on your site or KelpMax site, it said to immerse the whole rootless orchid. did that mean crown also? and if so, how do you drain or dry it out?

Sure, a grocery store bag will work. You don't want the plant in direct sun anyway, or it'll broil.

The idea behind soaking bare-root plants in KelpMax is to try to maximize the uptake of the stimulants. With no roots, that's the only way to get it in the plant. The greater the surface area in the solution, the greater the absorption. When soaking is done, just invert the plant and let it gravity drain.

You only do that for the initial treatment of a rootless plant. After that, or for plants with even a few roots, normal watering with the solution is adequate.

Other possible enhancements are to double to KelpMax concentration to one ounce per gallon and keep the plant VERY warm. Applying bottom heat by setting the pot on a seedling heat mat is also good.