What would you do with this phal?

[WaterWitchin]

Oh man, you went there!

[Dorchid]

Or suffer from Mississippi inbreeding.

[Kim in CT]

Many thanks for the replies. I just unpotted her, pictures are attached. She has quite a "trunk" and I don't feel any mushy parts. There were a few roots at the bottom and they were pretty firm as well.

I also removed the remaining yellow leaf and there was a root nubbin underneath it. So from top to bottom, we have 4 shiny turgid leaves, two root nubbins at the bottom of leaf 4 on opposite sides of the stalk, then three dehydrated leaves followed by an aerial root, a root nub, and a root with a green tip that was growing down into the LECA. Then there's the last dehydrated leaf, followed by a firm, green, (dead?) root, then 3 inches of stalk with two firm, green, (dead?) roots at the bottom.

Does this change any of the previous advice? Surgeons, tell me where to cut!

Kim

[Shadeflower]

No cutting needed

That's my prognosis, I'd give it a good rinse, try to rub off any dirt from the stem so it's fairly clean, don't damage any nubs while doing this, then let the stem dry out completely before repotting it. The leaves are starting to dehydrate but it will handle drying out for a day after which it should settle back in S/H nicely.

[K-Sci]

Originally Posted by Kim in CT

Many thanks for the replies. I just unpotted her, pictures are attached. She has quite a "trunk" and I don't feel any mushy parts. There were a few roots at the bottom and they were pretty firm as well.

I agree with shadeflower. The stem looks sound. It would be a bad idea(tm) to cut into healthy stem tissue. It would present a risk of bacterial or fungal infection. Just clean up the stem as shadeflower suggested.

I also removed the remaining yellow leaf and there was a root nubbin underneath it. So from top to bottom, we have 4 shiny turgid leaves, two root nubbins at the bottom of leaf 4 on opposite sides of the stalk, then three dehydrated leaves followed by an aerial root, a root nub, and a root with a green tip that was growing down into the LECA. Then there's the last dehydrated leaf, followed by a firm, green, (dead?) root, then 3 inches of stalk with two firm, green, (dead?) roots at the bottom.

They don't look dead to me, and if they're firm it is very unlikely. Keep them.

Does this change any of the previous advice? Surgeons, tell me where to cut!

Kim

Hey Kim,

Do you have the following:
1) A tall terracotta (best) or plastic pot that you can put the plant into so the bottom leaf is below the rim. If you use plastic and it isn't slotted, use a hot metal object to melt or drill a generous number of vent holes.

2) Do you have sphagnum? If not, what do you have for potting media.

3) Do you have access to any of the following for the bottom of the pot:
- granite, lava rock, marble, etc. gravel ~3/4
- LECA, or
- Busted up terracotta pot shards (clean).

I would use the smallest pot possible. Put the stem in the bottom of the pot then fill the pot 1/4 full with the rock/LECA/or pot shards. Then tuck moist sphagnum into the top of the pot until the plant is well anchored in place. Then let it sit for a day or two before starting to water.

EDIT: Moving it to S/H would be great too. Your choice. I like sphagnum for rooting, but it should do just fine being moved back to LECA and S/H. If you go S/H, pot it low in the pot so LECA can be added when the bottom leaves fall off. This will also put more roots in the media. Added note: If you go S/H don't pot the plant so the stem would sit in water. Please let us know what you decided, and keep us posted on the outcome.

-Keith

[Kim in CT]

It was in S/H so I'm planning to go that route. I'll see if I can find a tall chimney vase for it -- I like using glass containers and I'm getting pretty good at drilling holes in the glass...

Should I try to "coax" that aerial root to grow down into the LECA? or just let it fly free?

(What a great cautionary tale about timing the transition to S/H. Don't let this happen to your orchid!)

[K-Sci]

S/H looks like a good choice. You'd just be finishing the transition you already started.

> Should I try to "coax" that aerial root to grow down into the LECA?
I would try. If you break it trying, it will probably continue to grow anyway.

> What a great cautionary tale about timing the transition to S/H. Don't let this happen to your orchid!
An experienced grower would be able to get the orchid through the transition, but moving to S/H doesn't seem to be a good choice for those who are unsure what to do if things go sideways.
-Keith

[Kim in CT]

"...those who are unsure what to do if things go sideways."

That would be me! I'll put away the scalpel and post an update in a few months. Thanks so much for the help!

[WaterWitchin]

I'm giving an alternative response, because it's what I'd do.

• Look at picture #5. Cut the stem somewhere in there between your index and middle finger.
  
  
• Cut off bottom four leaves close to stem, being careful not to damage any emerging root tips.
  
  
• Make paste of cinnamon and just enough glue to make it a paste. Dip end of stem in paste. Put the cinnamon/glue paste on cut ends of leaves, being careful not to get cinnamon on any roots. Alternate, dip end of stem in melted candle wax, use cinnamon paste on leaves (use a Qtip)
  
  
• Leave on bench overnight. Repot in your SH pot next day, using well-soaked LECA. Fill water to top of reservoir. Make sure it sits in a warm place.

That's the way I do it when I transition something that looks like that. If you choose that method, choose a less tall vase, but tall enough the end of stem is a good inch below the stem you've cut. Please read below Caveat...

---------- Post added at 07:45 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:44 AM ----------

PS The aerial root may or may not transition to SH. If you can get it so it's inside the pot, but not in the LECA, leave it there and let it choose whether to seek moisture or crawl back out of the pot rim.

[tmoney]

howdy, so i have grand total of 3 plants in s/h and am a new orchid grower myself. so my opinion is underpinned by those things.

anywho, you mentioned using a tallish, skinny vase? my instincts would not let me do that, so i would throw out thinking of using a short pot. the reason is that with basically no roots low, and possibly a stalk sitting low in the moister part of the pot, ina tall vase that might, might bring increased chance of rot. in a shorter pot, your dry line would be higher and help any roots that you might get started right away.

could be totally off base there, but as a fellow beginner that’s the route i would go. not sure how you can accomplish that easily with a long rootless stalk, but perhaps leaning it to the side to keep the base higher in the pot and choosing the most advantageous looking root side to grow their roots first down into the leca. edit to add that might also mean rigging up some sort of string or wire to hold the plant in the pot until it establishes some more roots

again, that’s how i would probly so it....but good luck with whatever you decide!!