When to abandon a sphag and bag effort?

[Annika]

About 2 weeks ago, on the advice of some folks on another orchid board, I unpotted and bagged one of my phals. I got it as a gift and didn't realize, being a novice at this, that I probably should have repotted it right away. Well, I discovered that its roots were pretty much all rotted away with one or two firm (but not green) roots remaining. I soaked it in a hydrogen peroxide solution before bagging it, but didn't have any rooting compound. Well, after 2 weeks, I don't see any signs of new growth---everything is kind of blackish grey---and now the bottom leaf has yellowed and dropped off. Is it time to abandon this poor orchid to the graveyard? Advice appreciated! Thanks!

[charmbutterfly]

2 weeks is no time at all!! I've had plants in bags for close to 2 months before they got enough roots so i could repot!

If you can get your hands on KLN or Superthrive, you should soak the plant for a couple hours then place in the bag with some damp moss or paper towel.

I noticed that my plants would lose a leaf or two, but i guess its the plants way of saving energy to grow new roots. Make sure you keep it in a warm shady area.

Don't give up ok!

[gerneveyn]

It's really up to you. If it were my plant, I would remove as much dead tissue as possible, dip in hydrogen peroxide for five to ten minutes, and then let it soak for at least 2 hours in a nutrient solution of 1 cup of sugar & 1/4 teaspoon of Superthrive or KLN dissolved in 1 gallon of warm water. The nutrient solution along with sphag and bag instructions can be found here: Sphag-n-Bag. I have found Superthrive in Walmart and Home Depot in the fertilizer section. I have been putting my rootless ones in sphag in a plastic basket such as the ones in which strawberries may be packed. I water as usual when the moss is almost dried out. When the roots are almost two inches, then I pot the orchids in s/h, my preferred growing method.

[quiltergal]

If you think it looks dead, wait a couple weeks. If it still looks dead, wait some more. Don't throw it out unless the whole thing turns black and mushy. Phals are really much tougher than most people give them credit for. I've brought a couple back from death's doorstep. They lived to flower another season.

[dianecty]

I read the sphag and bag method in the link and it says to put moss on 1 side of the bag and then put the orchid in the bag not in direct contact with the moss. Does that mean they are just side by side in the bag, not touching? the plant is not supposed to be in the moss?

Do I open the bag from time to time and mist the moss to make it moist again?

[razka3]

The moss should stay moist in the bag for weeks. But yes, definitely open the bag each day and blow some air into it... I actually leave my bag halfway open. I don't let the moss touch the plant. Sometimes I take the plant out and spray it's root area with KLN mixture and look it over. I just checked yesterday, and the phal I have in there has 3 new root tips about to break through the skin... it's been about 4 weeks in the bag.

[dianecty]

Ok, I'll try it on my phals & catts. Thanks.

[dianecty]

Can I put more than 1 dying plant in 1 bag with the sphag?

[Annika]

Thanks, everybody, for your advice and support. I don't want to give up on this phal. I'm hoping to give it some root compound tomorrow. I've got it in a bag with some damp moss but the moss has not been in contact with the roots. And I've been blowing into the bag every day. Here's hoping!

[AHAB]

Hey dianecty,
I wouldn't risk it, since they will be in the bag for many weeks, one could die and contaminate the other... besides bags are cheap.
Best
AHAB