2° Part - 3 Very Dehydrated Phalaenopsis - Orchid Board

SADE2020 · #1 11-20-2021, 12:12 PM

Again I come back with the challenge of rescuing these 3 dehydrated girls ... they are gifts that I have given to friends and they return them to me like this. All three are recycled Phals, which I got to bloom for the 2nd or 3rd time after rescuing them from I don't know where. I mean, this will be the 2nd rescue.

As you can see, the leaves are like sheets; totally soft, they can be fully rolled..

The challenge is to hydrate the leaves and get at least 1 new root in 1 week or at most in 10 days, using a different technique for each one and see what has worked better.

Alternative proposals are accepted, that is, ideas of how to do it that normally serve you.

Roberta · #2 11-20-2021, 12:21 PM

I have no new suggestions... you do very well! I will be eager to learn what technique(s) work. Those plants look pathetic. I think maybe these friends should receive plastic plants and flowers!

rbarata · #3 11-20-2021, 12:40 PM

1 root in one week seems to be too much...
I would do what I usually do...put it in a pot (doesn't matter if it's clay or plastic) with coarse medium size bark and mist it gently just to wet the bark's upper layers and wait.

Shadeflower · #4 11-20-2021, 01:06 PM

Sade 1 week is unrealistic lol. I'd give them 18 months to fully recover.
The aim is a constant low supply of moisture. One way is lecca in a cup with a bit of water at the bottom which sucks the water up to keep the roots humid.
Spraying them works but it is a lot of work and it is hard to find the right balance, you either get them too wet or they dry too much.
Then again any scenario will not have much effect in 1 week.

Repotting is only worth it as a long term project so it might just have to be spraying but then these people could just as easily do that.

My preferred way is wicking pots as you probably know. It still provides constant humidity to the lecca in the pot but the lecca does not stay as wet as lecca sitting in water.

tmoney · #5 11-20-2021, 01:19 PM

do you have any kelpmax/kelpak? if so, i would take one and soak the whole plant in it for like 24 hours, then repot in nice fresh media. maybe you could see a root nubbin or 2 in like 2 weeks i bet...

or they’re on their way out! good luck sade!

SADE2020 · #6 11-20-2021, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadeflower

Sade 1 week is unrealistic lol. I'd give them 18 months to fully recover.
.

Shadeflower · #7 11-20-2021, 03:22 PM

don't blame me

blame the people that did this.

If it helps, kelpmax does give them a boost but I have seen even better results using kelpmax + Fulvic acid. I use both at minimum concentrations, 0.1ml per liter for the fulvic acid but I saw instant results I had not seen just using the kelpmax for months.

I know there are literally thousands of different products all promising to improve the plants but it's like finding a cleaning product, you find a good one and you stick with it even if there are thousands that promise all kinds of miracle results, the good ones have whatever chemical does the job well and not much else beats that. Technology does evolve but trees (and orchids) have been growing for millions of years without us. With all that said I would recommend fulvic acid if anyone is looking for something to give their plants a boost that actually does give them a boost. It's an acid found in soils that allows for greater uptake of nutrients. They really respond to it, but that is for healthy orchids. I doubt it can harm it. Same with kelpmax.

SADE2020 · #8 11-20-2021, 04:27 PM

guys, guys .... you are focusing on the root and I think the main focus is try to regain hydration; get the leaves filled again (loaded, mush...etc), so that the plant establishes itself easier, without starting form scratch waiting for new leaves. No?

I think in all 3 the roots are not that bad...my friends did not water them, it is not that there is much rot, but dryness

---------- Post added at 09:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:22 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roberta

I have no new suggestions... you do very well! I will be eager to learn what technique(s) work. Those plants look pathetic. I think maybe these friends should receive plastic plants and flowers!

Incredible

.. I was in shock!

I told them that I would do the same with them; not give them water (...in their case wine) or take care of them ..to see what happens.

But poor things they both have babies and no time.

Roberta · #9 11-20-2021, 04:28 PM

Still thinking about appropriate plants for your friends... I am reminded of a "Phalaenopsis plant" in the home of quite a good grower (alas no longer with us...) - it was a good fake, not obvious from a distance. He told us that was the " new DuPont cross."

No need to water, just remove the dust occasionally. (All it lacked was some plastic mealy bugs...)

SADE2020 · #10 11-20-2021, 04:46 PM

I'll try to do all you suggested :-)

1) the Kepmax .. 24hrs and repot SH
2) the seating on bark and only spray (I suppose is roots naked, not repoted)
3) my tricky way: no repot, place it inside a tank with the fan on top 24/7. It goes from full wet to full dry at least 2 times a day. (No fertilizer..not kepmax, no nothing)

I'll present it with each option. I'll take the biggest one.

Let see what happens in 10 days??

---------- Post added at 09:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:43 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roberta

Still thinking about appropriate plants for your friends... I am reminded of a "Phalaenopsis plant" in the home of quite a good grower (alas no longer with us...) - it was a good fake, not obvious from a distance. He told us that was the " new DuPont cross."

No need to water, just remove the dust occasionally. (All it lacked was some plastic mealy bugs...)

Jajajajajaja they are expensive though. I confess I have one, super credible, that I mix with the non bloomed in summer when I want to have like s house arrangement in special occasion when I don't have flowers.