Help me save old womans phal....

[Lene Th.]

This is the story...
This older woman got sick about several years ago, and by a year ago, she could no longer walk.
After this it was up to her husbound to take care of her several plants, thereby some phals. His has tried the best he could, but his wife had a lot of plants, and theres to mutch for him to take care of, with no knowledge about plants whatso ever...
This phal was put aside in the basement, luckily with lots of light, together with the other chids that was done blooming. The other ones is now in full bloom , regardless of the neglect! Almost as a tribute to the old coupple for trying to keep them happy...

But this one seems to really be struggeling...
The base-plant seems to be dying, and has grown a spike with leafs on. And theres also a basal-keiki with new roots, that seems ready to be seperated from the mother-plant.
The old lady, witch am working for ( as personal assistent), begged me to give it a try...
I think i may be able so save the basal-keiki, but i belive the mother-plant is a gonner, unfortnetly
But, this leafs on the spike, is this going-to-be kaikis, or a sort of basal-spike (thoug its not emerging from the base...) ?
The keiki has a spike, but seems to have given up making buds, and the spike is yellowing.
The mother-plant has the spike with the leafs on, and there is one wiltered flower on it as well.

What do i do? I have never seperated a keiki from a plant, and is the mother-plant gone...?
(Keiki-grow is not an option, the same with K-N-L and other sorts of treatment. The only thing i can by in Norway is regular fertilizer.)

I really want to give it a try...
Can someone give me a walk-thru to how i do this?

Pics.

[jkofferdahl]

It looks like the mother plant still has one good leaf to it. That's a place to start. The roots look extremely dry, and I suspect the plant hasn't been properly watered in some time.

I would begin by repotting the plant. After removing it from the old pot, and before potting it back up, inspect the roots very carefully. Trim away any dead roots. I would also trim away the keikis on the spikes. These take energy away from the mother plant, and it it is going to survive it needs all of the energy it can muster. I think that, for now, I would leave the basal keiki attached, though others may say I'm way off doing so.

After repotting, place the plant in a site where it gets adequate, but not really bright, light and plenty of warmth. Let it adjust for a week or two before moving it into what would be normal light for a Phal.

[(..._...)]

I agree the plant looks like it has been underwatered.

For a plant that has been neglected, it seems to be in pretty good shape. As mentioned in the previous post, a medium change seems to be a good idea; the plant will benifit, and the keikis will be able to get larger
good luck

[priz_m]

Hi Lene! I agree with jkofferdahl and (... ...) the mother plant could still make it, repotting is in order, andof course a proper watering schedule.

Best of luck, keep us posted

Priz

[Lene Th.]

The leafs that seems to be ok, is on the keiki... the mother-plant has only two leafs, that aktually are sloopy and wiltered, starting to yellow.

Heres pis of the leafs that belongs to the mother-plant.
The red crosses are the mother-plant, the blue ones belongs to the keiki.

Heres a pic of the two leafs left on the mother-plant.


Still think i can save the mother-plant?

[(..._...)]

oooh, I though that was all one plant, and that the keikis were on the old flower stems

you were referring to a basal plant then. The two mother plant leaves look pretty limp. I doubt that portion of the plant will live. The only time I have ever had a basal keiki was when my plant was very sick. Its hard to see from teh picture, but it could be crown rot on the old plant.
anyways, the new plant looks healthy though.

what does everyone else think?

[priz_m]

I stand corrected.

Looks like the mother plant is using up ALL of her energy to nourish the little ones...

Good news is (I guess) that is a big keiki

I still say repot. Given the phal's current situation it will be an automatic upgrade. That may perk it up and since the keiki is big enough to be repotted by itself, you can cut back any that is using up her energy and the mother plant can focus on restablishing her root system and leaves.

I truly hope it suvives orchid birth.

PS Isn't interesting how even mother plants will sacrifice themselves for their youngsters? Nature is Amazing!

[jkofferdahl]

Like others, I thought that the keiki leaf was part of the mother plant. However, the left leaf still looks OK. My repotting suggestion is one I'll stay with. I also would still remove the stems and stem keikis, leaving just the mother plant and the basal keiki. Good luck!

[Lene Th.]

I understood that you all misunderstood what i meant...
Theres leafs on the spike from the mother-plant, but it does not look like the keikis ive seen on other pics...they just looks like leafs...one leaf on every eye on the spike.
But is this keikis? Ive never seen anything like this...
No mather what they are, it goes of tomorrow. It seems like the only chanse the mother-plant has... A slim chanse, but its still a chanse...

The basal-keiki looks like it will pull thru fine, i will repot it tomorrow.

[caseydoll]

Those are keiki's on the spike. They probably only have one leaf because they are young. Other leaves will come as will roots but it may take awhile. You could always leave the spikes intact for now and when you repot see how many good roots there are. If there are very few I would cut the spikes off regardless of the keiki's. If there are very few good roots left then the keki's probably won't make it anyway. And then you would at least be giving the basal keiki a chance. Just an idea...