acquired a free Phal today...need help, please

[VickiC]

Hi everyone,
I was shopping today (in Decatur, Al) and decided to stop by a greenhouse nearby to see if by chance they had some orchid-growing supplies. I felt sure they didn't but I decided to check it out to be positive. They had very few orchid supplies (basically almost none, in fact), as I assumed.....but, they told me that they DID have some orchids. I had definitely not planned to buy one there (or anywhere today, for that matter), but I decided to take a look anyway (sort of like window-shopping, in a way lol ). They did indeed have orchids for sale.....6 to be exact. lol They looked so pitiful although all of them had some obvious established roots...and new growth, also. I told them about the bad experience I had there sometime back.....that I bought a $35 orchid from them but found out when I got home and un-potted it that it had only 3 roots.....all mushy and rotted .....as well as 1 slug enclosed . By the way, I'm still trying to re-root that Phal right now. The manager apologized to me and told me to pick out 1 of any of the 6 orchids for free. I thought "better to go home with a free (but sick) orchid than go home with no free orchid at all" lol Bottom line: I picked 1 out, came home, un-potted it and found that it had several roots, but most of them were rotted....plus there was some little creature that looked somewhat like a silverfish living there, as well. I cleaned it up, as best I knew how and am hoping that I can save the orchid with your help, plus there is a keiki, although I have no idea what to do with it. I knew you would know, so I really would appreciate it if you will clue me in. I'm attaching a couple of pics for you to take a look at, if you don't mind. Sorry for the loooong post, but I felt the need to explain the situation.
Vicki

[dgenovese1]

Hi Vicki,
It sounds like you made a good decision in telling the manager about your bad experience, and it looks like you've got yourself a couple of orchids there, and healthy ones to boot...I count the keiki as a separate plant.

Some folks may argue with me, but I cut off phal keikis when they have 3, 2 inch long roots growing from them...and from the looks of yours, it's time to remove it and pot it up. I would remove it by cutting the stem it is growing from just below where it is attached. I would also remove any additional stem material from above where it is growing. I would sprinkle the stem ends with a fungicide or ground cinnamon, and then plant the keiki like any other phal, making sure that it is secure in its new pot.

The only other thing I would consider doing is to remove all of the old stems from the mother plant (except the blooming one). Having just transplanted it, this will give the plant more energy to develop more roots, rather than try to push more buds out of its old stems. Plus when the new spikes form in the future, they will be bigger and produce more flowers. We like more flowers!

[Becca]

Wow that is one big keiki! I would recommend separating it from the mother plant, as David did, and pot it! It looks like the roots are long enough!

[quiltergal]

Wow! That Keiki looks to be near blooming size! I'd do just as David suggests and pot that little one up on it's own. I would also cut all the spikes off including the blooming one. Stick the blooming one in a vase and you can still enjoy the flowers for weeks. The plant needs to save up as much energy as possible to put out much needed new roots.

[Lene Th.]

Originally Posted by quiltergal

Wow! That Keiki looks to be near blooming size!

It looks to me like the keiki allready has a flower-spike of its own?
I would alsow cut all the old spikes on the mother-phal, exept the blooming one, if it seems healthy otherwise. If not, i would cut that one too...
And sorry to say, i would alsow cut the spike on the keiki, if that is what it is, if you desides to give a pot of its own now. That way, its will put all the energy into new roots in the new environement, and next time it shows of, it will be frem a well-established little plant.
Good luck!

[RosieC]

I have no experience of keiki's so I have a question of the back of this thread.

When potting up a keiki like this one what do you do with the existing roots?

I've read a lot about how arial roots on phals should NOT be planted into medium as they will rot. What I've read said that arial roots have a different outer coating and they should not be put under the medium. (My mum also tried tucking the arial roots of her Phal into the medium and they rotted.)

So do you just place it on top of the medium leaving the roots out (hoping it will then grow other roots into the medium, or DO you bury the roots?

[RosieC]

Oh and well done Vicki on your free Phal That keiki looks really good

[Bird Song Farm]

Hi Vicki,

Looks like you have already received some very sound advice on how to handle your new plant!

ROSIEC
I have never had a problem with planting ariel roots. They seem to adapt for me and take hold just fine. I don't, however, plant them deep, just below the surface of the moss..I plant all my phals in moss..........

AL

[Brooke]

I bury the aerial roots and just watch the watering.

Brooke

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by Bird Song Farm

I have never had a problem with planting ariel roots. They seem to adapt for me and take hold just fine. I don't, however, plant them deep, just below the surface of the moss..I plant all my phals in moss..........

Originally Posted by brooke

I bury the aerial roots and just watch the watering.

Ok, it was just something I read months ago before I found this group and my Mum had had a problem with it. I guess it's just a case of making sure they don't get too wet. When I repotted one of mine one of the arial roots ended up touching the suface of the bark and I've been a little worried and have kept an eye out for it rotting but it's fine so far.