More advice for my sick Phal - Should I cut off base of plant?

[RosieC]

Ok, I have a sick Phal which is only still alive because of the help of you guys

But it is still sick ... briefly, I repotted in April (healthly roots then), it looked fine until July when I came home from one week away and 5 out of 9 leaves were severaly wilted and soon turned yellow and dropped off. In mid August I took a look at the roots and found there were hardly any healthy ones under the media. They did NOT seem rotten though... just hollow and dead.

Since then I've had it out of the media compleaty and I have been heavily misting the roots twice a day. It has 3-4 healthy arial roots coming from the top portion of the plant. 3 more short arial roots have developed since then and this morning I think I can see a 4th new bud of a root. Additionally a new leaf has started growing during this time. The plant has also got too much sun over the summer and has a strong red tint, I've since moved it into less light.

Should I remove the base of the plant?
In an article I read about re-potting it indicated that when a lot of leaves have been lost and there is a bare lower stem you could do this. Here is the link...
Repotting Your Orchids - Phalaenopsis - Orchids
I am tempted to want to do this because all the best roots are from the top of the plant and the lower section looks mostly dead. But the Phal is struggling anyway (the leaves showing signs of lack of water) and I'm not sure if the shock of doing this will be too much... or on the other hand will the removal of the dead section help it.

Here's some pics (the brown dust is cinnomon as I've cut away some more dead roots today, also some of the roots are green having been recently sprayed with water)

I'm thinking of cutting the stem arround the red line I've drawn accross it. The roots I've put blue boxes arround are healthy arial roots which are either still growing or have grown in the last two weeks and are attached to the upper section. The ones with green boxes are new roots also on the upper section. The one with a red box is a long (10cm) old arial root connected to the lower section. This root has looked desicated since arround the time it was repotted in April and has not grown at all since then, but is still just about the healthiest on that lower section.

So what should I do? I would love some advice. (I obviously need to be VERY careful if I DO go ahead, not to damage the good roots close to the intended cut.

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[camille1585]

If it were my phal I would not cut anything. From the pictures it looks like the remenants of old roots are actual firm and greenish, meaning they are alive. If that's the case, they should stay. Phal roots can branch off very easily, so you may get new root growth from those.
And since you seem to have plenty of new root growth, I would pot it (in a very small pot!) so that those new developing roots can dig down into the medium and adjust to life an a non aerial root!.

Just my :Maybe it would also be an idea to stick the repotted phal in sphag and bag for a while to keep the leaves from dessicating too much until their is enough root mass to support the plant.

Good luck with your plant, you're doing good so far!

[justatypn]

I would have to agree with Camille. It looks healthy and happy. By putting the newly repotted phal in a sphag/bag will plump the leaves, the strength the phal has is expressing itself by growing new roots and taking from the health of the leaves. No harm done, just it's nature.

[tuvoc]

I agree with Camille, don't cut anything. The roots look pretty good, so I would repot in a smallish pot, and keep it out of bright light, and keep humidity high. You could try a mini greenhouse by putting a clear plastic produce bag over the whole thing, cut a small slit in the top of it to allow air circulation, and keep it moderately moist. I think you have a good chance of saving it. Good luck.

Kim

[Dorothy]

Since you maybe unfamiliar with Sphag N Bag - you can read about it here - Sphag-n-Bag
Remember when doing Sphag N Bag method, the sphag is used as a way to increase humidity to the orchid not used as a medium. The plant should not come in contact with it! I don't know if you need to do this as you already have some good root growth ...

I would not cut anything -
I would pot it in new medium - put it in a shady but light area (out of direct sun rays) - if you feel that your air is dry then by all means surround it in a plastic bag as Kim(tuvoc) suggests
and keep us posted

[RosieC]

Ok, thanks everyone. I won't cut it as that's what everyone thinks.

I've made the decision (for good or bad) that I won't try the Sphag-n-bag just yet. This is because it has some good roots which are growing plus three new ones of about 1cm each and looking closer again this afternoon I think there could be two or three tiny 'nubbins' which I think are even newer roots.

How deep should I pot it up?
If I'm going to re-pot this now then how deep should I plant it? Really what I mean by this is 'should I bury the older bit with no leaves or should I leave it exposed?'

[tuvoc]

Rosie, bury it up to the bottom leaf, trying to cover as many of the root nubbins as you can. Like I said before, you've got a very good chance of saving it. Keep us posted!

Kim

[RosieC]

Thanks Kim, I'll do just that

[Sandy4453]

Your Phal doesn't look bad at all. It's got several roots with more on their way. Too much sun, not enough water while you were gone (perhaps?) compromised it's health so no wonder you didn't come home to a happy camper.

I would suggest the same as a few here and pot this up to just below the bottom leaf, covering that top root. Give it good cultural care and fertilizer and you'll probably see a spike this growing season!

Best of luck.

[Lagoon]

Rosie, I can't add anymore that hasn't already been said.
Pot it up she'll be fine - just give her some time. Warmth makes roots!