Yes, I would not have believed it had I not seen it with my own eyes, but there is a Phal with a rotted out crown that has been raised "from the dead" - and brought forth new life on two levels!
This is a thread to give people hope when all seems lost! When you are afraid that you have lost your favorite phal - maybe not?
A coworker brought a phal into my office last december and asked me, "What is wrong with my orchid?" She had been over-watering it - and in the evening (to make things worse - and getting the crown wet - even worse.....
The crown had rotted completely away and the remaining leaves were starting to sag from root rot.
It had a spent flower spike with two drooping flowers. I cut the top of the spike off and applied keiki paste to the bottom two nodes. The next two pictures show the plant on January 28th of this year - a little over a month later.....
The first the condition of the crown after this time.....
The next picture is of the keiki that is now growing on the short spike.
Jump forward FIVE months now......
The keiki has grown nicely......
When removed, baby looks nice and healthy and mother is still looking sad with NO CROWN. I'm hoping for potentially a basal keiki that can take over mama's root system?
Move ahead another TWO months to July 17th now......
Look what is rising OUT OF THE PIT OF DESPAIR!
Earlier this week I was watering the orchids in my office - this is what mama and baby look like today!
And even more amazing!!!
Look what is coming out of the side of mama!
With any luck we will have a nice flowering phal one year after it was delivered in sad pathetic condition. Further note: This plant sits in an office which stays approximately 72 degrees year round give or take a few degrees and sits in the corner of a window facing NE. To me - phenomenal! Wouldn't you agree?