Sphag in bag technique

[Adela the beginner]

I have an onc that lost all its roots and starting looking really bad. I took it out of the pot cut off all the dead roots, which was all of them, and am trying this technique to see if I can save it. I didn't have any moss so I used a wet paper towel that i folded and put in the corner of the bag.

I have a few questions:
should i have sprinkled any cinnamon on the roots prior to putting in the bag to prevent fungus or any rot?
There is a lot of moisture in the bag, (I can see droplets on the inside of the bag) is this OK?
Also, even though the roots are not touching the wet paper towel, they are moist, is this OK?

the leaves look green and not wilted however i'm worried there is too much moisture in the bag. also i have the bag sitting on a window sill where it is exposed to bright light for most of the day. the window has a north exposure.

[tuvoc]

I would keep it out of the direct light. It can cook a chid in a bag in no time. I also keep the bag partially open to avoid too much condensation inside. Just be patient, it can take some time to see some new growth. Good luck, and keep us posted.

Kim

[RosieC]

I don't know about an Onc but on a Phal you don't want to use too much cinnomon on roots, if at all.

I avoid it now on roots after desicating a few in the past before I realised the problem. Some people use a tiny bit on roots but you need to be careful.

[Adela the beginner]

I didn't want to risk losing the plant by putting the cinnamon on the roots. I just washed the roots well after i removed all the old potting medium and put it in the bag with the wet paper towel.

i just have to be patient and wait to see what happens.

[let_it_grow]

I'm a big fan of peroxide cause it doesnt dry out like alcohol and it goes fizzy on the spots where its needed

[frostedeyes]

well since i dont know how to use the sphag and bag! i just wrap my old bulbs in a polyurethane foam and let it moist ALL DAY!! weird huh! it was suppose to be like super dead wrinkled with blemishes around! its pretty ugly its texture is hard and looks lifeless... but when i have spare foams i just wrap it around and place it in the ICU section - ( assorted orchids without rootS) well unbelievable after a week i saw a light greenish shoot below the backbulb. hmm i just realize that orchids are really tough! - btw i water them everyday with ferts around 120ppm N and every other day of rooting hormone!

[Adela the beginner]

i may try your technique because right now the plant is getting moldy inside the bag. i opened it the other day to dry is out a bit since it was so wet inside. will let you know what happens. thanks.

[frostedeyes]

Sorry for the late reply coz i was havn a hard time posting my pics. anyway i took a shot at some of my almost orchids in ICU! they're pretty tough actually. the first pic was just some aerides, oncidium and dendro i wrapped them shards of poly foam. and i have a broken down faucet that leaks water droplets from unglazed pot! 2nd - 4th was the oncidium barely alive coz i dont see any live roots since i still have shards of foam i just used them and wrap it all up, after 2 weeks to my surprise a new growth has form just below the bulb. well i hope you would be able to see it coz its pretty tiny. anyway i hope you'll be able to revive your onc. HAPPY BLOOMING GUYS!

[camille1585]

Adela, if you leave it in sphag n bag, leave the bag open instead of closing it. The plant needs to be humid, but not soaking wet. Leaving the bag open will help with air circulation. You may need to wet the paper towel more often. I think that if you did do frostedeyes technique you would still need to keep it in a bag. High humidity is important to keep the plant from dryin out, and I think in the philippines it's probably humid enough to not need humidity raising measures.

Good luck with your plant, I find Oncs hard to save. Old bulbs don't make new roots, so either you need existing new growths to start lots of roots, or the old bulbs to send off new growths. With some patience and good luck, I hope it recovers!

[frostedeyes]

im still struggling with humidity... especially during the night its pretty low sigh! i dont have patience with back bulbs it would take kazillion years to bloom!