Can a broken-off spike root?

[EleanorL]

Can a broken-off spike, with some undifferentiated nodes on it, root? It's a phal which was already having some problems when the cat got to it.

Thank you!

[Blueszz]

Hi Eleanor,
welcome to the forum!

If you mean if it can be rooted only by putting it on water, no. Some people wrote about the spike forming a Keiki (young plant) when they put it in water and forgot about it, but I never heard that it could survive long enough to be on it's own.

Which problems does your Phal have? Maybe we can help you getting it on the road again. Pictures are always helpful diagnosing a problem.

[EleanorL]

Thank you, it's nice to be here!

I've put the spike in water and am crossing my fingers for keikis.

Pictures: here are some to show what is wrong with the plant it came from.

I think that's crown rot. Is the blackened root also crown rot? At the end of the root, where it was growing, there are some brown spots.

The crown rot is my fault. But even when I got it, its leaves were kind of limp and one had broken off:
As you can see there is new growth but not much.

This is its root system. I recently repotted it and found that the old moss was really compacted and a lot of the roots were long dead.



This is a picture of its sibling plant. It is exactly the same kind of orchid and has the same problem with its old leaves - they are kind of limp. It also has some completely dead roots growing out in the air. Is that a bad sign for the whole plant?



Back to the first plant, here is something special:



but this hasn't grown since it appeared (which was before I repotted it, which I did partly because this thing wasn't growing at all).

Thank you!

[Blueszz]

Originally Posted by EleanorL

Thank you, it's nice to be here!

I've put the spike in water and am crossing my fingers for keikis.

Pictures: here are some to show what is wrong with the plant it came from.

I think that's crown rot. Is the blackened root also crown rot?

It could be crown rot, or black rot?. I've seen a Phal. back nursed to health with the same kind of spot on a German board. The lady who owned that Phal carefully removed the black spot (cut it away, 2 layers of leafs deep) and dusted it with cinamon pasta to dry it out. She didn't water the plant for 4 weeks and sent us an new picture. The rot and fungus beneath the blackened leaf was totaly dry and looked good.
About the root I'm not sure. If it's feels soft and mushy, it is rot. Ceck particularry where it's attached to the crown.

At the end of the root, where it was growing, there are some brown spots.

Originally Posted by EleanorL

The crown rot is my fault. But even when I got it, its leaves were kind of limp and one had broken off:
As you can see there is new growth but not much.

I don't think the plant is verry dehydrated. The leaves aren't wrinkeled, aren't they? I think this plant can be nursed back to health.
The newest leaf is very small, it should be larger, as large as the other leaves. I wonder what the brown spot is on the newest leaf. How does that feel? Soft or firm? If it was my plant, I would remove that spot.

Originally Posted by EleanorL

This is its root system. I recently repotted it and found that the old moss was really compacted and a lot of the roots were long dead.

I don't know exactly how your climate looks like, but I would opt to pot it in bark or a mixture with bark. Where I live fall can be pretty damp/moist, winter is cold and the day lengths are very short. That all doesn't help the plant to dry out fast enough (in the Netherlands).
I'm pretty succesful with bark that I even didn't pre soak.
Btw, about the brown spot on the roots, I don't know where they come from, but I have that too on a Phal I'm struggeling with. I thought it might be damage from insects, but I've never seen them. I hope some others give their opinion on your plant.

Originally Posted by EleanorL

This is a picture of its sibling plant. It is exactly the same kind of orchid and has the same problem with its old leaves - they are kind of limp. It also has some completely dead roots growing out in the air. Is that a bad sign for the whole plant?

Again, I can't see the plant is dehydrated as I don't see wrinkeled leaves. Do the leaves feel floppy? They shouldn't feel floppy.
The dried out roots on top of the media are normal. It might be caused by low humidity of the air.

Originally Posted by EleanorL

Back to the first plant, here is something special:



but this hasn't grown since it appeared (which was before I repotted it, which I did partly because this thing wasn't growing at all).

Thank you!

I can't identify this, sorry :-)

[EleanorL]

Thanks for the tips! I will have a look at cutting away the black/crown rot and repotting with bark. Also at the brown spot on the new leaf, I didn't notice that.

The thing at the bottom is (I'm pretty sure) the very beginning of a new spike... you would never see it this new except the leaf that normally would cover it has come off.

Thank you for your encouragement.

[EleanorL]

The spot on the new leaf is a trick of the light. *phew* The old leaves do feel floppy actually. It worries me. I'll just cross my fingers some more.

I didn't realise I had to let it dry out. Good to know.

Do you have pics of the root spots on your phal? Interesting that you mention bugs, because I've had a mealybug problem on this plant. I haven't seen any for a couple of weeks but who knows if they are really gone. I guess you probably know what they look like - tiny bits of white candy floss, basically. I don't know if they cause root damage.

[Ray]

I see no evidence of rot anywhere on the plant, but judging by the roots picture, I think the medium they were in was either too decomposed and has become compact over time, or is just plain incorrect for your growing conditions and watering habits. Because of that, the roots have suffocated and are not doing a sufficient job of bringing water into the plant.

You'll note that the roots started to grow new branches, and those would have been tailored to the existing environment.

By the way - may I have your permission to use that roots photo in a presentation?

[EleanorL]

Photo use - sure, please do!

The rot (or blackening, anyway) is in the first pic at the base of the plant on the left.

Thanks for your analysis of the root conditions. I've just repotted it -the old moss was pretty dense, yeah - hopefully the new growth will take to the new conditions.