Help/miniature orchid-rotten roots

[Danie]

I bought this pretty miniature orchid not so long ago and after a few weeks it began to loose its flowers. Now it looks very sick so today I decided to take it out of the original, soggy moss. All the roots are in very bad shape, almost none existent..... How can I save this cutie? Please, help
I have a photo of the disaster.
Thanks a lot.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Is that an Aerangis? I can't tell what it is. It'd be helpful to know exactly what this is. Cultural requirements are not the same for all "minis".

Whatever it is, you can try mounting it onto tree fern poles without moss and see if that helps.

[Danie]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Is that an Aerangis? I can't tell what it is. It'd be helpful to know exactly what this is. Cultural requirements are not the same for all "minis".

Whatever it is, you can try mounting it onto tree fern poles without moss and see if that helps.

The flower looks like a tiny pink phal.
There was no tag with the plant when I bought it.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Well...I'm still unsure of what it is. It doesn't look like a Phal, maybe it's an Aerides? Perhaps Dyakia hendersoniana?

Does it look like this? - http://www.orchidspecies.com/orphotd...ersonianum.jpg

If it's an Aerides or Dyakia, then it'd probably be easier if you did mount them onto a piece of tree fern. Try without moss first.

[Danie]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Well...I'm still unsure of what it is. It doesn't look like a Phal, maybe it's an Aerides? Perhaps Dyakia hendersoniana?

Does it look like this? - http://www.orchidspecies.com/orphotd...ersonianum.jpg

If it's an Aerides or Dyakia, then it'd probably be easier if you did mount them onto a piece of tree fern. Try without moss first.

Hum...no it doesn't look like the picture, more like a replica of a phal. only dwarf like. I'll try to send a picture.
Thanks.

[Danie]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Well...I'm still unsure of what it is. It doesn't look like a Phal, maybe it's an Aerides? Perhaps Dyakia hendersoniana?

Does it look like this? - http://www.orchidspecies.com/orphotd...ersonianum.jpg

If it's an Aerides or Dyakia, then it'd probably be easier if you did mount them onto a piece of tree fern. Try without moss first.

I am sending a photo...sorry it is not very clear
Maybe it will help identify that baby.
Thanks

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Oh, wow! It is a Phal. Must be some unusual cross.

I recommend mounting this one. Since I know for sure it's a Phal, it'd probably be easier to grow mounted on cork bark. When you mount, you can put a little bit of moss around the roots, but leave some parts of the remaining roots exposed a bit. See if this initiates new roots in a few weeks.

[Danie]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Oh, wow! It is a Phal. Must be some unusual cross.

I recommend mounting this one. Since I know for sure it's a Phal, it'd probably be easier to grow mounted on cork bark. When you mount, you can put a little bit of moss around the roots, but leave some parts of the remaining roots exposed a bit. See if this initiates new roots in a few weeks.

Would any wood do for mounting? I don't have cork bark laying around...
Do I use any glue? Hot glue, super glue?
Do I spray it often with water? What about fertilizer?
I am a newbe at this and I am very nervous to do the wrong thing and kill her
Thank you so much

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Any kind of wood that doesn't smell like it came from the medicine cabinet would do (strong odors on a wood could have biochemical whatevers in them - not good).

No glue is necessary. Just put a little bit of wet sphagnum moss on the roots allowing some parts of the roots to be exposed and other parts covered by the moss. Then tie onto the mount with some fishing line or twisty wire.

If you need more help, there're people in the "Mounting" section of this forum who can help you.

In the meantime I can give you visuals of what a mounted Phal will look like on the mount. Pay particular attention to the way the leaves droop downwards because that's how you should position the plant.

Here're some pics of my Phals. Phalaenopsis modesta var. coerulea is the one with the paddle shaped leaves. The other is Phal. appendiculata (notice the fishing line I used to tie the plant onto the mount with in the background). Phal appendiculata is a miniature Phalaenopsis species and is currently the smallest known species in the genus Phalaenopsis (smaller than Phal gibbosa, Phal lobbii, or Phal parishii).

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Let the roots dry out completely before watering again. A rough estimate would be around three to four times a week depending on how warm it gets where you are during the summer. Fertilize once a week using half the amount of fertilizer recommended by the manufacturer. Your fertilizer should be something like 20-16-20 (close to this is good enough) and definitely urea free.

In your case, I wouldn't fertilize it until I see some recovery with the roots.

BTW, I covered the roots on my Phals completely for a reason. Phalaenopsis modesta and Phalaenopsis appendiculata like it wetter than Phals like Phalaenopsis stuartiana for example. My Phalaenopsis modesta at one point had certain parts of its roots exposed, but I covered them up as soon as I saw some heavy root growth happening.