phal orchid with no leaves & w roots

[SamandAnne]

Hi everyone,

I have gone through a few issues with my phal that are posted under a former thread (root rot and then crown rot) . http://www.orchidboard.com/community...wing-leaf.html

I started with a beautiful white moth orchid with huge blooms, 6 leaves, potted in moss. I've ended with an orchid re-potted in bark, in a clear pot with ventilation, with no leaves (crown rot, my fault in watering too quickly), and two good roots (used to be aerial roots that were spared from being in the pot and rotting).

I continue to water and the two roots still look green in the pot. It's in a sunlit western window here in Pittsburgh (lots of cloudy days). The one aerial root had the top portion half in and half out of the bark...the top part looks dry but the part in the bark looks green.

I also had put root growth hormone on the roots just before the crown rot, in hopes of growing more healthy roots.

Is this how to possibly save the plant? Could it re-grow from the roots? Any other suggestions?

[SamandAnne]

Hi everyone,

I have gone through a few issues with my phal that are posted under a former thread (root rot and then crown rot) . http://www.orchidboard.com/community...wing-leaf.html

I started with a beautiful white moth orchid with huge blooms, 6 leaves, potted in moss. I've ended with an orchid re-potted in bark, in a clear pot with ventilation, with no leaves (crown rot, my fault in watering too quickly), and two good roots (used to be aerial roots that were spared from being in the pot and rotting).

I continue to water and the two roots still look green in the pot. It's in a sunlit western window here in Pittsburgh (lots of cloudy days). The one aerial root had the top portion half in and half out of the bark...the top part looks dry but the part in the bark looks green.

I also had put root growth hormone on the roots just before the crown rot, in hopes of growing more healthy roots.

Is this how to possibly save the plant? Could it re-grow from the roots? Any other suggestions?

Thanks! I've learned a lot the hard way from everyone. Any ideas would be great.

[Blueszz]

As long as it's green, it's alive ;-)
I've heard from people who were lucky (?) and the leafless plant gave a basal keiki. The kept taking care of the Phal as they did with other Phal's.
I wouldn't fert right now.

Nicole

[RosieC]

I think it unlikely it will grow from the roots, BUT I have heard of Kekis growing from the roots of one like that. If you can keep the roots alive I guess that is the best posibility.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I've had a Doritis pulcherhimma come back even when it lost all of its leaves. Think of this as an overgrown Chiloschista (a leafless orchid - which happen to be in the same family).

I know it doesn't look pretty and you might be feeling anxiety, but keep it around, you might be surprised.

[SamandAnne]

thanks! I'll keep trying to keep it alive...maybe it can grow back! I apologize, too, I must have hit "post" twice, because I have two posts for this question. I apologize for having two on the board. Thanks to whoever merged the two into one post.

[SamandAnne]

It's starting to look less green and more dried out...keeping it watered enough seems tougher than with a plant with leaves...I'm going to keep trying. Maybe a little less light....and more water...