Orchid accident! Please help!

[brighteyez]

I was putting some fruit away in my hanging fruit basket today, when the mounted hook in the ceiling broke, and the full, metal fruit basket fell and landed on one of my plants!
The plant is a phal, in a 6 or 8" diameter pot. There were no stalks or blooms on it, just 4 big leaves. The top two leaves both have large tears right down the middle of the leaf, but they don't extend all the way to the end. The bottom left leaf has a puncture wound in it from the corner of the metal basket. The very top leaf, in addition to the cut down the middle, looks to have been torn away some from the plant where the leaf originates.
So you have better background info, the basket was a three tier basket, made of metal wire, and it was full when it fell.

What should I do!!?? I watered it, to get any dust and dirt out of the cuts. I was planning on dusting all of it with cinnomin to keep out infection, but wanted to consult with you guys first.
What about the top leaf that has been slightly torn away from the plant? If I somehow prop it up and secure it back to the plant, will it fix itself somehow, like fuse back together or something??

I would add pictures but I don't have a camera!
thanks!!! I'll be waiting for all of your replies!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Cell phone cameras work too from what I've seen posted on this site. If you could post pics, you'll get better responses.

But basically there are 2 things I can say...

1. If you damaged the very new leaf coming out from the crown of the plant, there's a chance it may not make it.

2. The only thing you can do is keep growing it like you would normally and don't freak out. What's done is done. You can't undo it. It will be scarred for as long as the leaves are alive. When it starts growing new leaves, and the old leaves drop, you will not see the damage any more.

I had my cat badly damage my Phal x leucorrhoda by clawing at it. But it still managed to live even if it does look messed up.

[Louise]

I sympathise with you as i myself have damage my favourite catt today and break the new growth...

Personally, I will put cinammon on the teared leaves

[Hedge]

There must be something in the air - only yesterday I broke off the flower of one of my Paph Noids - the one I bought out of flower ( I don't know what it looks like.)

I've put the bud in a small vase and am hoping it will open.

I think your plant will survive but it won't look very nice for a while. Plants survive damage in the wild and as long as there is no rot, the growth point should be ok. Just be careful with the watering, don't splash the leaves, and don't worry about trying to fuse the top leaf back on, just give it tlc.

Regards

Heather

[kiki-do]

I agree with Louise about the cinnamon. Dab some one the damaged areas to safeguard it from infection. Without pics, I can't tell how much damage, so hang in there and talk nice to it for a while and keep caring for it. Hopefully, it will survive. They are stronger than we think, sometimes, you know?

[Pilot]

Just a side note... I would not advise you keep your orchids near fruit, especially during blooming. Ripening fruit-- especially apples and bananas-- will destroy the blooms.

[natasha]

Originally Posted by Pilot

Just a side note... I would not advise you keep your orchids near fruit, especially during blooming. Ripening fruit-- especially apples and bananas-- will destroy the blooms.

i think the fruits will emit gas (i think its ethylene) which in chids, will be emitted if the flower lost its pollen. some species or hybrids are particularly sensitive to this gas.

btw, i think its just unsafe to put fruits in hanging baskets, unless its attached to the beam. "luckily" its a plant beneath, not a person, or animal. plants are stronger usually