Any help for my Phal... - Orchid Board

ImABrat · #1 04-20-2010, 02:32 PM

I would like to know whether or not I can successfully save this Phal. It had root rot, and the only roots that were not damanged were the aerial roots. There's absolutely no roots left at the base. I've had it in Sphag-n-Bag for a little over a week, and I noticed it started getting a fungus. I had mixed Elmer's glue and cinnamon and put that mixture over top where the leaves were cut off, and that's where the fungus grew. I cleaned it off, put it back in the bag with a little moisture and saw the fuzzies again. My questions is....will my phal survive if I repotted it?

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #2 04-20-2010, 02:39 PM

Your problem with the fungus is the reason why I don't ever recommend the Sphag and Bag method. I've tried it, and it never worked for me.

Just either mount the guy or pot it back up in large grade bark with a clear plastic pot that's small enough so that the roots fit just right in it.

The clear plastic pot allows you to see what's happening and allows the roots to photosynthesize.

If the roots take on to photosynthesis, it might give the plant a little bit of an edge to recovery. It's not been scientifically proven yet, but I bet someday, some sort of information on the roots' photosynthetic properties will pop up.

I want to make it clear, it's not mandatory to put the orchid in a clear plastic pot. Orchids will adjust to an opaque plastic pot just fine. Instead of the roots performing photosynthesis, they perform a different duty (I forgot what that duty is and what it's called). But I recommended a clear plastic pot for multiple reasons that are not just based on anecdotes, that may help you out.

Many epiphytical orchids have roots that have the ability to photosynthesize; this is 100% fact. That's why they're green if they're exposed to light.

ImABrat · #3 04-20-2010, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Many epiphytical orchids have roots that have the ability to photosynthesize; this is 100% fact. That's why they're green if they're exposed to light.

Thank you so much...I have several different sizes of clear pots, so I'll repot it and hope for the best!

RosieC · #4 04-21-2010, 08:25 AM

I agree with everything King said.

I've rescued one which only had arial roots left. The important thing is to get the smallest pot possible. The problem you have there is that your arial roots are quite wide spacing and a pot that will fit those will be FAR too big.

I would advise getting a very small pot maybe just 2" or so (and soaking the roots for an hour or so then trying to get SOME of them in the pot by very very gently bending them. It could take some time and in my case I did break one but the central core did not break so I just left it all and it actually seemed to stay green and keep doing it's thing. You may find you can only just bend some of the tips arround to tuck in the media, I had some like that and I think it's still worth it because they will hopefully then grow down in to it.

I was actually suprised after a lot of soaking that I got mine in to a 2" pot, but it seems really happy there and is growing new roots and new leaves... although it did take several months before it really got going. If you find it overbalances you can rest it inside a larger pot. I found that trying to curl them arround the diameter of the pot, rather than straight down was the post successful.

The roots you can't get in the pot will need misting every day. The plant can take up lots of moisture that way and with the number of arial roots you have should do quite well misted regularly... this is in fact similar to if you mounted it as you would have to water daily when doing that. I have less experience about that though so if you want to go that way take a look at the masses of posts about mounting that we have... and of course ask the expert guys here more about it.

ImABrat · #5 04-21-2010, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RosieC

I agree with everything King said.

I would advise getting a very small pot maybe just 2" or so (and soaking the roots for an hour or so then trying to get SOME of them in the pot by very very gently bending them. It could take some time and in my case I did break one but the central core did not break so I just left it all and it actually seemed to stay green and keep doing it's thing. You may find you can only just bend some of the tips arround to tuck in the media, I had some like that and I think it's still worth it because they will hopefully then grow down in to it.

Thank you Rosie -- I was actually unsure whether I was going to be able to get the roots in a small pot, but I was able to get it into a 4" clear pot. The aerials were to strong, I wasn't able to get them into the pot but I at least got some of the bark up around a couple of them. Hopefully, this will work. I have a shade house on my back porch so misting won't be a problem. I've got my fingers crossed. I haven't had much luck in the past, so I'm anxious to see if this works. Thanks for your suggestions.