Phal going down hill fast

[Sandrilene]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

hehe I can't take credit - I read here! I have been using skewers about a year or so and it's great! I leave mine in the pot all the time, so they do need to be replaced occasionally, but they're cheap and ever so helpful! I think my orchids are much happier now - less over and under - watering!

be careful just leaving skewers in the pot as they can start to mold (at least mine do). every four days for watering is probably too much should be closer to a week if not more.

[Jeffery]

I adopted that idea also, actually I think my little orchid garden looks kind of silly with all those skeewers sticking out of them, I probably have a different technigue for checking them though, since they do turn dark from the medium and a vizual check is not accurate, I place the skeewer to my very sensitive lips and I can easily tell how much moister is left in there

[Melody]

Worst fears realized: feared this day would come, hoped it never would. Down potted to a 3 in. this morn. Had to butcher the poor thing...mushy, mushy roots...could have gone to an even smaller pot I suppose, but 3 in is the smallest I have ATM. Moved it to the other room with my other chids and will definitely water both phals less. lol. The skewer idea hasn't worked for me very well...at least not since I changed from moss to bark...but I've never tried leaving one in either. So I might give that a go...I'll watch for mold, but at this point the plant couldn't get much worse IMO.

Any other advice? Do you think it will live?

Photos of the process

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by Melody

Worst fears realized: feared this day would come, hoped it never would. Down potted to a 3 in. this morn. Had to butcher the poor thing...mushy, mushy roots...could have gone to an even smaller pot I suppose, but 3 in is the smallest I have ATM. Moved it to the other room with my other chids and will definitely water both phals less. lol. The skewer idea hasn't worked for me very well...at least not since I changed from moss to bark...but I've never tried leaving one in either. So I might give that a go...I'll watch for mold, but at this point the plant couldn't get much worse IMO.

Any other advice? Do you think it will live?

Photos of the process

Hi Melody,

I still think you can save your plant but it will take a while and you're almost certain to loose more base leaves.

This might sound crazy but this is what I've done when faced with your problem. It worked for me so here goes....
First remove any remaining flower spikes so your plant puts it's energy towards root growth. Cut off all mushy roots. Then check the base of your plant for little undeveloped root nubs or bumps. If you see any you should feel encouraged. Next, fashion a wire S hook and loop it around and between your sturdiest base leaves. Hang the plant outside in an upside down position. Hang the plant outdoors if you can so it gets good ventilation and then either spray it or dunk it 3 or 4 times a day. Make sure your remaining root gets wet enough to change to a dark green color and then return the plant to it's hanging position. This allows the little root to take in water without being surrounded by moisture for extended periods of time. It's important to water multiple times a day because the root will dry out quickly. Be sure to keep the plant in the upside down position so the water drains from the crown. It's likely you'll loose at least 2 more base leaves, but with any luck you'll should see new roots popping out within a few weeks. When the roots get a few inches long you can either mount your plant or pot it. If you choose to pot it water sparingly at first. That way the new roots can adjust to being covered by media.

Suggestion: Try adding some 1/2" pieces of broken up styrofoam and lava rock or HP pellets to your potting media. It will provide air space for the roots and help keep the organic stuff from compacting.

GOOD LUCK!

[Orchid126]

Light that is okay for an African Violet is no where near enough for an orchid. With so little light to stimulate the roots to take up water and so much water, the roots just sit there and go mushy. If at all possible, get the plant into an east window with some good morning light, or a couple of feet back in a window with stronger light, and water a lot less. And as soon as the night temperatures are 50 or better, put the plant outside.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by Orchid126

Light that is okay for an African Violet is no where near enough for an orchid. With so little light to stimulate the roots to take up water and so much water, the roots just sit there and go mushy. If at all possible, get the plant into an east window with some good morning light, or a couple of feet back in a window with stronger light, and water a lot less. And as soon as the night temperatures are 50 or better, put the plant outside.

I bloom african violets and some orchids in a north window.
I imagine it's not enough light for orchids that want a lot of light, but bloom Haraella, an Odontioda, and a Phal/Doritis in the same north window as african violets.
Tho - that window does face the neighbor's light colored stucco wall so perhaps there is reflected light sufficient to get the plants to bloom.

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

I bloom african violets and some orchids in a north window.
I imagine it's not enough light for orchids that want a lot of light, but bloom Haraella, an Odontioda, and a Phal/Doritis in the same north window as african violets.

I agree with northern exposure, especially while the plant is in recovery. Phals are touchy about sunlight and there's a fine line between too little and too much. They can usually adjust to indirect early morning, or indirect late afternoon exposure, but not so much that their leaves get hot.

[WhiteRabbit]

Melody - your plant has a couple of roots, so there is some hope. I haven't had a lot of success in recovering phals, but I know plenty of people have, so it's not a lost cause Keep us updated!

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by Junebug

I agree with northern exposure, especially while the plant is in recovery. Phals are touchy about sunlight and there's a fine line between too little and too much. They can usually adjust to indirect early morning, or late, late afternoon exposure.

yes, I was thinking along the same line too. For recovery, you don't want the plant blooming, and not likely it would anyway.

[Melody]

Junebug:

thinking about what you said... but the weather and temps aren't that great at the moment. It's a bit cool out, high of 69 today and tonights low is 46! It's suppose to get warmer by the end of the week, but the temps can be a bit erratic, so I doubt the temps would stay good for weeks. It can also sometimes get really hot.

Would it stress the plant out too much if I moved it back and forth; outdoors when the weather permits, then back in when it gets too cool/hot... what about rainy days...like all day rain or storms? umbrella over it? lol And would being outdoors put it put it at risk for getting eaten by insects?

With so little light to stimulate the roots to take up water and so much water, the roots just sit there and go mushy. If at all possible, get the plant into an east window with some good morning light, or a couple of feet back in a window with stronger light, and water a lot less.

Yep, yep...that's what I learned alright. Just should have figured that out 5 wks ago...lol. Orchid growing fail = learning experience