To cut or not to cut at base of crown?

[Call_Me_Bob]

that place doesnt even sell named phals! you always wanna buy phals with names, if you have the chance. you can buys from andysorchids.com or oakhillgardens.com or orchidsbyhausermann.com i got one for $7 from hausermann's but it wasnt in bloom

[nutgirl]

Another option:

If there are few, or no good roots, but a good stalk with root nubs you might try water culture to get new roots to grow.

I've done this a couple of times and gotten good growth.

I suspend the bottom of the plant in water but not so far that the crown gets wet.

There is quite a bit of info on the Board about growing in water.

Maureen

[redperphexion]

Thanks, Help. Unfortunately for me these are US sites. Do you know of any good Canadian orchid nurseries?

Thanks, Maureen - I'll try to find a few threads on it.

[Call_Me_Bob]

ohh, your from canada!!! i didnt even lokok. im very sorry!!
this one is canadian
Paramount Orchids - Plant Listing

[redperphexion]

Ok, Help - what are the advantages to knowing the name of your phal (other than wanting to show/clone your plant)? I'd just like a pretty houseplant, but if having a 'purebred' is truely 'better', I might go for it. I know with dogs I actually prefer mutts...

[cneos]

By drying off a bit, I mean just enough so that it's not dripping water (but if it is, that wouldn't hurt it).

Whether I repot in New Zealand sphagnum moss or a bark mix, I soak the medium before re-potting. Soaking sphagnum makes it easier to poke it between the roots; soaking bark keeps it from floating the first time you water. After repotting, I wait 10 days to 2 weeks before watering again.

I have bought from my grocer and from big box stores - but I've gotten to know their delivery schedules so I can buy the plants before they've succombed to neglect.

When I buy on-line, a rare thing for me, I usually shop at websites of nurseries I've actually visited or at least met the grower in person at a show.

A plant the size of yours, with two inflorescences, is a pretty good buy. Even better, if it has a verifiable name (registered hybrid or mericlone) should you want to have it judged one day.

Hope you are able to revive your plant ... it looks like it's a keeper!

Joanna

[cneos]

Try Bedford Orchids in Montreal. Howard speciallizes in hybridizing phalaenopsis!

[Orchid126]

You are right to be conservative in cutting the main stem of the phal. Slice off a bit, and if you see healthy tissue, stop. If not, keep cutting a bit until you get to healthy tissue. Orchid roots can be very deceiving. They look bad when in actuality they're healthy.

[redperphexion]

Thanks, everyone!

I learn so much here. Turns out this phal is named and tagged.

"P. Nobby's Amy MP - 0234 CR" ...? The tag also says in smaller writing "Blush Wk-13/07 04/02/10". What does this date mean? User 'jkofferdahl' has one, too... http://www.orchidboard.com/community...obbys-amy.html Although, mine isn't quite that pink.

As I said, this plant's got 2 inflorescences, and 10 large leaves with a half-dozen air roots, too. It was $30CDN at the grocery. I'm hoping that it is mature enough to last through my meddling/'help'.

Thanks again for the advice!

[redperphexion]

So I'm confused about something. There are roots that are good at the ends but rotten up closer to the plant. (see picture "roots" and "bad roots" this is the same roots at different portions). Is this because the root is able to be healthy at the tip and bad at the top and still be ok, or is this a slow death that will eventually take the healthy looking root tips with them?

Your opinion on what to keep and what to leave?