Phalinopsis with crown rot - Orchid Board

pbphut · #1 08-25-2010, 09:40 PM

It seems that during a recent watering, I got some water in the cup of my Phal. Sogo Lawrence and it apparently developed crown rot. I didn't realize that anything was wrong until one of the leaves started yellowing. It still has one viable looking leaf and the roots look sound. My question is will it repair itself and survive or is it on a downward spiral to the garbage can? If it's ultimately a gonner, I won't waste any effort on trying to save it. If It can be saved, I'll keep giving it love. Thanks in advance.

Poison Ivy · #2 08-25-2010, 10:11 PM

It may or may not throw out a basal keiki.
I've always saved any plant, as long as they had good roots, they have chance of throwing out a basal keki

pbphut · #3 08-25-2010, 10:22 PM

Sounds like a plan. Thanks for the quick reply. :-)

marydaniellesantos · #4 08-25-2010, 10:23 PM

Your Phalaenopsis sounds like it will be fine. As long as you take care and not damage the only leaf. It will grow another. Water and fertilize regularly. Do not throw it out, orchids often do well as long as the roots are healthy.

WhiteRabbit · #5 08-25-2010, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marydaniellesantos

Your Phalaenopsis sounds like it will be fine. As long as you take care and not damage the only leaf. It will grow another. Water and fertilize regularly. Do not throw it out, orchids often do well as long as the roots are healthy.

actually if the crown is damaged from rot - it can't grow any more foliage - but it may get a basal keiki with or without any foliage on this one ...

pbhut - I completely crown rotted a phal earlier this year - nothing left but roots - now it has a nice sized basal keiki growing

so, no guarantees, but there is hope

pbphut · #6 08-26-2010, 01:00 AM

Thanks White. I suspected that the top was toast, but I hadn't thought about the possibility of a basal keiki. I had some keikis grow from an old flower stalk on another phal, but didn't realize that they can throw them from the bottom too. I'll just keep my fingers crossed and see what happens. :-)

WhiteRabbit · #7 08-26-2010, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbphut

Thanks White. I suspected that the top was toast, but I hadn't thought about the possibility of a basal keiki. I had some keikis grow from an old flower stalk on another phal, but didn't realize that they can throw them from the bottom too. I'll just keep my fingers crossed and see what happens. :-)

my crown rotted Phal in May, shortly after the keiki started

and about a week ago ... that's in a 4" pot, so you can see it has grown very quickly!

no guarantees about getting a keiki - but I figured since I had good roots, I would just continue to care for it til it either got a keiki or roots died. Took a couple months I think before the keiki started ...

RosieC · #8 08-26-2010, 09:19 AM

I agree, a basel keiki is the best bet.

If the 'apical meristem' was not damaged by the rot (I think I've got that name right) then it is possible for more leaves out the existing crown.

When the 'apical meristem' IS damaged the damage actualy causes changes in hormone levels which make a basel keiki far more likely provided there is an 'eye' (has a more technical name I can't remember) for one to start from.

I think WhiteRabbit's example is the most impressive I've seen, and a good example of how these plants really want to survive.