Need advice/help with sick Phal - Orchid Board

urszula22 · #1 11-02-2010, 09:56 PM

This is the first time I came across a Phal like this... I need some advice as to what I should do. I bought it yesterday and the first thing I did was repot it since it was in tightly packed moss... I did some research and actually found out that what it is, is a terminal spike. I cut off the dead roots and potted it in bark. Should it get plenty of light? Should I cut off the spike? Fertilize it? I don't know what to do from here, and I don't know if it was a good thing that I re potted it... any help would be appreciated thanks!

silken · #2 11-02-2010, 10:27 PM

Welcome to OB. It was a good thing to re-pot it. Packed sphagnum moss is how Phals are usually shipped to the stores, but they end up with root rot if left like that for long. Your plant has a few roots left and it looks like some tiny nubs where more are ready to sprout. It also looks like it has sprouted a keiki on the side where you have that new little leaf. That too will hopefully put out roots.

I would leave the bloom spike for now and keep an eye on the plant. It should start growing new roots soon and in the meantime you could mist it in the early part of the day to help it absorb some moisture. Be sure to not allow any water to run down into the crown as crown rot happens easily if moisture is trapped.

To increase the humidity around it you could set it on a dish or tray that is filled with pebbles and water. Make sure the pot isn't actually standing in water, just on top of the pebbles. If it sits in water, it will encourage root rot.

The leaves look nice and healthy and it should do fine. Good luck with your plant.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #3 11-03-2010, 12:30 AM

Of course, since, you only got it yesterday...

Why not exchange it or return it for a refund?

Do you really want your first experience (assuming it is your first orchid) to quite possibly end in heartbreak? What about the time and effort to try and revive it? Do you really want the stress and headaches that come with that, the very first time around.

That's a rough breaking into the hobby.

Paul Mc · #4 11-03-2010, 09:05 AM

While it is rough way to start, if you are anything like me and you are able to save this phal, you will have learned a lot in the process and have a bit more confidence knowing you saved it. It's up to you, but if you keep it then you should keep studying and asking questions here on the OB.

I agree that the leaves look great and you have baby keiki's growing everywhere it looks like (on the plant and on the flower stem). The best thing you can do is keep the mother plant healthy and happy. You might try adding some Dynatek ProTekt to it once in a while to help with the stress the plant is experiencing while producing these babies.

CTB · #5 11-03-2010, 09:16 AM

Welcome to the Orchid Board. I don't think those roots look too bad, good you repotted, I'd let the keiki grow. Looks like its trying to grow some new roots. If it's in all bark, water heavy every four days , partial shade. Don't wet the leaves. i say keep it and learn from its progress or demise.

urszula22 · #6 11-03-2010, 12:21 PM

thanks for the great advice everyone. When I picked it out I thought it looked different from all the others and I thought why not, I did some research on it when I got home but felt like I didn't know enough. Hey, at least it was only a $1. btw, when should I expect the baby keiki to start showing some of it's own roots? also, the leaves are getting plenty of light (not direct), but the spike isn't, is that ok?

thanks again

trdyl · #7 11-03-2010, 12:29 PM

Welcome to OB!

It is very salvageable. For a good pot size to start with I think a 4" pot would be a good size. While it may look and be top heavy always put a Phal into the smallest or close to the smallest pot size you can get the roots into. There is lesser of a chance of root rot that way.

ardera · #8 11-03-2010, 03:55 PM

I could be wrong, but I thought a terminal spike comes from the very center of the crown. From the pictures, this spike looks like it is coming from the bottom, so this wouldn't be a terminal spike.

Gin · #9 11-03-2010, 04:25 PM

ardera is right on! does not look like a terminal spike to me either if it was would be coming up from the very center of the plant where the top leaves join . Also there are the start of new roots the very small bumps above the old roots . Happy Growing

tucker85 · #10 11-03-2010, 04:26 PM

I don't believe that's a terminal spike. I had a phal with a terminal spike and it comes right out of the center where the new leaves normally come from. That looks to me like a phal that has a poor root system and is fighting to survive by producing keikis. As someone already mentioned you could return it for a healthier plant. If you choose to try to save it I agree with others that have posted. Repot, as you've apparently already done, keep the humidity high. Keep it where it will receive good light with no direct sun and water and feed normally. Orchids can take in water and nutrients through the leaves so you can mist with a very dilute fertilizer solution. Unfortunately phals don't like their leave to stay wet, so mist early in the day so it can dry by nightfall. Good luck.