Do I give up on this Phal?

[QueenBee]

Alright, so I finally decided to seek out some help with regards to this sad, sad orchid journey of mine. This is the *cough* third *cough* orchid I've killed. However, this last one is the first time I've made an effort to do some reading and try to keep her healthy.

At any rate. I repotted it in some bark/pumice/mossy looking stuff made for Phals, cut off the flower stem (which I realized after I shouldn't have done), cut all the dead roots (most were rotten) and now she's got one sad, droopy, leaf and one struggling root.

The leaf, although it's not clear in the picture, is getting quite soft and black at the end, but the base is quite vivid and firm. One root looks decently healthy.

I can take clearer pictures if someone thinks its worth saving, but some advice on whether this is a lost cause or not would be a good start.

Thanks all!

[Daethen]

I am probably the wrong one to answer you because I hate to give up on anything. You still have one great looking root and it looks like one ok one. It will be like starting over with a baby though. I won't presume to give you advice as I am a bit too new to growing chids. Someone with more experience will be along to help.

[val_and_graham]

Hi QueenBee,

Do you have any thoughts on what's causing the orchid(s) to be like that? Where have you been keeping it/them? What's been your watering regime? Any sign of pests?
Do you have any idea on its specific species?

I tend to be of the same view as Daethen which is I would hate to give up on it as at least there is some life in a root or 2!

Should you keep it, it would be "back to basics", ensuring that it has the appropriate watering regime, good temperature and light.

Can you tell us anything more about your care regime and the orchid, to help us provide some specific advice?

[Anisa]

What val_and_graham said.
I believe that 99% of orchids would like to live given a chance. (1% are plain suicidal!) Review your care regimen. If you wont change it your orchid will die.

[QueenBee]

My boss bought me this orchid from Home Depot so I have no idea what kind of orchid it is. The pot that it's in is plastic and about 6" diametre with an orchid mix that is made of bark, charcol, peat moss. When I transplanted from the original tight packed moss, the roots were mouldy so I cut them off. I soaked the mixture, drained overnight and its been in there since. It sits by a south facing window so it gets lots of light during the week (Sometimes it would sit in the hot sunlight though).

Once I saw what looked like a white dust outline of some sort of insect on one of the leaves right near the base. I brushed it off and haven't seen any signs of whatever it was since.

I was worried about roots rotting more with too much moisture so instead of dumping water in the pot, I spray the media around the roots a few times a week lightly with a 25-10-10 fertilizer/water mix. A little more diluted than reccomended probably.

It's been a hot summer and it's quite dry. Now in the fall and winter, the temp inside will be around 76 and also dry. My orchid lives in my office at work so it doesn't see the light really on the weekend, although if necessary I can move it to a different room where it would.

So: orchid media, fairly inconsistant termperature, sometimes sat in the glaring sun, sprizes a few times a week with orchid fertilizer/water.

Thank You!

[Daethen]

It needs more water in my opinion. It also should not sit in hot sun. Bright indirect light is best. Since it has bad roots you could set it on some pebbles in a dish of water to raise the humidity around it so that the leaves can help absorb some water for it. Don't let the plant actually sit in the water though or there will be more rot.

[CTB]

Try putting it in a small glass with some water with weak fertilizer. Keep the leaves dry only the roots getting wet. See if it will perk up in a couple of weeks.

[Becca]

With one leaf, I don't think there is much hope. That root isn't enough to do anything. You could try the sphag-n-bag method or the method Carol mentioned with the glass of water. It will need to kept in a warm place and not in direct light, and preferably high humidity. Don't leave it in the pot you had it in though, it is to big for what your orchid will need when and if it does recover.

[trdyl]

This one could pull through. But it needs proper care now more than ever. I have never been successful with sphag-in-a-bag. I think you will better results with Carol's suggestion.