Spag-n-Bag technique?

[Queenslander]

Ok. all you geniuses out there. I have been reading posts re this remedy for sick/rootless chids.
Question 1, do you completely seal plastic bag, or leave baggie open.
2. Is bag placed in shade.
3. Is peaking allowed? Out of curiosity.
4. How long should this chid. be kept like this.
Any answers, help, would be grrrreat.

[mab3362]

I have alot of experience with the old bag n Spag. I take a small handful of good quality spag (not cheap stuff, as its more prone to having fungal spores on it). I soak it well and then half wring it out. I put itin a clear gallon sized zipper or decent plastic clear bag. I then put my victim (usually a cattleya/laelia backbulb or rootless wonder) in it. They plant and the spag should be in opposite corners and not in contact. If the plant is really in bad shape or looking black ish, I usally soak it in diluted physan prior. Then I seal it with a bit of air and sit it near but not under a florescent light in the home with temps in the 70's. I keep it there until new growth or roots start to develop or it turns black with fungus and dies. One of the two will happen, sometime it takes weeks and sometimes it takes months. If the spag is looking rough, sometimes I replace it. WARNING: as soon as you see new growth or roots, I would pull it out in a few days as I have lost many because I was greedy for more growth and it ended up getting a fungal infection and then death. If it is a big plant, such as a large cat or den, then the best bet is to hang by string in a shaded area and water it everyday and usually something will start growing. I have also had luck with just putting them in a clay pot with a small wad of spag and watering it almost every day and that usually does the trick. Emphasis on watering everyday... make sense?

[Queenslander]

Thanks for your input.

[camille1585]

I do a bit of a variation on the sphag and bag technique if the orchid (usually a phal) has some short roots left. I pot it up in bark in the smallest pot possible (sometimes have to make pots out of 0.5 liter plastic bottles) then place it in the bag in a clay pot for support. I fill the bottom of the bag with damp sphag and then leave it closed until new roots appear (lightly watering sphag and the bark when needed). Once there are new roots I leave the bag mostly open at the top. It avoids rot, but keeps some more humidity compared to the outside.

As to your questions:
- I keep it in bright shade, in a warm room
- I air out the bag a few minutes each day
- Avoid peeking if it disturbs the plant (I don't burrow in the pot looking for roots!)
-Time wise, it depends. I've only done it on phals, and usually needed 1month or so to see nice roots, and then left it in the open bag for another 1-2 months. No idea for other genera of orchids.

[Queenslander]

Thank you Camille, the info you gave is v.good.