The Phal abuse ends here.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I forgot to mention...

I don't recommend mixing auxins with cytokinins.

Since you're concerned about hormones to build roots, I recommend sticking with auxins only.

[georgeFH]

thanks. I'm pretty sure Green Light contains .1% IBA.

cinnamon could be my problem. The root most coated with cinnamon was the one that died last time. Guess i'll have to get it out of the pot tomorrow, and wash off the excess cinnamon.

can you dissolve cinnamon in water, and use it to water normally?

[Wynn Dee13]

Why would you want to water with cinnamon? It isn't necessary. I think it would be worse for the plant than beneficial. I don't think it will dissolve anyway. When I wash my finger after applying cinnamon to cuts on my plants it kind of floats in the water and doesn't mix.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Cinnamon is not 100% soluble in water. The cinnamaldehyde in cinnamon is a whole different thing.

Cinnamon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cinnamaldehyde - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cinnamaldehyde is the chemical in cinnamon that is the desiccant.

[Wynn Dee13]

Philip- Would there be a reason to water with cinnamon all the time though? I know I have seen a recipe using cinnamon extract for bugs but I don't see why it would be necessary or good for the plant to water with it.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I really don't see a reason to water with cinnamon. I think that'd be detrimental to the roots because of the desiccant, cinnamaldehyde, in cinnamon.

That and add onto the fact that cinnamon has extremely poor solubility in water.

[Jayfar]

Originally Posted by Wynn Dee13

Philip- Would there be a reason to water with cinnamon all the time though? I know I have seen a recipe using cinnamon extract for bugs but I don't see why it would be necessary or good for the plant to water with it.

That's a whole 'nother thing. Google "the best stuff ever" orchids and you'll find a thread on another orchid discussion board.

10 drops non-phosphate dishwashing liquid
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon extract (NOT powdered cinnamon)
2 cups warm water

Spray on plant to kill mites and other creepy crawlies; also has anti-fungal properties. Avoid spraying on buds and blooms. Pour some into the potting mix to kill bugs lurking there, but rinse out later. Repeat a week later to get any bugs that hatched since the first treatment, as the treatment probably does not kill the eggs.

[georgeFH]

I pull out the phal today to rinse off the excess cinnamon. But upon close examination, the plant is in worse condition than I thought. A large part of "stem" appears rotted, and there is a thin layer of mold on it.
I clean up the rotted part as much as I can, and soaking it in peroxide now. But I think this poor plant may be done. What do you think?

[flexdc]

Don’t throw it away, it is salvageable. You can still save it using the “bag” method. Here is how it is done (well my version anyways) if you don’t already know.

Wet some sphagnum or paper towels and roll them up in to one or two balls. (I prefer paper towels, less expensive and will not degrade as easy.) Put the balls into a zipblock bag. Place the lower part of the orchid (i.e. stem and roots below the lowest leave) into the bag, and put it in a warm and shady location. Zip up the bag; not all the way, leave a little room to let air in. Mist the leaves during the day or the morning if you get the chance. If the paper towels dry up, re-wet them. You should see some condensation in the bag. When you see new root growth, let it grow to about an inch before potting it in your mix and use the smallest possible pot.

Try this, it might work. I recently revived a store bought minicat. Though it had more roots but the roots were in bad shape.

Andrew

[georgeFH]

thank you for the advice. I'm really concerned about the black area above the roots. I don't know if you can make it out in the pictures. I can't clean up all the black rotten materials without taking off the outer most leave as well. Wonder what I should o.