saving a dying phal.

[pedidiva]

Here's a link to spider mites with a pic of the spider mite.

Spider Mites

You may want to get some Neem oil. Keep us posted. One of my phals is losing its leaf at the base, too. I think due to old age as I can see no bugs, etc. The crown looks good.

Good luck~~
Pedi

[GardenTheater]

I only have cats and no two year olds. One of my cats did cut off some of my Phal leaf. They can chew in a pretty straight line although there was little cat mouth shaped curve at the end of "cut". Glad to hear you got another orchid to ease the pain.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by calypsoB

So today I lost a leaf and cut one off. I am worried about the base though because the lead that fell off left its part of the base a bit yellowed and black. The reason for cutting off the next lead was that it was starting to do the same thing. I used sterile clipper and sidted it with cinnamon. I am also notsure but I think it may have spider mites as I saw a web- no mite though...? The crown is looking much les healthy than before but I have a very healthy looking root now. I am not sure what to make of all of this.. :S I would post a pick but my camera isn't workng at the moment but I would love some feedback!

Keep growing it as you would if it were a healthy individual.

Let the leaves drop. If the petioles die off, it doesn't matter. What matters are the roots and the meristem which you wouldn't be able to see anyways.

If it dies even after your efforts to save it, so what, I'm sure you can get another one of the same kind. Remember, Phal hybrids are mass produced by the numbers. It doesn't matter if one dies, there are hundreds of clones to take it's place.

[calypsoB]

Thank you for the info on the spider mites! It was helpful!
I am only rally attached to this plant for two reasons: the first being that I like a challenge and that id I can keep it alive then I can feel like I can buy more without kiling them Second is that my Hubby thinks I kill all my plants-I don't-but if I can keep it alive he won't lecture me
You are definately right about just trying to treat it like others, I need to chill

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Ok, this is not a Phal, but it is a Vanda relative...

It has only 1 good root, and many of its leaves still intact.

I messed up with this one. There wasn't a whole lot of growing information on this particular species, nor is it widely grown (or known for that matter). I didn't realize just how humid this particular species needed to be grown (it needed to be grown very humid). Needless to say it got dehydrated and many of the roots died off (save 1) and all the leaves shriveled.

I couldn't keep up with watering this guy, so I put this plant in my snake tank where the humidity is very high (it's the same tank I put my Phal appendiculata in). I also tend to spray this tank down everyday, (the snakes are tropical snakes, so they love humidity as well), so that cuts down on the amount of orchids I have to go around watering individually.

Eventually within a few weeks, this plant grew a new root. I have high hopes of this plant making a full recovery in about 1 - 2 years (although, I do have to say that this species when grown correctly will apparently be very hardy).

I hope these pics will give you enough confidence to know that what you plan to do can be done.

I've already shown you pics of a Phal with no leaves recovering. Now I've shown you pics of a Vandaeceous plant beginning to recover from root heavy damage.

So, here are the pics: