Phal Rescue - Orchid Board

kaarthiik · #1 05-03-2011, 11:06 AM

Hi Guys,
I need your help again, Few Phals need help!
Attached the pics, they say more.
When I got my first lot of Phals seller shipped bare root, so I potted in clay pots with holes in coconut husk chips CHC and charcoal (beginner mistake, washed and soaked CHC and charcoal for few minutes in rain water and washed)

I lost few flowers, so I have seen root system, they got rot, Now I imported orchid (CHC and fir bark) mix and now they are in professional mix in clear plastic pot) It all I did 10 days back.

Today I lost one leaf, so I examined root system, and still see the same problem..

Please help!

zxyqu · #2 05-03-2011, 11:12 AM

I'd recommend ICU (sphag and bag). I can't tell for sure, but it doesn't look like the roots are still alive. Go ahead and sphag and bag regardless to try and get some new roots ASAP

kaarthiik · #3 05-03-2011, 11:17 AM

Thanks for quick reply!
Just wanted to mention, there are few root that are strong and not fluffy but not healthy green.

So Please tell me how to go for spahg n bag method?
I do not have good Sphagnum moss avialble to import it takes 1 month

and I save some bad ... Moss from previous purchase of orchids. Can I use it?

And I read Putting the total pot in a clear bag gives the same advantage of Sphag n Bag. Is it correct?
Here is what I had from a site
"Another idea for those of you who grow your plants in Semi-Hydroponic™ culture: Pot up your suffering plant and then place the plant - pot and all - in the bag. It will get all of the benefits of the "sphag-n-bag" environment, but has the bonus of growing its roots into the medium without the need for repotting afterward. "

zxyqu · #4 05-03-2011, 11:24 AM

Yeah, that could work as well, if you can find a sandwich bag or something that is clear. just place it carefully over the pot, and put the plant in a less light situation. This will help the plant focus more on roots than leaves/etc. As for not having sphag, this is just to keep a good level of humidity around the base of the plant. You can use a damp paper towel just the same, or something like that around the top of the potting media. Also, if you can, some rooting hormone (KLN, etc) will help a bit, but use it lightly. Hope that helps some.

kaarthiik · #5 05-03-2011, 11:31 AM

Thanks a Ton!

So, to be clear to understand, it would be better to put whole plant along with pot, in a bag with paper towel?
Do I need to water the medium?? Its a bit damp now.
I do not have any rooting hormone, All Orchid related fertilizer I import from Ebay with help of friends. I have Orchid Focus Ultra, and Orchid Focus Grow,
and a Thailand originated fertilizer (no English literature over it, brought from plant seller)

Pls correct if I am wrong.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #6 05-03-2011, 01:00 PM

What a horrible seller to sell you a Phal with such damaged roots!

zxyqu · #7 05-03-2011, 01:05 PM

Well, you can either:
Put just plant in plastic bag with a damp paper towel around the base of the roots.
Or, you can put a little sphag around the bottom of plant to keep it wet, and put the entire container in a plastic bag.
If you use just the plant and bag, 1st option, once you see new roots growing, pot it up in your bark mix.

kaarthiik · #8 05-03-2011, 01:10 PM

Sorry to say Philip. Roots and spikes were soooooo healthy while I received shipment. I damaged it with bad CHC. Roots were lush green.

But, seller did not update that they is sending bare root, I had a Phal before nicely potted, so I thought I get the same. And its impossible to get orchid mix/Nice sphagnum moss in India.

Here people think I am Mad! becz of huge price I pay for Orchids.. Obviously not more than $15 per plant.

Due to my over love and fear that bare roots, once opened from packing get damage, I hurried with imporproly washes CHC, when ever I dip pot in water, I use to get brown water (CHC colored)
I think it damaged roots

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #9 05-03-2011, 01:14 PM

You can try Sphag and Bag techniques, but the underlying factor that will save your Phal is really just consistently high humidity.

High levels of humidity can be achieved in many different ways.

One of them is Sphag and Bag methods. However, I don't like this method because there is a high risk of compounding the problem with possible fungal outbreaks.

Another method is to put it in a terrarium (or simply put, a reptile aquarium).

Here's a pic of what I'm talking about: