ICU for phals...no more spag and bag for me!

[Phal in love]

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to share how successful I have been rescuing nearly gone phals by putting them in green water. My old method was to use spag and bag, but I always had problems with mold due to poor air circulation. Several months ago I saw on this board, probably on the hydroponics board, orchids that were grown in simply water. This has worked GREAT for me!

If a phal has lost most of its roots due to rot or drying out, I cut them off, then dab it with some rooting hormone, and stick it in my jar. I use toothpicks to make a frame that holds it just barely in the water...plenty of air around it. The water turned green very soon, and I just add a little every few days to maintain a level.

The plants have grown several new roots very quickly and have grown several leaves, too. I had put some plants in there that had NO roots, and leaves that were barely turgid. Those limp leaves eventually are cut off, but new ones have grown quickly.

My jars sit in a southern window and get lots of sun.

The only one I am skeptical about right now is a plant that had NO roots left. It has 2 good leaves, so I have it sitting barely in the water. It has been a couple of weeks, but no new roots. But it hasn't completely died, either...

The second picture is of a vase I bought at IKEA. It is planted in the top part with a plug of moss. The roots have grown down into the water on their own.

The lesson I have learned is hurray for green water!

Have a good day!
Ann

[Daethen]

The one in the vase looks VERY healthy!! Glad to hear you found a method that works.

[Bud]

This is good to know. Hopefully I will not have to resort to this someday...all my phals are as happy and healthy as can be

[cythaenopsis]

My sphag and bag worked only part-way... I think the lack of fresh air starved the plant enough to yellow the leaves. Two of them dropped off. Roots were growing, but that was the only good thing. I rescued it from the bag and potted it. The remaining two leaves stopped their progression of yellowing, thankfully. But, the plant is kind of hanging by a root... I never considered the rooting hormone treatment. I'll have to try tracking some of that down. Thanks for the tip!

[Phal in love]

I am a phal lover at heart, but I also have an oncidium noid and some other orchid with pseudobulbs that has divided well. The pseudobulbs have done well with the spag and bag method...so I guess I better not completely abandon it.

But for the phals....the green water is magic!

Have a good day,
Ann

[Phal in love]

Originally Posted by cythaenopsis

My sphag and bag worked only part-way... I think the lack of fresh air starved the plant enough to yellow the leaves. Two of them dropped off. Roots were growing, but that was the only good thing. I rescued it from the bag and potted it. The remaining two leaves stopped their progression of yellowing, thankfully. But, the plant is kind of hanging by a root... I never considered the rooting hormone treatment. I'll have to try tracking some of that down. Thanks for the tip!

Don't give up on it! If you have roots, then all is not lost Get it out of that bag and into some fresh air and lots of sunshine. I hope it makes it. The rooting hormone is a small container of powder available at any garden center.

Ann

[camille1585]

Hurrah for water culture!! I too ahve used it successfully to root a poor rootless Den, and know people who use it very successfully for Catts. For some reason water culture is not a very good long term growing method, and it's better to transfer to S/H once the plant has been re-established

Originally Posted by Phal in love

Don't give up on it! If you have roots, then all is not lost Get it out of that bag and into some fresh air and lots of sunshine. I hope it makes it. The rooting hormone is a small container of powder available at any garden center.

You shouldn't use powdered rooting hormone on orchids. For one it is intended for woody plants and it is much too strong for orchids. At the very least it will have the opposite effect of what was intended. (even on woody plant cuttings, too much hormone powder inhibits rooting.) The powder is also water insoluble, so there is no way to apply it while watering. You are much better off using a liquid rooting hormone, such as KLN.

[pacomartini]

hi ann...going thru a simular situation with 3 of my phals...how much rooting hormone r u using?

[georgeFH]

Originally Posted by Phal in love

Hello everyone,
...holds it just barely in the water...
Ann

hi, should the roots, whatever is left, been in the water?

[Susie11]

I too am using this method on one of my sick mini phals. So far I have not had any new roots growing but I think that I have a new leaf on the way. It has been in the jar for about two months now.