Help! Just rescued my first Orchid! - Orchid Board

Phal Gal · #1 11-01-2011, 07:17 PM

Hello, I'm new to Orchids.
My problem is: I took it off a dark shelf, away from a person who doesn't believe in watering plants. I have three leaves, one is yellow, two are dark green. I also have two dead looking sticks. I'm assuming that because I have green leaves, I can nurse the poor thing back to health. Any tips?

Paul Mc · #2 11-01-2011, 07:48 PM

If you can post pictures of the plant and the roots, that would be the most helpful...

Otherwise, I have a few questions for you.
1.) How to the leaves feel and look? Are they leathery, smooth, plump, dehydrated, etc...
2.) How do the roots look, especially when you run water over them? Do they look plump and green or are they dried up, broken, etc...
3.) Is the yellow leaf on the bottom? If so, you might want to just cut it off so your phal can focus on the healthy (hopefully) leaves.
4.) How dark is dark when you say dark green? Is there any red tinge to the leaves at all?

If you have a healthy root system, or somewhat healthy root system, and healthy leaves, then yes - you may just be able to nurse it back to health.

Generally speaking and depending upon what type of phal it is, we shoot for dark green to just a hint of red in the leaves. Of course, new leaves coming from the top will always have a red coloration to them, again generally speaking.

When evaluating if an orchid make it or not, sometimes we have to look not just at the color of the leaves, but their texture and the root mass. It's the combination that make plants survive. Of course, you can always have healthy leaves with a dying root system. That's because the leaves are the last thing to show any stress on phal's when they are dying.

I've heard on this forum many times that people have completely forgotten to water their orchids or care for them, and have been completely surprised at how happy they were being neglected. So your phal may alright after all.

My only caution would be to slowly move it into brighter light if you are wanting to do so. The brighter the light the more red you will see in the leaves. But if you put your hand over where you want to place your phal and you can distinctly see the line of your shadow, it may be way too much light for your phal. Shoot for blurred lines on your shadow.

Phal Gal · #3 11-01-2011, 08:29 PM

Thanks for your response, Paul!

I tried to post pictures, but apparently the file size is way too huge. I don't know how to make them any smaller.

The leaves are very flat, kind of wrinkly, and a little leathery. There is no red tinge to them, and they are a dark green. I touched the yellow one and it turned to dust.

The distal roots look like they're dry and brown, but the ones closest to the stem are green and moist.

My mother insists it's supposed to look like this, but she's been known to harbour a sort of Plant Torture Chamber in her living room.

Paul Mc · #4 11-01-2011, 08:42 PM

There is a free program to make pictures smaller made by HP, but I can't remember how to find it. You might want to just try googling it to see what you can find. I'm sorry - I'm lame with short-term memory.

Oh-oh... The fact that your leaves are wrinkly and leathery is a warning sign. That means they have dehydated and are damaged.

The fact that the leaves are so dark may mean it was getting good light, and no red tinge does not necessarily mean success. Dont' fret on that. sorry to hear your yellow leaf is gone, but I'm glad it is. you might want to dust the spot where it fell off with cinnamon as it is a natural preventave of fungus, bacteria and infections. Just be sure not to get it on the roots!

It's not uncommon for roots to look brown, especially as someone pointed out to me earlier, when they are in a medium that potentially gives them their color. What do they look like when water is run over them for a long time? Do they green up?

I would not be worried about "dried" one's unless they are shriveled up. If they are not plump, you may have a problem, but still salvagable if you have 4 or 5 plump ones.

Aerial roots (those that grow outside of the potting medium) are known to dry up unless you do something to give them moisture. If this is the case, I would not worry unless the roots in the potting medium are damaged as well.

Phal Gal · #5 11-01-2011, 09:36 PM

I will have to look into the photo software.

Excellent. I found a few nice plump green roots. The dried one's didn't green up, but they did plump up. Maybe not enough water? I'm hesitant as I read that they don't like to stand in water.

The medium is a spongy mossy type substance, and it is the roots closest to the top that were dried up.

I've decided I'm going to give it my best shot anyways...I've had a lot of "dead" plants surprise me.

I've moved it into more light, should I give it a fertillizer? Do I leave the tall stalks alone, even though they too look dried up?

Olivia · #6 11-02-2011, 10:55 AM

For resizing the pictures there's an easy way to do it through the standard windows software package.

- Open your picture in "Microsoft Office Picture Manager"
- Click on "Edit Picture" in the top tool bar, this will open a tool bar on the right
- Click on "Resize" from the new toolbar and just select the correct pixel size.

As for your phal, another thing to consider is the potting media it is in. Is your moss still fresh looking or is it starting to break down?

Daethen · #7 11-02-2011, 11:04 AM

I would cut the dried stalks back. They are spent flower spikes and will do nothing more for the plant. I would also repot into fresh medium. It sounds like it is in sphag moss. Most people do better in a bark medium. I like sphag for my young or mini phals though. Soak the roots in superthrive or other rooting hormone for 1/2 hour or more if you would like. Cut any roots that are hollow or stringy or mushy. What is left is what you have to work with. I wouldn't fertilize yet, let it recover a bit first. If you have lots of roots, great. If not, keep the plant on the dry side to encourage it to grow roots, they will grow to go look for water. Pictures always help.