Rescue Phals Help

[RalphJones]

Hello again all,

This is somewhat of a continuance from a previous thread of mine. Here are four Phals that I rescued from a Walmart that all came home with severe root rot.

I trimmed most of the dead when I replanted, but left some marginal roots (many were good shape in the top 1/2 of the root, but then had a break with some rot, and healthy root below the break). I considered these roots alright to say, since the bottom section looked healthy and without rot. Since, I have un-potted again to check and many more sections of the marginal roots have since began to rot as well.

I again removed the rot and am about to re-pot the Phals. And was seeing if there is any last minute advise or help for me. Note, I had each phal in sph. moss.

Phal in pic #1 has done well and have sent 4 new roots out, along with growing new root sections off the roots that have survived. I think I will replant this in sph. moss.

Phal in pic #2 lost most roots except for 2 aerial roots, but has recently sent out anther root. I will most likely put in sph. moss again.

Phal in pic #3 is the newest one. No new root sprouts that I can see at the moment. I'm not sure if I should try a bark mix or not for this one.

Phal in pic #4 has a few "good" roots still (they are dormant roots, as they do not have good tips and no longer grow), and a few root sprouts coming from existing roots. Also wondering if I should try to use bark instead of sph. moss. The tricky part with this phal is that all the roots are growing horizontally from the top and none that go down, so stablization will be pretty fun for it.

Any questions or comments are welcome, as I am new to this, and believe I know what I am doing, but still struggling with the effects of the previous root rot. If you need additional info let me know. Thank you!

[Merlyn]

I wouldn't use anything but sphag for all of them. It seems to be good for new root growth. I would be using KLN to also stimulate new roots. Don't take this wrong but stop unpotting them so frequently and just pot them in clear plastic containers so you can check without unpotting. They need to be stabilized and left alone in their pots. When the sphag gets crunchy dry on top, time to water. From what little I can see #2 will do just fine, it has new root buds but I'm not sure of the others. Good luck.

[grasshopper]

I agree with Merlyn...clear pots are the best way to keep tabs on the roots. If clear pots are hard to come by, convert soda bottles or use clear deli containers if you can find them.

If you have a heat mat, I would recommend keeping your plants on it for a while. The heat will hopefully spur new root growth. A good soak in K-L-N will also help speed things along. I mist the exposed roots of my "rescues" with a K-L-N solution once a week (in addition to their normal watering routine), and I soak them in a K-L-N solution once every other week until I see new growth.

Good luck!

[RalphJones]

Thank you for the tips. I do use clear plastic pots with holes that I added to them for air circulation as well as rock bottoms. I will attach a picture of one of the empty ones.

I wanted to leave them potted, but got a bad feeling after leaving some questionable roots (which turned out to be justified with all phals but #2). With so few roots, not many are exposed on the outside edge of the pot, so checking the roots is rather difficult without re-potting.

I would assume KLN is a rooting hormone, but is it a brand or general type? Is it only used for orchids? Would most garden centers carry it or would I most likely have to get it from a website?

Thank you again!

[RalphJones]

Another quick question.

I have replanted #1 and #2 already is sph. moss. The moss was a bit damp when I re-potted. Should I wait until it is bone dry on top (where the majority of the few remaining roots are located) or soak again soon?

[Merlyn]

Let it get crunchy dry on top, then water. K-L-N is a liquid root hormone concentrate. DYNA-GRO makes it, I don't know if they are the only brand that does.

[silken]

You can get other rooting hormones, but K-L-N seems to be gentle enough that it works well on orchids and some others are too strong and actually kill their roots. It can be bought online or maybe at a hydroponics place.

Since there aren't too many roots, I would be careful about over-watering, which causes root rot. Even if the sphag is dry on top, it might be wet in the centre. Use a bamboo kebab skewer placed near the centre and down near the bottom of the pot where it will stay the wettest. Don't re-water till that is nearly dry. If the roots are mostly at the top where it is bone dry, maybe mist the top of the sphag. now and then to wet those roots.

that last photo looked like the roots were thinking of rotting. If you don't have Physan, you could give them a rinse in regular brown Listerine which is an anti-bacterial or use some garden sulfur on them before re-potting. It just might kill any bacteria lingering in the dark areas.

And I agree heat mats or bottom heat of some sort would help and somehow securing the plant if its real wobbly. they don't like to start new roots unless they are stable.