Sad Orchid

[denise1212]

Hi all I am new to this forum!



I have a question about my orchid I got from my mom. I have a few orchids (beginning a collection) and just got one from my mom that isnt doing well. Its blooms dropped off (she says the flowers were up for a long time) and leaves started turning yellow. Also, there is a little growth (kiki?) on the spike. I took the orchid out of the pot she had it in and found some white fuzzy stuff and the middle of the orchid was rotten (over watered I am guessing).

Now my 2 questions are now that the roots are dried up I am assuming there is no hope see pics. I did cut the spike off so I can possibly save the growth....How do I do this or can I?

thanks!

pics: http://lh4.google.com/denise.dresbac...JPG?imgmax=800
http://lh4.google.com/denise.dresbac...JPG?imgmax=800


Denise

[quiltergal]

Hi Denise. Welcome to OB.

Does the Phal. in question have any good live roots left? If so go ahead and repot it in fresh medium. Phals are really pretty hardy. I've pulled more than one back from almost certain death.

Cut off all of the rotted and dessicated roots with some sterile scissors or knife. Sprinkle with some regular old cinnamon, and then repot. Put it in a warm low light place and then wait. It could take quite awhile for the plant to start growing again, but I definately think this one is saveable. Good luck and keep us posted!

[denise1212]

Thanks!

I had cut out the rotten middle part already and all the bad roots about a month ago and now all the last roots are looking shriveled and hard.


Thanks again,

Denise

[caseydoll]

This is probably a dumb question, but when you removed the phal to clean up the roots did you replace all the bark with fresh mix? How often are you watering? The dried up roots at the top could be the result of being exposed to low humidity. You may want to mist just the roots every morning. I would take some more bark and put a little on top of them to help retain moisure. From the pics it looks like it may have some new root growth unless I'm looking at it wrong. If so that's a good sign!

[denise1212]

Hi

Yes when I removed the dead roots and all I changed the bark to new bark. I have it in the bathroom to help w Humidity and have been watering about 1 a week. The problem is those roots you see in the pic is all it has.

the only newness to this plant was the one picture i took that shows the weird shoot that came out of the spike (which i cut off and dont know what to do with it) the picture here is the cut off spike w growth resting on another pot.

[reinbo15]

That new shoot is more spike! Maybe you will get some flowers!

[denise1212]

Oh no so i shouldnt have cut it off???? can i save it?

[caseydoll]

Sorry, once you cut it off there's no saving it. But to make you feel better, it was the right thing to do. Now your orchid can put it's energy towards growing new roots. If you had let the spike go your orchid probably would of not done so hot. Don't feel bad!

[denise1212]

Darn! Well as you said its the right thing to do but I totally thought it was a keiki. I see it now its totally a spike.
thanks all lets see if I can save the other one.