teacup orchid is wilting

[Ordphien]

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[Vanda lover]

Originally Posted by Cym Ladye

I have also seen a Cymbidium in a tea cup too! Go figure! But next year it will begin reverting to the usual miniature to mid size, more natural size. Chemicals can do weird things to plants for mass marketing of "hostess gifts".



CL

I saw some of these phals in a grocery store today. Very tempting, one was almost black.

[Wild Orchid]

[QUOTE=Francesca P.;554717]Hey lilia, thanks. But I don't quite understand, sorry. There are 2 containers that came with the phal, an outer ceramic pot and the inner clear plastic pot with drainage holes. How is this plastic pot different than a clear mayo jar? Can I just remove the ceramic pot and keep the phal in the original clear plastic pot? Thanks for your help.[COLOR="Silver"]

Hi Francesca,
Of course, I'm only guessing what your plastic container looks like. I've recently bought a Phal from Safeway and the plastic insert was basically a very tight plastic bag or shall I say a pocket - that held moss and very tightly sqeesed roots and with some signs of green algae growing on walls.
Why stores use certain containers - my guess would be it's done for the purpose of holding everything together and preventing spills of potting material during transportation. I do not believe those containers were designed with a long care for a plant in mind.

The clear container I'd choose instead would have more room for roots to spread and also provide some room for air circulation. I'd also drill holes on the bottom and sides for the same reasons and to eliminate extra moisture.

I hope this is helpful and if I could offer my , I'd take the plant out of its current setting immediately as the bacteria most likely is hard at work on Phals roots eating them up. (Once the rot sits in, it would be lots of work to fight it off.) You can even place a Phal temporarily on a plate or in a bowl and wrap the roots in a slightly moist paper towel. This would allow roots a chance to breath and dry up a bit.

Hope this is helpful, at least for a start.

Cheers,
Lilia

[Francesca P.]

Hi, and thank you very much everyone for your help. Lilia, I will try the bowl idea until I can get a new container with more room. How long will it last in the bowl with the paper towel? And should I pinch off the wilting flowers or let them fall off?

[Wild Orchid]

Originally Posted by Francesca P.

Hi, and thank you very much everyone for your help. Lilia, I will try the bowl idea until I can get a new container with more room. How long will it last in the bowl with the paper towel? And should I pinch off the wilting flowers or let them fall off?

Hi Francesca,
Well, if you check on roots periodically and don't let them dry up completely, I think it could make it for 2-3 days or even longer. You could also spray roots lightly 1-2 times a day or even soak them for 5-10 min once a day. As long as the paper towel is slightly moist and the roots are green and plump, it should be ok.

Given that you have a mini phal, I'd think you need a relatively small container, like 4'. Sometimes those are hard to find, that's why I use just any clear container that would fit roots snugly, even a water bottle might do. Too large, and the media won't dry quick enough.

Mine is currently sitting in the McDonalds yogurt cup and attached to the plastic fork as it has only two roots and can't support itself. And as such the roots are covered lightly with a few pieces of bark and coconut fibers.

As for the flowers, depends on the condition of the plant. If you feel it's getting weak, I'd cut off the spike and place it in a vase. The idea is to let the plant focus its energy on a recovery effort.
The spike in a vase can last for a long time if it's in a bright but indirect light.

Good luck!
Lilia

[Francesca P.]

Hi Lilia, I apologize for having so many questions. The roots inside the container look green and plump. Also, there are 4 healthy looking roots that come up through the potting media. These look pale green, thick and hard. The plant has 2 spikes, one has turned brown and dropped its flowers. The other is green and has wilted flowers. Which should I cut, the brown one? Where to cut? Would the roots that are curling upward be the problem? I will try to post a pic again. Thank you again. ***I was unable to upload pic to the chat, but I put 4 pics in my gallery of the wilted phal. This is the best I can do at present. Thank you

[violetta]

Hello Francesca,
I saw your photos and I'm concerned about the state of the roots, they don't look very healthy. The ones inside the pot look flat, not plump, while those outside the pot are dried up. For a start, I think you should pull the plant out of the pot to check them all.

[Francesca P.]

Originally Posted by violetta

Hello Francesca,
I saw your photos and I'm concerned about the state of the roots, they don't look very healthy. The ones inside the pot look flat, not plump, while those outside the pot are dried up. For a start, I think you should pull the plant out of the pot to check them all.

Hello, Violetta and thanks. I've pulled the plant out and put it in a bigger plastic container with room for air to circulate and a slightly moist paper towel wrapped arount the roots and potting media. Should I losen the media from around the roots too? It is packed tight, but I'm afraid of damaging the plant.

[Wild Orchid]

Originally Posted by Francesca P.

Hello, Violetta and thanks. I've pulled the plant out and put it in a bigger plastic container with room for air to circulate and a slightly moist paper towel wrapped arount the roots and potting media. Should I losen the media from around the roots too? It is packed tight, but I'm afraid of damaging the plant.

Hi Francesca,
I agree with Violetta - you need to get rid of the moss immediately as it's sofacating the roots. I appologize if I didn't make it clear in the previous post when we talked about wrapping roots in a moist towel.

Soak the rootball with moss in a lookwarm water. Then gently try to pull at moss, one string a time... I sometimes take a tooth pick or a barbeque skewer to separate roots and moss. If it helps, you coul also do it under some slow running water (making sure no water gets on the crown!!).

The whole idea is to get moss that is full of bacteria off the roots and let them breath.
And when all that moss is gone, you'll discover you might need a very small container, just anouth to hold the roots (2 fingers between the center and the edge.) Many of them could be soft, mashy or rotten by now and would need to be trimmed off.

I'm afraid the roots now need your immediate attention and yes, I would cut off both spikes as they drain the energy from the plant.

Lilia

[Francesca P.]

Hi, and thanks. Once again, I apologize for being such a novice. I have many healthy plants, but I've never had orchids before so I know nothing of them. Are you saying the roots should be bare? And where to cut spikes? The green spkie has 2 unopened buds that still feel firm and have color, should I still cut it? Should I keep the roots bare for as long as I have the plant, and spray it daily? And if the roots are kinda mushy where to cut them too? What if the roots are green and thick, just a lil flat because of the old pot? I really do appreciate everyones help, thanks so much. I've always loved orchids, they are my fav and I really want them to be healthy. My white phal is in bark, and it has a LITTLE bit of either powdered bark or soil. Is this ok? I've also repotted the white phal and the roots are thick, green and firm...but a little flat. I suspect for being smushed against the old plastic pot. Thanks again.