So - here is what I did - and what I did not do:
DID:
- Give the plant 'bases' and existing roots a long soak in KLN solution. By bases, I mean where roots should be growing, not the leaves where possible. It was something like probably 24-30 hours: I think a whole day plus some time into the next afternoon.
- Used fresh long strand supreme NZ Sphag (from Besgrow, same people that make Orchiata) that was also drenched in KLN.
- Used a slotted clear 4" pot so it could get some air, but also was easy to keep wet and 'see' what was going on. There is a saucer underneath so water can sit in it, and the pot/Sphag can uptake it between my watering.
- Put it under my T5HO lights so it got a good amount of light every day for about 12 hours a day.
- Made sure it always looked wet when possible, with one exception (below).
- Kept it warm in the sense that my racks with grow lights currently are about 62f-79f on any given day.
DID NOT:
- Worry.
- Move the plant around very much. When I watered it, I left it where it was and just added water. I didn't pick up a lot, muse and ponder it, and then re-orient it. Don't we all love to do that!? But I resisted. Up until I picked it up to take the picture I didn't even realize how many roots had grown. I think the plant liked that I left it alone - it told me so by giving me a spike!
- Use a heat mat.
- Keep it wet in the end. I went on vacation to Hawaii a couple weeks ago and left instructions to NOT water this plant. When I returned home, that was when I saw I was rewarded with a spike, when it was just a bit dry.
CONCLUSIONS:
- With the exception of two trays of seedlings, none of my indoor plants got any attention while I was on vacation, which was about 10 days of being ignored (or left alone, I should say). This seemed to be a great thing for them. I came home to lots of new growth and several newly spiking plants. I often think it's easy for us to 'love them to death' and this trip away reinforced that for me, to try to NOT do that.
- The KLN soak made the biggest difference. I think it's why the plant was saved, at least to start with.
- I stand by my lights! In general so many orchids don't grow or re-bloom due to a lack of light. That's not an issue for me for the most part, from what I can see. I have other plants I will write more about on this topic in due time, like my Paph druryi that is supposed to be a "Slow grower". Not for me. I think this rescue plant getting a lot of light while it was recovering made it really grow and work.
- Sphag is a really great medium when used appropriately and correctly.
- My 'relax and have fun' rule is still paramount. When I enjoy my plants and let them do their thing, it's wonderful. When I worry and stress about my plants, things go wrong because I over-correct or whatever.
I will post a picture when it blooms!
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