Phal in need of assistance

[The Orchidist]

I have decided to take on a phal that had been sitting on a shelf in someones livingroom for 6 mnths but was very neglected and had very little watering ..the plant has 3 sets of leaves ..3 on each side but no signs of any new root growth compared to all my other phals.. question i have is there is a few short roots around the base and only 1 super long root that is still green but in spots the outer protective film looks damaged .. i cant decide if the plant is too stressed because this one root is trying to keep the plant alive or should i cut and trim all of them and start fresh...the leaves are starting to have the curl effect . ..and when i repot should i use small cedar bark medium with abit of spag or use clay pebbles . I would appreciate your comments

[silken]

Don't cut any root that appears to be alive. The big one on the left and the good sized one on the right look alive to me. The brown ones in the middle may be dried up and hollow. A good test is if you wet them and they turn green they are alive. Some live roots can be brownish too tho. If they are hollow or mushy them trim them off. The plant looks dehydrated. The roots it has should sustain it until the tiny new ones get bigger. I like a mix of medium bark and moss for my Phals, but everyone has their own growing conditions and different things work for different people You mention you have some Phals. If they are doing well, then just pot this one the same. Be sure to give it good aeration, a smallish pot that fits the roots and allow it to come close to dry before watering again. Some KLN or seaweed would help speed up root growth if you have it.

[MattWoelfsen]

Originally Posted by silken

Don't cut any root that appears to be alive. The big one on the left and the good sized one on the right look alive to me. The brown ones in the middle may be dried up and hollow. A good test is if you wet them and they turn green they are alive. Some live roots can be brownish too tho. If they are hollow or mushy them trim them off. The plant looks dehydrated. The roots it has should sustain it until the tiny new ones get bigger. I like a mix of medium bark and moss for my Phals, but everyone has their own growing conditions and different things work for different people You mention you have some Phals. If they are doing well, then just pot this one the same. Be sure to give it good aeration, a smallish pot that fits the roots and allow it to come close to dry before watering again. Some KLN or seaweed would help speed up root growth if you have it.

Good advice silken. I agree with you.

[The Orchidist]

wow i immersed the entire root system in a pale of water ..to my suprise 5 of the roots appear green ...( thanks for that tip ) .would it be ok to leave it overnight in the water...it is R.O water and the plant may thank me later??. the only thing that concerns me is the core underneath the root section is quite black ..i wonder if i spread abit of rootmax compound which i have ..greenish jelly around the area if it would promote and strengthen new rooting.

[silken]

I don't think I would leave it in water overnight. In nature they get rained on and then dry quickly in the breezes as they grow on trees and have roots exposed. You could give it a quick soak again in the morning. Make sure you aren't emerging the crown and get any water that collects in the crown out right away to prevent crown rot.

I'm not familiar with Rootmax. I have read that some of the rooting hormones are too strong for orchid roots and damage them. Yours might be fine. I do know that KLN and kelp (seaweed) are frequently used by orchid growers and not known to harm them if used according to instructions.

You could set this in a humid enclosure if you are trying to increase humidity. It might help plump up the leaves.

[MattWoelfsen]

No, do not leave it in a pail of water. Orchid roots are designed to quickly absorb water. You need to put the plant in the sphagnum and bark mix. Let it dry out again and then water.

[The Orchidist]

I have a couple of humidity domes with heat mats , perhaps i will rig one up before the nights up . thanks for your assistance .