HELP!! Are they a lost cause have i killed them?

[sarah12beetle]

Hi I'm Sarah and new to this forum, found you on a google surch. You seemed to be helping lots of people with good advice so thought i'd give it a shot

I have 2 orchids which I over watered, one has no leaves and most of roots are brown and the other has no leaves and 2 roots which start yellow and go to bright green as I cut off all the brown mushy roots. It did start to sprout new leave but this has withered.
Are they beyond saving? Please help, don't want to buy fancy kit so any home remidies would be really useful
Thanks in advance

[shushu45]

[Leafmite]

If these are phal orchids, I would just go and get two new ones. With no leaves and no roots, trying to save them would definitely be a major challenge. Buying two new ones, in bloom, as a present to celebrate spring, would be much easier and more fun.

---------- Post added at 12:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:16 PM ----------

By the way, hello and welcome!

[Orchid Whisperer]

I agree with Leafmite.

Learn about growing Phalaenopsis by reading this first: http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ends-here.html Most of the useful information will be in the first pages of posts, but the rest of this thread is also worth reading. There are a series of posts by "King of Orchid Growing" in the first 5 pages that are especially helpful.

Key things that you will learn from that thread:

1. Most Phalaenopsis die from too much water, not enough drainage or aeration at the roots.

2. Expert growers can grow Phalaenopsis in the moss that is usually around the roots when you buy the plant. BUT . . . most of us should grow Phalaenopsis in something that is more "chunky", like coarse fir bark that is sold as "orchid bark", or materials with a similar texture. Re-pot your plant soon after you buy it, in orchid bark, even if it is flowering. The bark should dry some between times that you water (but it is best if it does not go bone dry; it is good to water when the bark is slightly moist. Usually, water a couple times per week, water in the kitchen sink, let the water drain through the bark.

3. Phalaenopsis like bright shade - no direct sun.

4. Phalaenopsis like occasional applications of balanced fertilizer, in a weak solution. I used to give mine water-soluble fertilizer at 1/4 the strength recommended on the package (if the instructions said 1 tsp/gallon, I used 0.25 teaspoons), once per week. Now, I am more likely to add a small pinch (much less than 0.25 teaspoon) and use that every other watering.

This bit is just my opinion: you can probably skip any recommendations regarding urea vs. non-urea fertilizers, additives (such as gypsum, Epsom salts, Superthrive, seaweed extract, cinnamon on cut tissues, etc.). Focus on the right amount of water, good drainage, and proper light, and Phalaenopsis is relatively easy to re-bloom. You can use all of that other stuff later on if you like. Focus on good basic care first.

After you have done some reading, go buy a couple healthy Phalaenopsis plants and practice what you have learned. (The sickly, discounted plants you sometimes see can be discouraging for the beginner - Buy a healthy plant for your first one).

Good luck!

[RandomGemini]

What Leafmite and Orchid Whisperer said. These plants of yours are goners. Time to get some new ones and try again.

[RosieC]

Welcome to Orchid Board

No leaves, but very good roots can sometimes be saved, but it's not a massive change it will work, but no leaves and poor, or no roots is really not worth trying.

Just console yourself with new ones and read OrchidWhisper's advice and as much other advice as you can to keep the new ones alive. Treat it as a learning experience... believe me, we've all killed plenty of orchids, so it's nothing to worry about.

[nofickenway]

I may be in the minority, but I wouldn't give up on those poor turtured souls. I would trim any brown roots and "sphag and bag"; simply moisten some sphagnum, put it in a sealed ziplock and leave it alone in low light, if any, for a couple months, up to six...either the plant will die or grow roots. Regardless of the leaves, if you can get roots growing you have a shot.

Additions to this might include (if your resources permit) a light spray of physan 20 solution into the bag or on the roots and adding a solution of superthrive -maybe even soaking the plant itself in the superthrive or "K-L-N" rooting solution (Dyna-Gro, I believe makes this) before adding to the bag. These latter two are purely optional (and the superthrive is rather controversial, so expect dissenting opinion there)

I figure, it would cost little no nothing to simply try the above withou the "options"...and just maybe you get salvagable plants after much patience...

[dounoharm]

hey, we all have killed a few on our way to learning to grow orchids! overwatering is the first killer, it just is soo tempting to water that cute thing every day or two, and drown it! sunburn is another killer....increase light gradually till you find the right spot! as far as your corpses...just trash them...it will just be more agonizing to try to save them....even in a greenhouse, they are likely beyond redemption! orchid growing is like bicycling...everyone falls at first, but you get back on and give it another go! good luck!

[sarah12beetle]

Thanks everyone I have bought myself a new healthy plant so fingers crossed, but I havnt given up on the other two trying the bag method... Thought nothing to loose as one has 2 roots see pic as maybe too late bit gonna try

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

It definitely doesn't hurt to try, but again, I wouldn't put much stock in the Phal in the pic reviving.

Practice on your healthy new one, it will be a far more rewarding experience.