Super Dehydrated Phal with keiki

[MrsH530]

Hi Everyone!

I have a very stubborn phal that has had it's spike for over a year. On the end of the spike, in January, it started growing a keiki. The keiki has 2 leaves, and 3 teeny roots. It has stopped growing.

The plant itself has become incredibly dehydrated. I can't figure out why. The roots are not bad, its had some new root growth, and it's currently growing a new leaf. I've been giving it Ray's seaweed extract, which has done marvels for all my plants, but this particular one seems to be on the brink of death.

Any help or suggestions with this would be appreciated. Should I cut off the spike and the keiki and *hope* it survives? Should I just leave it be and see what happens? All my other plants are thriving, I just can't seem to get this one to a happy place.

Thanks!

[Orchid Whisperer]

I see some roots above the moss, but are there any down inside the moss?

For me, sphagnum moss has always performed poorly as a medium for Phalaenopsis. It holds too much water for my conditions, and that eventually ends with root loss, then dehydrated-looking leaves.

If you check the roots, and you see many dead ones and few live ones, I would re-pot in bark. At least, that is what I would be doing if it were mine, growing in my conditions.

Good luck!

[tarev]

It could be a combination of things..plant giving its energy to growing new leaves, new roots and still maintaining a spike with a keiki.

But I agree too about checking the roots below the moss. Roots may have been rotting already, having been in the moss for a long time and unable to breathe better.

I did not see clear photo of the keiki, if keiki has enough roots, maybe you can remove it from mommy plant and give it its own media. That way you can remove the old spike, allow mommy plant to rest and redirect resources.

I have seen that sometimes with my other plants, like some of my succulents, it will start dropping some leaves, but if you look closely it is nurturing a pup or a new bloom. Maybe it is same with orchids too.

Oops, sorry, I did not take a look at 2nd photo closely..now I see the keiki..looks it is okay, if roots are long enough, see if you can separate it.

[MrsH530]

I had thought the same thing about the roots about 2 months ago. So I removed the media and took a peek. There's no rot. The roots aren't fantastic, but they're not in bad shape either. The moss is really only on the top to keep the bark a bit more moist. I need a mix of moss and bark in my environment.

The keiki's roots are only about 1 inch total. Not enough to support itself, I think.

[LiveLaughGrowOrchids]

Hi! I had a (dying as I thought at the time) Phal make a Keiki. I wrapped some moss around the base and it grew one root, and I took it off the mother plant before it was an inch long, and potted it in moss in a clay pot. That was 2 years ago. The mother has survived despite rather than because of my efforts I think! But she has yet to reflowering! Here r some pics of the mother and Keiki.

[LiveLaughGrowOrchids]

This is the Keiki after 2 years

[lotis146]

Hm, tough call it seems. I repotted my twin keikis after mother and keikis were pretty dehydrated but they had been on the mother for almost a year I'd say and had some pretty substantial roots. In my case her root system was pretty small. So when you say your roots are okay but not fantastic would you say the overall system is small given the size of this plant?? Perhaps it's drying out faster than you realize and isn't getting quite the amount of water it needs. Mine did start producing its keikis the first time it became dehydrated. Do you spray the keiki? When you water the mother do you soak it then let the water run out or do you just run water through it?

Perhaps you can spray under the mother's leaves but not towards the crown to help her absorb more water?

[MrsH530]

I think the overall root system may be on the small side for this plant. I have been giving it seaweed like the others, but it doesn't seem to have nearly the root growth that the others do.

I water once a week, and spray with plain water if it looks dry before watering day, and I do spray the keiki. I've got a bit of moss around it to help its roots, though I don't know if its really doing anything.

I'm getting to a point where I'd really prefer to snip off the keiki in the hopes of saving the mother. If mom is on the way out, then the keiki will have to fight to live on anyway. But the roots are just not enough to make me feel comfortable doing that.

[Cym Ladye]

1" roots on a keiki are plenty long enough to support the young plant. Removing the stress from the mother plant would be a definite positive. I also think you have a root problem on the mother plant. When in doubt, repot.

[MrsH530]

Originally Posted by Cym Ladye

1" roots on a keiki are plenty long enough to support the young plant. Removing the stress from the mother plant would be a definite positive. I also think you have a root problem on the mother plant. When in doubt, repot.

1 inch total for all the roots is enough? I had thought it needed to be between 2-3 inches. As you say though, removing the stress from the mother plant is top priority.

I will repot her too. Should I put the keiki in the same pot as the mother plant?