Phal spike keiki update - Orchid Board

Skycat · #1 08-09-2014, 01:01 AM

I've been growing this one in that vase for a few months. Eventually the spike started dying, and became almost completely brown and black, and tonight I found a thick coat of mold around the bottom, which I washed off, though I kind of doubt that really did a whole lot of good anyway. Sad; it would've been nice to have a double of this plant.

Here's what the parent is doing. If you look real close, you can see another leaf starting.

And as a bonus, look how this other mini Phal responds to the terra cotta pot

Atzau · #2 08-09-2014, 01:55 AM

Yeah for the new leaf! Boo for the poor keiki...

maybe if you trim the bottom of the stem where the mold was it'll help the stem to continue supplying water to the keiki? Long shot but still worth a try...

Cntry · #3 08-09-2014, 10:27 AM

Boy your mother orchid looks very healthy. Look up the use of Listerine Regular only and see if that will help with the molds issue. I read something about you can use it on your orchids.

james mickelso · #4 08-09-2014, 11:31 AM

For the keiki you can try saving it by getting a spray bottle, putting distilled water in it, and spraying the leaf, especially the underside, a couple times a day. Get it out of the vase and leave it in a vase without water in it. If you have some rooting hormone like Ray's Kelpmax you can put a little of that in the sprayer. the leaf may stay hydrated enough to push out a root. I forget why you took off the spike bearing the keiki but next time leave it attached until it has roots of it's own. The spraying of the keiki with the rooting hormone may take a couple months before it has roots of it's own so get ready for a long slog.

Skycat · #5 08-10-2014, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by james mickelso

I forget why you took off the spike bearing the keiki but next time leave it attached until it has roots of it's own.

The mother plant had lost most of its roots and the leaves were dehydrating, so I had to cut the spike off. The keiki didn't start growing until sometime after that, after I put the spike in the vase to see if a keiki would grow.

I'll try spraying with with distilled water, very gently though because it's so tiny. I've been doing this with the mother plant as well after it started losing leaves, and then it quit losing leaves.

I don't have any KelpMax, but I've seen mention of hydroponics stores selling something similar. There's a hydroponics store near my house which I've kinda been meaning to check out at some point anyway. I can't go tomorrow, but hopefully sometime soon.

czayta · #6 08-10-2014, 12:44 AM

That mini phal looks very happy in that terra cotta pot.

Daethen · #7 08-10-2014, 01:43 PM

They all seem to love the terra cotta pots, they just don't like to let go of them.

Skycat · #8 08-12-2014, 02:32 AM

Went to the hydroponic store earlier. They had some neat-looking stuff, but the prices and bottle sizes seemed quite excessive for the number of plants I'd actually want to use it on. I ended up getting some Superthrive because that was only $8 for the smallest size they had. I'd seen people say Superthrive helps root-challenged plants, but now that I'm looking for posts about it, I'm seeing people say they don't notice a difference? Also after leaving the store, I noticed a sticker on the package that said 11/13... I guess this is an old bottle. I really hope it does something good, because that was $8.

Cntry · #9 08-12-2014, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skycat

Went to the hydroponic store earlier. They had some neat-looking stuff, but the prices and bottle sizes seemed quite excessive for the number of plants I'd actually want to use it on. I ended up getting some Superthrive because that was only $8 for the smallest size they had. I'd seen people say Superthrive helps root-challenged plants, but now that I'm looking for posts about it, I'm seeing people say they don't notice a difference? Also after leaving the store, I noticed a sticker on the package that said 11/13... I guess this is an old bottle. I really hope it does something good, because that was $8.

I think I would be going back to the store since you just purchased the bottle and tell them this item is out of date do they have another bottle that is new. If they say no I would ask for a refund. Make sure you take the receipt with you as proof of purchase was recent.

czayta · #10 08-12-2014, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skycat

Went to the hydroponic store earlier. They had some neat-looking stuff, but the prices and bottle sizes seemed quite excessive for the number of plants I'd actually want to use it on. I ended up getting some Superthrive because that was only $8 for the smallest size they had. I'd seen people say Superthrive helps root-challenged plants, but now that I'm looking for posts about it, I'm seeing people say they don't notice a difference? Also after leaving the store, I noticed a sticker on the package that said 11/13... I guess this is an old bottle. I really hope it does something good, because that was $8.

I can't say specifically if it's the Superthrive or other additives (Fertlizer and Seaweed kelp extract) I use, but I give my plants Superthrive weekly and they seem to be doing great/growing new/strong roots.