Mini phal - shriveled, needs bigger roots, help! - Orchid Board

fudJy23 · #1 10-14-2014, 10:50 AM

It's a miniature phal and I've learned that it's very finicky, maybe because it's so small? The tag tells me it's a Phal Sogo Ibis.

I got him a couple of years ago and he had been growing well. I think I had a couple of periods of not keeping up with the watering so then he started growing what looks like a bunch of keikis. I think the last straw was about a month ago when I wasn't paying attention and was away for 10 days and the leaves started shriveling.

I was replanting all of my orchids over the weekend and this was what I found. The leaves are shriveled. There are little roots trying to grow and what looks like one decent sized root for its size. I have pictures of it from both sides since it has been growing pretty flat.

I'm thinking sphag and bag to encourage root growth? Am I going in the right direction or am I totally off base here?

Optimist · #2 10-14-2014, 07:33 PM

you can certainly try. The alternative is to pot it loosely like lay it on top of medium in a pot and put it in a pot on egg crate or similar on about an inch of water inside a container like a plastic shoe box. I must tell you that saving an orchid takes a year or two. I have given up on a few-- sometimes too soon. The ones that are bouncing back are plants in semi hydroponic in a fish tank. The tank is sideways so the opening is to the front. There is a tray under the plants. The humidity inside the fish tank runs 50 to 70 and higher. I water once a week but check more often.

WhiteRabbit · #3 10-15-2014, 07:22 PM

It's trying, so there's hope! I have read of suspending the plant in the mouth of a jar or vase with some water in it (keeping roots out of the water) - haven't tried it myself.

lotis146 · #4 10-15-2014, 09:13 PM

Wow, that seems to be a lot of basal keikis!! I have several mini Phals and it seems to me that some are more finicky than others, as seems to be the case with all orchids. My first Orchid ever was a mini which I received as a gift about 5 years ago. It has never since rebloomed as I knew ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about how to care for it. By the grace of God I managed just to keep it alive. It came in a small 2" clay pot which I took it out of repotted too big and then returned to this clay pot. It didn't have much left in terms of roots however it has since grown new roots and leaves, I'm keeping my eyes open for a spike (and my fingers crossed). I potted it in a mixed media of moss, bark, some lava rock & more in this little pot. I do however think I need to drill a hole in the bottom of it. I've never used the sphag & bag method however repotting in small containers with mixed media, including a top layer of sphag, and watering when dry has worked for my first mini and a couple others. But it does seem your little guy needs some real TLC. Have you tried misting under the leaves regularly to help the plant absorb more water?

Whatever you try I hope it works out as this is an interesting little plant with all its keikis! Keep us posted.

fudJy23 · #5 10-16-2014, 05:46 PM

Thanks guys for the replies. Somewhere in my head, I took in all the information and while I was still laying in bed, I had a lightbulb moment. The roots are white. It needs water, whether I'm misting from below for it to absorb it or sticking the roots in water for a few minutes at a time. The roots are white and the leaves are shriveled, it can't be any clearer. I held the roots in water for a few minutes this morning and then laid him down on a bed of wet moss in a terrarium. When I got home this afternoon, most of the little stubby roots were still white but the long white one had turned green! Yup, lots of TLC and this guy may be traveling with me over the holidays.