phal with no leaves

[alpha_betta]

I accidentally knocked my phalaenopsis off a shelf. The orchid had a ceramic display pot that crushed all of its leaves. Two leaves detached immediately, the final leaf had a slight rip next to crown. The last leaf is now working its way off. I am thinking about trying to supper glue it back on but the leaf is only attached by less then 1/8" so I am not sure if glue will help.

The orchid was newly potted two days before it fell so I know it has an okay sized root ball. I only cut off two rotten roots when I replanted so it was healthy. It is currently planted in 100% bark.

I have read that phals with no leaves will sometime grow a keiki. I have issues with bark drying out too fast when it's fresh so I am wondering if I should move the roots into a 50/50 bark moss mix?

I also have hydo beads, but I have no experience with hydroponics.

Does anyone have any advice? Is there something I can feed it? When I replanted I gave it super thrive and sterilized in physan.

Any tips or tricks would be appreciated.

[WhiteRabbit]

I would expect it to still be able to grow just fine. The leaves weren't lost to crown rot, so, it may just continue on.

I'd use a skewer to help determine when to water.
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...hen-water.html
Fresh bark will dry more quickly that older bark.

[wilsonlamwai]

I'd think it will pull through, although new leaf growth might not be happening anytime soon, nor will any blooms. I have three Phals that lost their leaves to drought (I was having my finals), and I repotted them in more water-retentive media and they seem to be growing just fine, even putting out new roots. But yeah, it'll be like that for quite a long time :P

[dbarron]

Depending on your sentimental attachment and value of the plant, you might want to just start with a new plant. And, put the new one someplace where you won't knock it off. (reminds me of complaining to dad about him dropping a lantern, next week, I knock one off the table and shatter it myself).

[Raqsharqi]

I have several phals that are either totally or mostly leafless due to a fungus problem. The saddest of the lot is just a pot with sphag and a clump of roots. Amazingly, the plant sprouted a tiny new leaf last week! I am always surprised by their resilience! Hang in there. Your phal will recover!

[camille1585]

A Phal that is leafless because of disease and one which is leafless because of a bad fall are 2 different things. In your case the meristem is very likely still happy and healthy, so it will grow new leaves! Having great roots is also a good thing to help it recover.

I did something similar with a phal some years ago. There were only 2 leaves left, one of which was nearly ripped off. Using some tape and stakes I secured the ripped leaf in a more natural position that would also avoid it ripping even more. Soon after it grew another leaf, and now, 4 years later, it's a happy healthy phal again. Recovery was much quicker than for a diseased plant. One tip: be careful with the watering. With less leaf surface for water to evaporate from, the plant's water needs are greatly reduced, so less uptake by the roots.

What you also have in your favor is that spring is here (or coming soon), so the start of the growing season. I wouldn't ditch it or give up on it, unless it's a Phal you don't particularly care about.

[jcec1]

I dropped a phal once when it was flowering and knocked out the growing point. It took about two years for it to produce a basal keikei, I then moved house and it got chilled in the move. It died about a week later. Unless it is a valued plant, I would start afresh as it may take a while to recover.

[Raqsharqi]

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to suggest that a plant struggling with a health problem is in the same situation as an otherwise healthy plant that has lost its leaves. I have just noticed that phals are a lot more resilient than I had previously thought. I figure if a very sick plant can rally, the odds are good that a healthy plant can too...just much faster!

[bil]

I quite understand binning a damaged plant, because unless it was horrendously expensive, or rare, it's no great loss.
However, there is one point to remember. Saving a damaged plant is a useful learning experience. Get the hang of saving lost causes, and if the time comes when you screw up with a really good orchid, you will have a better chance of saving it.

[mimigirl]

bil i was going to say the same thing: try to use it as a learning experience. It will probably do fine if you try not to overwater as i feel it will use less water with no leaves. (Am i right?). Meanwhile, get a new one to cheer you up.