resurrecting an orchid

[bil]

Originally Posted by LizB88

Bil, what do you mean by a hard cane den? do you mean a Phal-Den?

I agree with you regardless of what type of den is, at this point it needs bigger roots before it is planted on its own.

Yeah. I've always called them hard canes. Point is, if that cane is dead, then like it or not the keiki is on its own already.

[LizB88]

Originally Posted by dbarron

Maybe I misinterpreted, I took it to mean the mother plant was dead at this point and it was not an option to leave the keiki.

My understanding is that the mother plant was transplanted and divided in two, one died and the other produce the keiki, and from the picture it looks like it can still provide some nourishment to the keiki. We don't know what the root system looks on the mother plant. I would not un-potted to look at them because that would cause more stress, I would just keep aiding it in getting the roots develop in order to pot it on its own, and that way have a back up while we try to save the mother plant.

But then again, I'm in the process of rescuing a Phal-den that a neighbor brought me, and it is a slow process. The one I have has no roots left and the new cane it had while with her died. So now I'm working on getting some roots out of the old canes and hoping for new growth.

[bil]

Originally Posted by LizB88

The one I have has no roots left and the new cane it had while with her died. So now I'm working on getting some roots out of the old canes and hoping for new growth.

It's amazing how far gone they can be and still thow a shoot and roots.

[rikmoor]

Wow - so I'm learning a lot of new stuff here - thanks all for the help! I'm trying to comprehend all of the mother/keiki/clone/dead cane, etc and formulate a plan but I think my photos from earlier may not have painted a clear picture. So let me try one more time and then I'll formulate a plan for consideration before I put it into action!

There was a single pot with a single orchid that was dying. In an effort to keep at least part of this alive, I repotted it. When I did so, there were 2 main pieces that sort of came apart. One of which was in my opinion the mother and it has since died. The other was a smaller offshoot that is what is growing right now. I tried to provide a better photo of this with the whole plant in it to help you see what I'm trying to explain.

The part that worries me is in the second photo - it shows the main "cane" - to the left of the stake it appears this cane is deteriorating as compared to the cane to the right - and of course the can that looks worse to me is closer to the soil and the good looking section is towards the leaves. I'm afraid that the bad part of the cane will lose its ability to transport water and nutrients to the leave which is why I have been misting the leaves and the little white root shoots every day.

Oh yeah - I'm in Wilmington, NC - we are fully into spring with outdoor temps in the 70's each day and the A/C on about 73-74. Being in the bathroom, I think the humidity levels stay higher than the rest of the house even with the A/C on.

Thanks again for everyone's help on this!!

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[LizB88]

This are better pictures. The cane that you referred to as the one deteriorating still looks good to me, Let me explain why, because it is still green and does not look like is soft at all.

Now it would help if you could tie the keiki (which is what is growing on top of the old cane) to the spike that way you help the whole plant be more stable.

If you are really worried that the old cane can't support the new growth, then I would snap it off, place it on a spike, soak it with some soft cutting rooting hormones or kelp/seaweed extract, place it on top of some wet sphagnum moss to provide it with humidity but keeping it fairly airy until the roots are a lot longer and it can be potted in some media. I would mist it every other day and give it some very diluted kelp and orchid food every 3 sprays.

To the old cane, if is not soft and mushy, I would check to see how healthy the root system is, if the roots are mushy, soft and black, they are gone (rot) but you could still save it if you can make it grow roots.

Here are pictures of the phal-den that I'm rescuing, all the roots on this are gone, and after cutting them and disinfecting the whole plant I soak it in kelp, even though it may look dry because of the shied, it still can be saved.
Now I know that others here have more experience with this type of orchids and many rescued more orchids from deaths door then me, so I hope you get some of their advised as well.
But definitely give the plant more support.

[LizB88]

And also if you want you can check this video out to help with how you may want to set them up to help with growth.

[rikmoor]

Thanks for your comments. One mention, I had the cane tied to the stake for support but took the ribbon off for the picture. I have tied it back up again but the Keiki is still not vertical - there is still a bend in the cane and the orchid is laying at maybe a 45 degree angle.

I may try to peel some of the soil mix off this weekend to inspect the roots. I'm pretty sure I have a photo of them back in December when I repotted it.

One last comment, the white shoot air roots are maybe 1/2-3/4" long. And they have not grown much in length at all for months. I'm not sure how quickly they should grow.

[dbarron]

Given there is nothing to photosynthesize but the keiki, they may not grow much more.

This poor plant is well on it's way toward orchid heaven, though you may be able to salvage it.

[bil]

After the close pics, I stand by my advice. I'd add that that soil looks terrible for a hardcane. No offence, you are new to this, but air should be able to flow thru easily.

[campchi]

If the cane is stilll green and hard, place it ontop of some sphagnum moss, it will send out keiki.