Help with a Phal.

[Kethry1313]

I was looking over the orchids today and I noticed that two of the three phals were doing very well, the roots were growing and they looked very happy. The third however was not looking so good. It's had a rough life. It got sunburned and lost all of it's leaves. Some how it managed to pull through and put out two new little leaves.

Well, since the other two were growing nicely I looked at the third and one root looked okay, but the others I could see looked dead, so I pulled it out of the pot and saw that most of the roots were dead and the ones that weren't needed some trimming, so I sterilized everything and started cutting. I dipped the cut ends in cinnamon but I'm wondering what the best thing to do to help the poor thing survive is. If it can even be saved.

Sorry for the fuzziness of the pictures.

[quiltergal]

Kim I think it's definately salvagable. I'd pot it up in a smallish pot and water it in with some KLN in water to help promote new root growth. You might even tent it with a plastic bag to keep it a little more humid. Also put it in a warm spot.

[katfemme89]

looks small but it looks to be doing well. The leaves look healthy and the roots are alright so I don't think you have anything to worry about, good luck dear!

[Kethry1313]

I now have a new question with this poor little guy. I was looking him over and I saw three little green fuzzy dots on the side. It looked just like the mold you get on old bread. I looked closer and there was even more of this green fuzzy stuff between the papery leftovers from the old dead leaves. I'm assuming this is mold. What should I do to treat it? I have no chemicals and I'm limited at the moment to what I can get at Home Depot and Lowes.

I'd post pictures, but everything is so small that I can't get a good clear picture that shows it.

I'm hoping to get some Physan 20 and Thiomyl at the Philadelphia Flower Show, but that isn't until next month.

[katfemme89]

Well personally I would try to scratch the mold off with my fingernail first, and then spray the area with listerine or hydrogen peroxide. Also, be sure to isolate that plant from your other plants! You don't want a plague on your hands! lol.

[Kethry1313]

Thanks so much.

Believe me, the moment I saw the mold it got moved into my bathroom, well away from the rest of the orchids.

I just bought some listerine so I'll be spraying the little guy very soon.

[Ross]

Are you sure it's mold! It may be mealy bugs.

[Kethry1313]

Ross, mealy bugs are white, right? These spots were green and when I rubbed at them, they rubbed off the same way mold will crumble off of bread.

[Ross]

If so, Physan 20 will take care of it. By the way, you can mix up a quart spray bottle of Physan 20 as per instructions on label and it has great shelf life. The secret is to watch for slight foaming when you spray. If it does foam up (sort of bubbly) then it's still good.

[Singingirl96]

It looks like there is hope. I saved plants in worse shape. Use listerine (I hear the minty stuff is not good so use the original formula)
Pot it with phal mix and make sure the mix is almost dry before you water it again.