phal left with roots but no leaves after rot trauma

[moundshroud]

Hey all

Need advice on saving a phalaenopsis!

After some rot trauma I am left with just roots and a little green spike.

It started off with the bottom leaf yellowing and falling off, then the second leaf. Two days ago I took it out of its pot and there was some root rot that I clipped away and then soaked in hydrogen peroxide. The worst part was at the base where the leaves meet the roots. There was a mushy spot (thumbnail sized) that the peroxide ate away at and the two leaves left broke off together when I repotted it with fresh drier bark.
I just clipped the spike at the first node. Last bloom was from when I got it this past August but the spike was green this whole time so I left it.

I have two others and I inspected them and one is doing great, one had black spots and rot in some places in the roots so I treated it the same way, peroxide and repotting, but is overall fine and even perkier now I think.

Is it possible to grow a new keiki, maybe from the base, or from the spike. Or should I sphag and bag? How do I get leaves to grow back? I don't want to experiment too much as too not stress it more but so intent on saving it, it has great personal significance.

Thanks!

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board! I am sorry you had to start this way, but you will be able to grow lots of orchids with a little more knowledge.

In the unlikely event this Phalaenopsis survives it will be years before it blooms again. Do you really want to spend all that time and effort?

Hydrogen peroxide is very corrosive to living tissue. I might dab some on a single questionable spot, but soaking a plant is likely to kill it. If you splash some on your skin and don't notice it right away, you will notice it when your skin starts to hurt. The same thing happens to orchid roots.

If the roots survive there is a possibility the bloom stalk will make a new growth from one of the nodes. I would not repot the plant again. The way you have it (and the one behind it) potted now is excellent. Keep it as warm and humid as you can. Water it when the medium inside is almost dry. You can read about how to tell when to water

here.

As for the other Phals, there is a wealth of information in the Beginners forum,

here.

[moundshroud]

Thank you for your advice!

I used 3% and doused, and also rinsed off with water.
I realize I should have waited a few days maybe to get proper Physan 20, but was so alarmed at the rate it was being eaten up and had read several places hydrogen peroxide was the way to go.

This plant specifically has immense personal significance, I'm so intent on saving it anyway I can.

So shall I just continue caring for it as is? Apply keiki paste somewhere? Would that cause too much stress?

[estación seca]

I don't have any experience with keiki paste. I suppose it makes sense to use it on the flower stem node closest to the plant that has not produced a flower. (A flower is formed from the only meristem at that node, so you aren't going to get a new growth from a node that flowered.) I wouldn't use it on more than one node; the only photosynthetic tissue remaining is the stem, and the stem probably can't support more than one new growth, if that.

I would continue to keep the plant in a warm, humid environment, and water when almost dry.

If it does form a keiki, your plan should be to leave the keiki on the mother plant as long as possible so it is as large as possible before removing and transplanting. Sometimes nature forces your hand and the mother plant dies when the keiki is quite small. This is more difficult but sometimes the plant can be saved.

[kg5]

A very difficult situation with a phalaenopsis . It is a miracle that your orchid has any growth.

The last image gives a good look at the fungus attack.

Can anyone name the fungus attack?

Do you people call it crown rot?

[estación seca]

Yes, crown rot. I don't know which organisms cause it.

[kg5]

Thank you estación seca.

Crown rot is a good term as it names so many funguses that none of us are going to know the name of unless we have lab & lab background.

[gngrhill]

IMO your plant looks well potted, but kind of dry. I would rather see the roots green instead of white. It may very likely put up a keiki from the root . I have had them do this and it took about 2 years for the keiki to bloom. Not a bad wait if you really want to save this plant.

[Helene]

I agree the plant looks well potted, but I would be careful with the water for 2-3 days.
After having rot- in some roots or many, I leave the plant a bit dry for some days, to make sure it doesnt spread.


I would wait a couple days before watering, the roots looks thick enough to handle it.

I really hope you get a keiki from it

[nicola]

Hi,
there are good chances of recovery if the roots are healthy.
My advice is to remove the bark from the pot.
This allows the roots to be fully exposed to light.
Phalaenopsis roots are able to photosynthesize.
This also allows you to soak it every day, soak it for a minute or two in lukewarm water, allow it to drain and then put the plant back into the pot.
Keep the pot in a bright warm spot.
I did this several times with 100% success.
It takes at least a couple of weeks to see signs of growth.
Good luck Nicola