Would you buy this phal?

[ccrow]

This is mostly a theoretical question, but here goes! I was at a local greenhouse with my daughter and saw a gorgeous Noid phal. I was strongly tempted,but on closer examination saw that several of the lower leaves were quite wrinkly, although no yellowing. It was in pretty wet, very tightly packed sphagnum, and I tried digging around in it but was unable to see even one root at a depth of at least one inch. (I didn't dare to knock it completely out of the pot!) No roots visible through the sides of the pot either. I reluctantly put it back on the presumption that it was a rescue at best, and I wasn't willing to pay full retail. I guess I could have asked if they would discount it, and if I happen to go back and it's still there, I probably will; but I think they probably have no reason to knock anything off the price as I'm sure someone who thinks of orchids as something you throw away when the flowers die would buy it, and then they'll get their full markup.
Ok, short version- wrinkly leaves, no visible roots; did I choose wisely?

[jcec1]

I think you were right in leaving it. With soaking wet moss I would have taken the plant out of it's pot to check the root system. It may be fine just now, but, will only go downhill if kept like that. I usually only buy from a garden centre or grocery store if the plants look freshly in stock. I've only witnessed plants poorly cared for in these locations so it's always risky to buy one that has been in their "care" for a period of time.

[ccrow]

I'm pretty sure it hadn't been there long, they have pretty good turnover and they were overloaded with orchids. I did get a cute one as an Easter gift from my daughter- the flowers look almost like a pansy

[Leafmite]

If it was just one wrinkled leaf or you could be certain it was from being under-watered, they actually recover quite well but when the roots are rotted and several leaves are wrinkled, I would not pay good money for it, not when you can probably find it somewhere else.

If you really love the look of the orchid, you might find a similar or the same one, with a name (very nice if a friend loves it and you want to buy another), by looking at websites of online vendors that offer Phal-orchids, attending any local orchid shows, or, if it is a chain store, checking other stores to see if you can find a healthy one.
Or, you can wait until Mother's Day to see if the store gets a new crop of them!
Good luck!

[bil]

Good call.

[Orchid Whisperer]

If you really like the plant, and feel it is a must-have, go (quickly) to the retailer. Explain to the manager why you think the plant is not worth full price (wrinkled leaves = damaged roots, explain you may be willing to take it at a deep discount if there are any living roots left, need to take it out of the pot, etc.).

Walk away if the manager is not willing to offer a discount that you think is truly worth it. This assumes there are some live roots left. If no live roots, - walk away & don't look back.

If you do talk the manager into a deep discount, and there are still some live roots, here is what I would do (and not do) with the plant.
(1) Get it out of the moss immediately as soon as you get home. Rinse the roots thoroughly with plain water.
(2) DO NOT start dosing damaged roots with Physan, alcohol, peroxide, cinnamon, etc. These chemicals are harsh treatments for roots. I have read way too many threads where someone has asked for help rescuing a plant after killing the roots with one or more (or all) of the above.
(3) If there are few live roots, you may need to cut the spike and treat that like a cut flower. Plant recovery and keeping the spike on the plant may be mutually exclusive.
(4) If there are a reasonable number of live roots, you may be able to pot in bark and treat like any other Phal. If there are only a few, I suggest leaving the plant out of any medium for a while. Instead, set the roots in an empty pot. Each day, soak the roots (just the roots) in plain water for 15 minutes to 1/2 hour, and occasionally (monthly) plain water with kelp extract if you have it. In between soaks, leave the roots in the empty pot, with a loose clear plastic bag over the top. Do this until the leave firm up and you start seeing some root growth. Repot into bark after new root growth is evident.

[Optimist]

I tend to agree that phals that are killed by the shipping/selling process should not be sold full price. I feel sorry for phals, I really do.