Diagnosis of limp Phal.

[delmarflower]

Repotted this a month ago into too large a pot. Repotted again two weeks ago. Can someone please look at this and tell me 1)chances of survival 2)what would be best to bring it back to health if that is possible. TIA

[Ross]

Was there a photo attached?

[delmarflower]

I'm having some trouble with the photo. I'll try again. Any tips for file size of original? Thanks

[Lagoon]

Hi Gail,

You 'chid is underlite and likey underwatered aswell.
Put it in bright light for 12 to 14 hrs per day (not sunshine) place a wooden BBQ skewer inside your pot - this will help guide you for the watering purposes.

You may loose some leaves, more will grow back within time.

[new_orchid_rescuer]

Well it looks like it's not getting enough water. So that means one of two things. One, you're not watering it enough, or two, it's roots are rotted and it's not able to take in enough water anymore.

Since you just repotted it again recently (and after it started looking limp I'm assuming), what did the roots look like? Were they all brown/black and mushy? If so then that's your problem.

If it was just underwatered then the chances of survival are quite good. If the roots are rotten, then the chance for survival are not as good.

[delmarflower]

How do you use the BBQ skewer? Will there be noticeable moisture on the skewer when you pull it up to look? I know I have some good roots because one is coming out the top. Thanks!

[delmarflower]

When I originally repotted, it had many mushy black roots that I cut off. I didn't know anything about orchids then, so I was following the advice from my local nursery. Didn't sterilize my scissors. It has a new green/silvery root coming out the top and several green roots in the mix. What do you suggest?

[new_orchid_rescuer]

Well you did the right thing by cutting off the dead roots and repotting it. What type of media do you have it in now? Is it bark, moss, etc? What you have to do now is be really careful about how much you water. If it's already growing new roots then that's really good and chances are it will be okay in the end if you don't overwater. When it looks all limp it's tempting to water more, but since many of it's roots are dead it can't take up as much water as it could if it was healthy. So you actually need to water less. The condition of the potting material will tell you when you need to water. Wait until it's almost completely dry underneath, and the top will probably be completely dry. A good method that was mentioned is putting a wooden steak into the potting material and pull it out to see how damp it is.

[philoserenus]

well if there's the daed roots solved the watering issue. itz dehydrated b/c it can absorb enough water so for now water less and more light. ur phal definitely looks quite underlit. and it is defnitely salvagable--itz long from being dead, haha

[delmarflower]

I repotted using spaghnum moss along the edge of the pot and then filled with orchid bark. It's definitely in a sunny spot now. So I'll really watch the watering. Glad to hear there's hope!