Almost too embarrassed to show you

[Allieallerson]

Hey guys I am new to this forum and so relieved to have found it. I am definitely a beginner when it comes to orchids and I hate to give up on any plant. I am almost embarrassed to show you how bad this phal looks. It could have been on its way out when I got it a year ago...it was one of those grocery store impulse buys. I have tried to revive it by keeping it in its bark and watering...finally removed it today to find what is in the photo. Is there any hope or do I give up?

[PaphLover]

Welcome to the site!!

Don't be embarrassed.

You're not a true orchid enthusiast until you've killed a few plants. And, as you said, being a grocery store plant, it might have been in dire straits when you purchased it.

You can always try the sphag and bag method to generate more roots. You can google that or search here for more info. It's a good time of year to grow roots (spring…natural starting gun for plant growth). Trying to save a plant can provide very useful information when you're learning and using a grocery store rescue is definitely more cost-effective than getting a species plant and trying your luck with that.

Good luck! Don't forget to post more photos if you keep going with the rescue.

[Allieallerson]

Thank you!! I'm relieved to hear there is hope....I'm going to attempt to save this little guy with the sphag & bag! Fingers crossed!!

[bil]

Paph lover has it bang to rights. That orchid is on its way out, and saving it, while contributing to your knowledge base will involve a lot of work. If it helps, these are the things that I have learnt.

1. Roots are nothing. You can lose them all and the plant can recover quickly, providing the plant hasn't been like that for too long, so that it's pseudobulbs/canes/leaves are too degraded to grow a new set of roots.

2. Pseudobulbs/canes/leaves are everything. See above.

3. You would be amazed what you can save.

Example. I have resurrected denphal canes that looked so dried and shrivelled that any sane person would have thrown them on the compost heap. Of about a dozen like that, I lost 1.

I received a Chia Lin Cattleya, that had taken me a long time to find. It arrived in moss with its roots, ALL dead compacted into into a wad so dense it was curving spacetime. Kidding aside, it was possible to drive a screw into it which would take real force to pull out. It had been so abused in transit that black mould had devastated it. Of the 7 pbulbs, I had to amputate 3 at the base, and the remaining 4 leaves, three had to go completely, leaving the pbulbs, and I could only save half of the last leaf. I potted what was left, ie not much, in bark and watered it every day. Last autumn it threw a shoot and a couple of tiny roots, and this spring it has a second shoot and a few more roots. I may get a flower sometime in the next 3 years. If so I shall have earned it.

If you really want to try with the phal, then provided the leaf reserves are there you could save it. I would put it in coarse bark, - so it can't be overwatered, keep it wedged upright with a couple of rocks and water it every day.
I am way too lazy for all this sphag and bag stuff, and I worry that the high level of humidity may cause problems, however people report success using it. I understand the logic of it, but I have just never got round to trying it because effectively ignoring that the plant is in poor straits seems to work ok for me.

As has been said, a simple solution is to bin it, read up on the threads here about phal abuse, then get another one and see that it is potted and watered correctly.

Either way, best of luck.

[Allieallerson]

Thanks for the words of wisdom Bill! I appreciate you guys responding to this newbie. There is so much great info here...glad I found this forum!

[bil]

Originally Posted by Allieallerson

Thanks for the words of wisdom Bill! I appreciate you guys responding to this newbie. There is so much great info here...glad I found this forum!

Everyone is a newbie when they try a different type of orchid. They are very addictive, so be warned.

[cjm3fl]

Being a noob only means you're ready to learn.

Do what others are telling you--trying is always worth it. Worst thing is the plant dies but you will have learned some things along the way.
But it's a Phal...pretty tough species!


Light. Do what you're going to do to regrow some roots, but all my Phals light a bit of light.
Not full sun for this guy until there's some good root growth, but let it sit somewhere where it will receive some bright, reflected sunlite.


Welcome to the site...make room. You're going need it!

[Allieallerson]

Thanks Chuck! The advice is much appreciated!

[Joseia]

bil wrote "compacted into into a wad so dense it was curving spacetime."

Lol, that is hilarious.

[No-Pro-mwa]

Like others have said don't feel bad we have all been there. I have brought a couple back from the brink of death.