November Phal. woe

[Roberta]

2 months is not nearly enough time to give up on an orchid... They don't do anything fast. I'd suggest put the bark back in the pot, water a couple of times a week. (the damp - not wet - bark gives humidity around the root zone) As the days get longer, hopefully it'll start being inspired to produce some new roots.

[Salixx]

Just my opinion, but I would stop unpotting it and moving it around. It may be hesitant to throw roots if it's constantly moving and being uprooted and repotted.

This, to me, looks like a good candidate for a bag. Get a big, clear bag, use a hole punch and make a few holes on the top and cover the plant to trap moisture. Use some skewers to keep the bag from touching the plant It may help to put a bit of moist (not wet!) sphag around the lowest stem area). Put it in a warm location that's shady and out of sight and try to forget about it.

It has leaves - theres still a very good chance to save it. Good luck!

[charlesf6]

Originally Posted by Salixx

Just my opinion, but I would stop unpotting it and moving it around. It may be hesitant to throw roots if it's constantly moving and being uprooted and repotted.

This, to me, looks like a good candidate for a bag. Get a big, clear bag, use a hole punch and make a few holes on the top and cover the plant to trap moisture. Use some skewers to keep the bag from touching the plant It may help to put a bit of moist (not wet!) sphag around the lowest stem area). Put it in a warm location that's shady and out of sight and try to forget about it.

It has leaves - theres still a very good chance to save it. Good luck!

Think that this might have to be my last resort as my nurturing is just not working for Edgar (not a bit of root growth and leaves are just wrinkling) repot more airy bark mixture sprinkled when needed, watered, watched carefully, left alone...nothing??

[estación seca]

My experience has been they need to have fairly high humidity to push roots when their back is against the wall like this. I would not repot in large bark in this situation. I would get some KelpMax from First Ray's and dip the base of the plant into that to stimulate root production. Then do what Salixx mentioned, above. Or, if you have a large and sealable glass or transparent plastic enclosure into which you can put the whole plant without it touching the sides, put it in there just sitting on top of some barely moist bark or sphagnum, with a glass of water in the enclosure to keep humidity high.

[Dollythehun]

I've brought some things back from the brink using those methods. Don't give up, try it and try to put it out of mind.

[Optimist]

two very bottom leaves falling off is common. Yes, there is natural senescence of leaves in phals. It has to do with ethaline, cytokinens and high temperatures and programmed cellular death, if you want to read about it. It's not my field so I read and understand the main point maybe but then scientific terms become like a foreign language to me. I've had phal leaves fall off, first becoming bright yellow, like you show, and then just falling off. There is nearly a punch hole line at the spot of falling off.

[charlesf6]

Edgar is finished. He did sprout a root within the last month using the air bag method but apparently it wasn't enough to sustain him.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by charlesf6

Edgar is finished. He did sprout a root within the last month using the air bag method but apparently it wasn't enough to sustain him.

Alas, you certainly tried. But you learned a lot. The next one will fare better!

[estación seca]

I'm sorry.

[Dollythehun]

RIP, Edgar.