Phal NoID with no leaves, are the roots dead?

[cshma11]

My orchid that bloomed every 2-3 months for nearly 2 full years went dormant so I gave it a rest. I went to check on it and the leaves had all fallen off and I realized it was too wet - someone (my well meaning husband) watered it daily without telling me, when it was thriving on being listed daily (just on the air roots) and a little water every week or two. So it was all soggy and gross. I drained the standing water out... it was in a draining plastic pot, placed inside a clay pot for looks - I had been emptying the standing water from the clay pot immediately after watering, but my husband didn't realize and it was sitting in water for weeks. Is it a goner? Should I throw it away and stop mourning over it? Or is there something I should try?

[SaraJean]

Oh my, that looks pretty close to dead to me. A trip to the nursery for replacement is in order

Btw, when you say you gave it a rest, what exactly do you mean?

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board! Sorry it had to be with this problem.

It is probably dead. There is a tiny chance it might recover, after a lot of work. If it survives, it will be several years before it blooms again. Most of us would throw it away.

If you want to try and save it, keep in mind high humidity will be more important that watering. Cut off the squishy or black dead roots. Let it air dry. Some of us would dip in a fungicide solution once at this point, and others wouldn't.

Put it in a plastic food container deep enough to hold the plant without touching the top. Set it on top of a paper towel, but plan on keeping the paper towel mostly dry. Put in there a small container holding water, to keep humidity high. Cover it with something admitting a lot of light. A plastic food container with a translucent plastic top works well.

Put it where it gets bright shade, but no sun falling on the container.

Take it out every few days and dip the roots in water. Let them dry for a few minutes, so they aren't dripping wet, and put it back.

Chances are the plant will die. If it is going to live, the roots will remain alive and a new leaf will begin to emerge from the crown.

When the leaf is an inch or two long, you could repot into a new pot, and water when the roots are dry. Or you could leave it in the container until the leave is longer.

[SaraJean]

Oh, and

[cshma11]

Originally Posted by SaraJean

Oh my, that looks pretty close to dead to me. A trip to the nursery for replacement is in order

Btw, when you say you gave it a rest, what exactly do you mean?

Oh, I just moved it toward the middle of the living room so it was getting plenty of natural light but no direct sunlight, as it had been by the kitchen window getting a couple hours of sunlight every day. Not direct still, but it was right by the window, if that makes sense? We have an open concept living/dining/kitchen area with a picture window and French doors on opposing sides, and walls with no windows on the other 2 opposing sides. I moved it to a table in the middle of the room, trimmed the flower spike once all the flowers fell off, and kept the air roots moist. But I wasn't directly watering it, just misting daily, so I didn't think to check the pot until I smelled the musty smell I feel like a terrible orchid owner.

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[estación seca]

Don't feel guilty for something you didn't do.

Not many of us only mist the roots of Phals. We regularly soak the container, then let it dry. By the way, there's a great thread here on Phal care, in the Beginner's forum:
The Phal abuse ends here.

[flowerpower]

I don't toss away sick orchids often but this one looks pretty terminal. It probably had stem or crown rot. When I've seen this, the leaves yellow and drop quickly and the plant dies. I lost two phals to this type of sudden death over the years and it isn't necessarily overwatering, in fact, I never explained their sudden death for sure. I love growing orchids but they're living things and there are losses along the way sometimes. Why not go shopping and get some more? Phals are sold everywhere :-)

[Paphluvr]

Do yourself a favor, pitch it and buy a new one. You'll have the satisfaction of having something that looks good and blooms. Consider this one a learning experience.

[rbarata]

You'll have a greater satisfaction if you succeed in saving it. As well as a great lerning experience, even if it take a while to bloom again.

While there's green there's hope!
And I can see a tiny green in those roots.

P.S. - Obviously, in the meanwhile, you can buy another one.

[Dollythehun]

I agree with rbarata. Try to save it, don't get your hopes up, though, and go buy another. Let hubby read up on Phal care too.