Keiki Phal - remove or not to remove frm dying/dead mother plant

[Jeremy T]

Hi,

3 days ago a friend requested help on a "dying" phal.

Brief history: She repoted the phal in soil with manure fertilizer until I told her to change the media. Several months later she repoted it in bark but kept wet very 24/7. When it was first handed to me, the plant stinks of animal manure and all roots (except one) from mother plant are dead.

After cleaning the entire plant, we ended up with several greenish wiry filament roots when wet, 1 inch of sickly but firm looking root, a keiki(with 2 leaves and 3 very short roots- longest is about an inch ), and 2 yellowing leaves from the mother plant. Oh the plant still stinks of manure. I did not repot yet as I want to make sure all open wounds are dried up properly. I mist the keiki leaves and keiki's roots once a day. It is kept in a cool shaded area by the basement window, and exposed to 20-30 minutes of morning sunlight.

Today, we lost one of the yellowing leaves, and the remaining firm looking root has turned moldy and squishy, which I have removed. i applied hydrogen peroxide on all the open wound and areas with white mold. As the open wound is next to the keiki, I am wondering if i should remove it frm the mother plant? Im concern that the bacteria may enter through the open wound, spread and eventually kill the keiki too. Pics attached.

Thank you.

[Ray]

I would recommend that you simply cut off that leaf, but leave the rest. Those new, emerging roots will grow and support the plant. Over time, the remains of the old plant will drop off.

Then pot it up and keep it very warm. Phalaenopsis like it hot and shady, not cool.

[Jeremy T]

Thanks Ray,
What would you recommend if white mold/fungus starts to make an appearance again?