Advice needed: Phal with no root sin pot but good aerial roots

[kavanaru]

My boss brought me her office Phalaenopsis ("white with red lips" - all what she can say) and asked for help. She was planning to repot it, and found that all root in the medium were dead. The plant has very nice leave and aerial roots.

How would you repot this plant? there are no root that could hold the plant in the medium. I f I try to use the aerial for this, I would have to cover some leaves with medium and risk the plant to start rotting...

Any advice given would be great and very much appreciated!

[BikerDoc5968]

I'd remove all of the lower small leaves (bottom 4, 2 each side)carefully as not to damage any aerial roots and any dead roots, then plant in whatever you like to use and bury it up to the bottom leaf. I'd also soak the aerials for a few minutes to soften them making it easier to get them down into the pot. KLN or SuperThrive work well for this soak. This should allow you to incorporate the aerials into the medium and with some warmth and humidity they should take hold in no time and have a great plant to give back to your boss....and maybe a promotion

[tuvoc]

Ramon, I've had the same problem. Sounds like Doc has too, because his suggestions are exactly what I did. If one or two of the lower leaves are partially covered, don't worry too much about it. The top of the medium should dry out fast enough to not cause a problem.

Kim

[cb977]

I would work those roots through a basket and hold the plant steady with moss or epiweb

[BikerDoc5968]

Not to start something, here, but I don't like to bury any leaves whether the medium dries quickly or not...leaves are for photosynthesis and food production and if they rot in the pot...that to me is 2 strikes...and the 3rd are the future potential problems. Removing those small bottom leaves won't hurt the plant's ability to continue a healthy life....

[kavanaru]

Thanks a lot!!! I will remove the first 4 leaves (I had thought of that, but wanted to read from someone else - In case I need to blame someone )
I asked her to have the plant mounted or Epiweb, but she said that would cost hertoo much work with watering.... and she really want to try some S/H (she thinks my plants look waytoo cool )

as for the promotion... well... she is my boss until next tuesday... Actually she gave me the plant when we were having the farewell party for her...

[Shirley]

To me, this would be a good candidate for sphag & bag until some roots start developing.