Rescuing a dessicated phal. bellina

[blackorchid]

I rescued a dessicated Bellina (seriously, the leaves are looking like dry skin) and put them in a bag (w/o sphag). The poor thing is really struggling, it has 2 dessicated leaves, which have sunburn and the plant has no root. I hope it'll survive...
Today when I check on it, there's a little new root and a new leaf, however, I don't know if it will make it or not because that sunburn spot is getting bigger (fungus?!?) and I don't want to cut any more leaves out. The new root is looking really weak, the green tip is really short and the whole thing is more like a little knob than a root.

[snow]

hang in there, i,m keeping my fingers crossed.
orchids are tougher than you think
you are doing all the right things.

[Ross]

I agree. Leave the leaf alone and maybe add a small wad of moss or wet paper towel (not touching the plant, of course). Keep out of sun but in naturally bright light (maybe a north or east window). Be patient. Even on healthy Phals, the root nubbins can take quite a while to develop. I mean like months.

[blackorchid]

Thank you guys, I don't want to put anything else in that bag because I saw precipitate in the glass wall and the leaves is touching the wet glass T_T......I took it out and let dry for a few minute and put it back in, enough for most of the precipitate evaporate away. I'm so afraid because this is the first time I try this technique. I heard many people said that they have tried and failed....

[Ross]

Get a bigger bag? Use props to push up spots in the bag to get it away from the leaves? I am sure you will succeed. These plants really want to survive!

[priz_m]

I agree with Ross, get a bag as big as it is necessary (dry cleaning bags are as big as it can get) to fit the 'chid comfortably (I think that's where I went wrong with the phal I lost while in sphag-n-bag). Be patient, you'll see it will come around.

Best of luck!

[blackorchid]

It gets moldy so I need to take the plant out. It looks firmer today and the yellowing area slows down a bit. The new leaf is getting bigger. I soaked the plant for 2 hours with rooting solution and a bit of fertilizer, and then plant them in a pot of moist coconut husk. I'm crossing my finger again....

[priz_m]

Hey at least is doing a little better



keep us posted blackorchid

[mehitabel]

If the burn spot is growing, can you cut the burned piece out leaving the rest of the leaf intact? Cut into good tissue with a sterile instrument. It leaves a hole in the leaf, but does spare the leaf.

Several friends of mine have had great success rescuing phals with no roots by soaking the leaves for an hour or so in a dilute fert solution. This seems to refresh the leaves a little. There's a visible effect of less desiccation.

After drying off from the soak, the leaves are bagged again. This soaking is done once a week til the roots get started.

I would definitely recommend a little barely moist sphag in the bag (to supply humidity). Not wet sphag-- that will produce mold. And not touching the plant, either. Alternatively, puff mightily into the bag a couple of times a day til you can see the moisture from your breath in the bag.

Putting the bag in a warm place, like a seedling mat, TV converter box or etc also helps.

I would also recommend a rooting hormone. I use liquid Hormex or KLN rooting hormone for soaking, and paint root nubs such as you describe with Clonex rooting gel. The liquid hormex can also be diluted into any watering solution for plants regrowing roots.

In one month watering with Hormex, roots will go from tiny nubs to pretty good.

Good luck. Bellina is worth saving.

[blackorchid]

Good news! the plant look fuller, the base of the plant is swelling up now, but the yellowing of the leaves is still there and sooner or later, I'm gonna loose those leaves. The new leaf at the center shows no sign of dessication, the root nub still hasn't advanced at all....It is in a 2 inch pot of wet coconut husk now. Thanks for lots of nice info guys!