My Phal Valentine's Gift is sickly

[kiki-do]

Thanks everyone. I'm afraid the last leaf fell off today and it wasn't even completely yellow yet like all the others. Just fell off.
I took the orchid out of the pot and it was completely rotten. I swear it wasn't like that earlier and this seem to happen in warp speed timing.
I'm just heartbroken over it.
I know when I got it the nursery said the shipment just arrived form Hawaii and it was in February....but florished when I brought it home. This nursery guaranties their tropical plants for up to a year, so I will get a reimbursement, but it was such a special plant.
Ross, if anything I tend to underwater, but this was originally in moss and sometimes I would go for weeks without watering. I should have repotted but it was so full of blooms I was afraid to damage it.

[caseydoll]

I'm so sorry about your phal!!! You would think if the roots were healthy when you repotted they wouldn't of rotted like that. How strange! Maybe the place where your husband got it will have another one just like it. Did it have a tag? Maybe you can find the same one and pretend it never happened. I know how heartbreaking it can be when something like that happens to a special orchid. I had a similar thing happen to me with a phal my boyfriend gave me awhile back. I know how it feels!

[kiki-do]

Thank you Sarah, you're very kind. It was a
P. Yukidian x P. Cygnus. I doubt if they will have the same one, but I will find that type again in my travels, for sure. The AOS magazine (this months) had a picture of a Yukidian that was absolutely spectacular.
She gave me a great deal of pleasure to behold, for that I am grateful.

[Bird Song Farm]

So sorry Kiki-do, I've lost a special plant or two myself. I really don't think it's anything you did or didn't do.
One thing I've noticed about Maine and orchids. They ALL come from one of two places..be it HD or the nursery where your husband got this plant.

Al

[priz_m]

I am very sorry to hear that kiki. I too lost my valentine phal (sogo beach) and haven't managed to get a replacement (I will keep looking though ) but we live and learn, we've all been there.... :

[quiltergal]

Sorry Kiki! What a bummer! I recently received 3 Phals from a highly recommended vendor. The day they arrived I watered and noticed "dirt" coming out of the bottom of the pots. I new I was in trouble. Went out and mixed up a batch of CHC and repotted ASAP. I never would have guessed at their condtion because there was a very nice top dressing of new bark on each plant. When I pulled them out of their pots all three had fairly advanced root rot. In the pot centers were old wads of rotting sphag. Two of them were in spike. Two of the three have recovered nicely, but the largest one isn't out of the woods yet. When I emailed the vendor about it they said "Thanks for the info. Enjoy your plants."

[InspirChid1712]

I would try three things: increase the duration of light exposure, keep it very humid but fairly dry at the roots, and keep it very warm warm. The increased duration of light exposure may prompt it to spark some life, but it does look like one that may be lost. I'd also cut off any active spikes, they will only continue to sap its energy. One technique I might try would be to put it in a very sunny window with a white plastic grocery bag gently resting above the plant. This will give alot of bright diffused light and hold in heat and humidity. Don't seal the bag around the plant though... it still needs to be in open air. I hope it survives... I have rescued one phal that was at that point a few weeks after falling from a third story window, there may be hope! If not, know when it is time to toss it so you can promptly acquire two new plants to fill the void! best of luck!