What I've Learned & a Project Plant

[OdessaOrchid]

So unfortunately I have learned that if I buy a plant in spag moss, I must repot immediately or it will die . I have now had 3 phals come close to death because I've over watered them even though I only water once a week. Here is a picture of the one I unpotted today. I had noticed that it had leaves that turned to jelly and I finally unpotted it and now it has no roots at all. So I'm going to view this as an opportunity to try spag in a bag Sphag-n-Bag . Tonight I put it in the water solution with rooting hormone (I'm using Green Light Rooting Hormone) and then tomorrow I'm going to put it in the bag. I'll update the post as I make progress.

[RosieC]

Good luck, you really have no roots left there.

Have you used peroxide to stop further rot. With all that black arround the base I would think it was a good idea to ensure rot does not continue up in to the plant.

[OdessaOrchid]

Thank you Rosie. I used peroxide and then Listerine and put a little Tumeric on it where I made cuts. Lets hope it comes back. The leaves are still firm so I'm hopeful.

[Amanda L]

Good Luck!! Too bad we have to learn lessons that way! We have all done it! Keep us updated!

[mehitabel]

That's a great project! What you plan to do is good. I'd like to suggest two additions to your plans that I use,and that I think will be helpful.

1. That long, long rootless stem should be cut off, maybe halfway. That will leave an open cut on bottom of the stem that you can put rooting hormone on. I use a gel, but powder will do fine.

2. Use an additional rooting hormone, either gel or powder on the cut stem, and around the green part of the stem above the black part.

Liquid rooting hormone is great, but I've had no harm from adding a rooting hormone that sticks to the plant. I've definitely had faster rooting from using more of the cling-on hormones.

Good luck with your project

[priz_m]

OdessaOrchid I hope your phal bounces back I have lost a couple the same way, best of luck!

[Chiral224]

I just have to comment on the sphagnum moss....I have a beautiful phal that is absolutely thriving in its moss. The trick is to not overwater..took me a while to learn that one!

[Bird Song Farm]

Originally Posted by Chiral224

I just have to comment on the sphagnum moss....I have a beautiful phal that is absolutely thriving in its moss. The trick is to not overwater..took me a while to learn that one!

Phals love S moss! You just have to get used to the watering regime. I wouldn't have a phal in bark in my house.

That is sure death for a phal in my hands.

Al

[AThoele]

I had the exact same problem with two phals I was given recently. My roots look about the same as yours, but my leaves are yellowing and falling off. I do have a couple of short, but decent roots left so I'm going to try to bring it back without doing the Sphag-n-bag just yet. I'm very interested in how it works out for you since I may be doing the same thing soon!

Good luck with yours and let us know how it turns out!

[OdessaOrchid]

Just as a quick update. The plants still seem to be alive. They are in a chair on the back porch shaded by the table. There is plenty of humidity in the bag. I haven't opened it b/c I didn't want any of the moisture to escape but I haven't seen any new roots yet.

I'm glad a few of you have had positive results with the spagnum. I just like to have the same routine for all my plants which consists of watering once a week and as I'm sure you can attest once a week isn't good with spagnum if the plants are indoors.

I will keep posting. I do have 2 other phals one I bought in not so great of shape and another that I almost killed in the spag and both have new leaves coming out I'm so excited. Thank you all for the support.