Can My Phal Survive without Leaves?

[seabead22]

I just discovered my Phal has lost EVERY leaf. It lost a few leaves at the end of its bloom cycle (turned yellow) and I repotted it about 2 or 3 weeks ago and it still had one leaf left....which was kind of yellow also. Roots were acceptable (its a Lowes plant after all) but not horrible. Now its just this sad little root ball in a clear plastic pot. Can a Phal come back from losing all the leaves? Is there anything I can do to keep this one alive and maybe get it on the road to recovery?

I can post pictures if that will help.

[zxyqu]

Pictures of the roots, as well as the crown could be useful. You really need the leaves for almost all of the photosynthesis needed for sufficient growth, but if the roots are somewhat ok (which I would imagine is not the case) it may survive. Given what you've said above, the repot and poor general health may have thrown the plant over a cliff. Hopefully it's a small cliff and it can be revived.

[seabead22]

Pulled it out and snapped three pictures. None of the roots are mushy at all. Maybe crown rot...I have never seen that but the crown looks in much worse shape than the roots?

[zxyqu]

Hmm. Roots do look pretty good, definitely not rotted. The only thing you could hope for though, given the likely crown rot, is a basal kieki to grow. I'd say the chances are minimal, but depending on the plant's parentage (esp if equestris is in there somewhere) you might get lucky. As to potting it... I have no idea on that one. Maybe just bag it, and keep the humidity up? Good Luck!

[WhiteRabbit]

I completely crown rotted a phal a couple of winters ago - it did have nice roots, tho, so I just continued to care for it as usual, and it started a basal keiki a couple of months later. Can't guarantee yours will, but it's worth a shot as long as the roots look ok. Mine was/is just potted in chunky bark mix - didn't do anything special for it at all ...

gl

[Edwin Reffell]

I was given a red Phaleonopsis last Thursday by the sacristan att church. It had 2 leaves but both have dropped off and the bark was soaking wet. Some ignorant, high-handed, overzealous sinner has drenched it so many of the roots have rotted. I have pulled off what was possible to pull off. Some of the roots are firm though they do not look good at all. Is there any chance of it surviving? I am letting it dry out in the vain hope of it not being dying.

[RosieC]

I'm sorry but I would probably say no. If there are good roots and no leaves they can sometimes grow a new crown, but with both bad it's not very likely.

If you want to try (you never know) you could let it dry, remove hollow/mushy roots, then pot back up in as small a pot as you can fit the roots in. Then water as normal and hope for the best.

[Edwin Reffell]

Thank you. I am letting it dry and have pulled off all the roots that would come off. However many are firm most of the way to the tip but rotted at the base. Should I cut them off? If I do there will be hardly any roots left on the plant to pot. Should I see anyone watering any Phaleonopsis in Mary's Chapel I shall give them a sharp reprimand and tell them to go to Confession.

[RosieC]

If they are firm at the top I would maybe cut off the rotten portion at the bottom and dab the cut end with cinnamon. Be very careful with the cinnamon though, it can dry out/kill the good root if got over them, just a tiny tab on the cut end to help seal it from infection.

If the roots have bad sections in the middle with good sections above and below then leave them.

[Edwin Reffell]

Most of the roots have rotted at the top, not at the bottom. A large amount of the roots are good and firm at the bottom. Of the completely rotted roots which I pulled off there remain strings. Should I leave them or cut them off? Most of the roots are now silvery green. None are soft or mushy. I think I shall pot what remains of the plant tomorrow and water it. Or should I fertilize it?