Operation: rescue fungi!

[The Mutant]

Nononono, I did NOT buy another Noid Phal. It's all in your minds and I did NOT start this thread, that's just another hallucination. Seriously guys, you need help...

Anyway, lets talk about this Noid Phal I didn't buy. Last week I didn't see this little guy at the local supermarket and I did not not buy it due to it's bad condition and still being marked at full price.

Today they hadn't lowered the price so much that they were practically giving it away and I didn't buy it...

Eh... I can't make head or tail of my own post...

Sooo, back to the Phal. It's in really bad shape and I'm not certain I can save it but I'll give it a try. It appeared to be having some fungi/mould-issues (hence the name) so I've gently sprayed it with some fungi/mould killing solution and I'll put it into a pot now before I turn in.

If you have any suggestions on how to try to save this beautiful peach/yellow coloured Noid, I'll be happy to receive them. Here are some photos of it.

Wish me luck with the rescue operation!

[Gage]

I'm a sucker for peach and orange. By the way, why do you say it's in bad shape. The roots look great, and the leaves look fine from what I can tell. If the problem is with the leaves then maybe post a better pic of the leaves. Otherwise I would just pot it up in something just big enough for the roots to fit, and fill any extra space with styrofoam. Pot should have lots of good drainage and potting medium should be able to dry 70-90% in a week or less. Hope this helps! Congrats!

[Gage]

If you were seeing black mold in the old media, there's nothing to worry about. Doesn't hurt anything, just makes it hold water longer.

[lostonthebeach]

I agree with Gage. It looks like you have a nice little orchid there with wonderful colors. I think it looks fine. Nice healthy roots.
Good luck. Keep us posted.

[tucker85]

I agree with Gage also, the plant looks very healthy with lots of good roots. It should be an easy save.

[Bud]

Wonderful festive colors. That is a happy healthy plant and the blooms are about to be over...and I think it will still produce flowers on the green spikes...
leaves and roots dont have anything wrong with it...
do not spray chemicals on the plant...I dont see any fungi, molds or algae at all; no mites or bugs...so you got a steal!

[The Mutant]

Thanks guys, it warms my heart when you say it looks healthy.

I think it might be my inexperience talking when I believe it to be in poor shape because I've never bought such an unhappy looking Phal ever. It had practically lost all of its flowers and buds, the leaves were floppy and spongy and it was sopping wet. They really can't care properly for the Phals at that store.

Before taking the photos I removed the worst looking leaves (they had large black spots on them). It still has some smaller spots on one of the leaves left so I took some photos of that to show you. I've also trimmed away the unhealthy looking roots before taking the photos which is probably why it looks better here.

I'm also a sucker for this colour so when they were practically giving it away I had to give it a try.

It has been potted in a mostly bark and little sphagnum mix and it seems to be recovering (I hope). The leaves that were all floppy in the store are now much firmer and healthier looking. It might even keep some of its flowers if I'm really lucky.

I'm treating it as a possible carrier of viruses and mold/fungi so it's in quarantine and will be so for a long period of time. Also, no touching the other Phals after touching this one without washing my hands. I hope it doesn't have anything but considering the conditions it was suffering I wouldn't be surprised if it did.

[The Mutant]

Oh yes, I forgot to mention that all of the Phals looked like this in the store. And they always do... They have the Phals for about a week or so then the Phals start to loose their flowers and buds and start to look more and more unhappy. The store keep them too dark and wet. The poor Phals are constantly standing in water and I think this is what makes them deteriorate so fast.

---------- Post added at 06:46 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:55 AM ----------

After reading on the very informative site Orchid Pests, Orchid Diseases (link found in the Pests & Diseases category) I'm suspecting that the brown spots might actually be edema and not fungus or bacteria... It seems rather logical for it to be the case since, as I said in the previous post, the Phals are standing in water. This means I should be able to rescue this lovely Noid! Weee!