Lazereth

[early]

A medical clinic manager said she was exciting I had an appointment and brought me a dead Phal.

It was blooming a couple of years ago, later I offered to repot it as it was not looking great after blooms dropped.

The owner said no, she had orchids at home and would do it herself. sigh.

That was two years ago. Last Thr. the non-owner brought me the sad plant??? and said I think the cold killed it. the leaves dropped when the temp at night dropped to about 50 or 60 F in the clinic on weekends and at night.

The staff, knowing I keep most of my orchids alive said can you fix this???? No leaves, no crown and no stem left.
I took her home. soaked her in some KelpMax, and removed all the dead tissue, including cutting the woody stem.

I thought she was a goner and was ready to dump her, but after a good cleaning I found two tiny nubs south of the dead crown. Left her in some moss with KelpMax and two days later One of them was growning. I am going to call her Lazereth.

[WaterWitchin]

Excellent naming! Every now and then one gets a surprise like that.

Had a Phal that I had abused in many ways... always try to save ones husband used to give me. I had it in sphag, transferred to a bark medium, mounted it, dismounted it, put in SH, remounted it, then back to SH over the years.

Since it was a cheap Phal, it was always one of my go-tos to try different things. The last time I dismounted it, it was in a terrarium environment that had failed. Had no leaves, and it sat there for a month or two until I cleaned out terrarium. Then found a couple of viable roots, so I not-so-gently took it off the mount, did the KelpMax soak, and repotted in SH. That sucker made it, FINALLY, by putting out two basal keikis that are now growing up. It's a real weird looking bird, but I like it.

It also did its last experiment... I felt badly the last time, and told it to retire and I'd find a new guinea pig.

[early]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Excellent naming! Every now and then one gets a surprise like that.

I consider it a teaching moment re how to care for orchids. As an RN, I spent my entired career teaching others about healing and health. Orchids are taking the place of human patents.

A couple of new CNP in the clinic love orchids, but said they always die. I am giving them each a mini phal, and one to the manager who brought Lazereth to me. I only use S/H due to my arid climate.

I am going to type up care instructions for each, and condense everything I have learned about orchids, especially Phals, and create some new addicts to growning them. Thanks to you all, Orchid Board.

[Mr.Fakename]

There should be a monument dedicated to the past glory of all orchids lost in an experiment.

It reminds me of Laïka, the first animal to be launched into orbit. She got several statues and memorials, and is even featured on stamps.

[early]

Originally Posted by Mr.Fakename

There should be a monument dedicated to the past glory of all orchids lost in an experiment.

It reminds me of Laïka, the first animal to be launched into orbit. She got several statues and memorials, and is even featured on stamps.

Was not an experiment. Someone neglected it buy refusing to learn about how to grow one of the easiest of orchids to grow.

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by early

Was not an experiment. Someone neglected it buy refusing to learn about how to grow one of the easiest of orchids to grow.

I think perhaps MrFakeName was referring to me and my experiments. And unfortunately, especially Phals, they're considered disposable by many.

[early]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

I think perhaps MrFakeName was referring to me and my experiments. And unfortunately, especially Phals, they're considered disposable by many.

I wondered what he was referring to. did not go back and reread your post.
I am hoping litte Laz. in a couple of years might pop out a keiki. If not it is a good teaching tool for what not to do.

[Leafmite]

Good luck with it! Someone I know got kind of tired of a coworker killing Phals so he replaced them with realistic looking fakes. They watered them and everything...always remarking on how they had gotten very good with orchids...I think it took the person a few years before they realized it wasn't real.

[early]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

Good luck with it! Someone I know got kind of tired of a coworker killing Phals so he replaced them with realistic looking fakes. They watered them and everything...always remarking on how they had gotten very good with orchids...I think it took the person a few years before they realized it wasn't real.

perfect, Leafmite. Earlier this year I gave away to friends an phal each. Two of them were a couple of my favorite bloomers. I told them I wanted them back after they dropped their blooms. This was after I realized the mini phal was one of my favorite hybrids. I looked to order a new one, and the only one I could find came from Mayalsia I did get them back and I have one I think in bud. I miss placed the tags but will stick them back in as soon as the blooms pop out.

[Ray]

Grumpty Dumpty here. It’s spelled “Lazarus”.

Thank you for the KelpMax testimonial, though.