Phalen is dying / black nubs where roots should be.

[shadytrake]

Hello everyone,

I'm new here but not a complete novice to orchids. I have a phalen that was beautiful and big and wonderful...then I repotted it.

It hadn't been repotted in several years and I saw lots of little buggies crawling and the medium was smelling a little. So I tossed the medium out, bought new stuff specifically for phalens and repotted following what I thought were really good instructions in an orchid book.

Little by little from the bottom up, each leaf has soaked up water, turned a sick light brown and then started to smell. So I pulled it out of the pot dried it out and tried again. Same thing. That was 3 weeks ago. I am down to 5 leaves left on it after I gave it a last ditch effort today. I probably killed it, but I disinfected a pair of sharp scissors and cut all of the bottom leaves away exposing the root buds. They are black. See the pic. I peeled up until I felt like I had clean growth and lightly scrubbed them with some soapy water fungus stuff and am letting it air dry.

Did I cause this? I realize this one is probably on its last leg but if I can save it I'll give it one more try.

What do you think?

[CoolPhrog]

Well, I think you may have cut off too many of her roots....I would try the sphag and bag method and see if that promotes some root growth.

Don't get too upset, I've read threads where folks have brought their plants back and they look much worse than yours!

Keep us posted on your progress!!!

Sphag-n-Bag

[shadytrake]

Okay, thanks for the link. I followed the instructions. Didn't have any moss on me at work and wanted to get it in the hospital asap. Here is a pic.

I put a tray with a little water in it in the bottom of the bag. I tied a soft string around the orchid and hung it off of my computer keyboard. Then I pulled the bag up and around it and taped it heavily. Our office provided us with those nice oil heaters to go under our desks so I am hoping that will create the warm humidity it needs. Can't go outside...too cold and I don't have a greenhouse.

I am concerned a little about the leaves as they are sort of crushed near the top, but I am assuming that it won't matter if I get the roots back. New leaves will follow...

Comments?

[priz_m]

shady I am sorry to hear about your phal, I hope it recovers

[camille1585]

Hope it works!! I have never heard about using a tray of water in there. Why not if it works! But if you do find it a bit of a hassle, there are alternatives to using damp sphag. You can either put damp paper towels or a damp sponge in the bag. In that case you just lay the plant next to the paper towel/sponge, but without touching it. Also, it can be a good idea to air out the bag once in a while for an hour or so to exchange gases and dry out the plant a little to avoid mold problems. Don't worry if you see no root action for a while. Sometimes it can take months for anything to happen!

[Ross]

Originally Posted by shadytrake

Okay, thanks for the link. I followed the instructions. Didn't have any moss on me at work and wanted to get it in the hospital asap. Here is a pic.

I put a tray with a little water in it in the bottom of the bag. I tied a soft string around the orchid and hung it off of my computer keyboard. Then I pulled the bag up and around it and taped it heavily. Our office provided us with those nice oil heaters to go under our desks so I am hoping that will create the warm humidity it needs. Can't go outside...too cold and I don't have a greenhouse.

I am concerned a little about the leaves as they are sort of crushed near the top, but I am assuming that it won't matter if I get the roots back. New leaves will follow...

Comments?

Just an old sponge will work. The purpose of the Sphagnum is to produce high humidity. Actually, this technique will work in any humid zone, such as a terrarium. Nothing magical about the sphagnum except it holds moisture. The whole point to this technique is to raise the humidity so the leaves don't wilt. You don't want rot, you don't want mold. Fresh air is good as long as humidity stays high (like above 80%). If you suspect the air is getting too dry, just spritz the leaves a little (not too much) and that will raise the humidity a bit. I've had great luck with rooting bare cuttings in closed aquariums. A small aquarium from Petsmart would do the trick. Hope you get the idea here. You are after holding high humidity without stagnant air.

[shadytrake]

I am airing it out and checking on it at lunch today. So far I still see green through the bag. Crossing my fingers that something good is under there.

[shadytrake]

sigh. It died. All black where the roots should be. Shriveled.

Oh well I tried.

[priz_m]

Oh shadytrake I am so sorry to hear that

Cheer up, we've all lost a phal (or two) to root rot, my valentine's present became green mush while being sphaged-n-bagged.

We grow and learn