Little to No Roots - can these be saved?

[megan-sue]

My neighbor gave up on three orchids she bought a while ago (not a green thumb at all). I have two that are doing well, but I'm definately a newbie.

Are any of these salvageable?

2 dendrobium plantlets - The mother was completely dead, these were the only green parts.

2 phals - as you can see... one has no roots so I don't have much hope for it. The other looks like it may have a shot?? But I really don't know.

Any advice you can provide would be greatly appreciated! I hate throwing things away

[james mickelso]

Looks like all of them can be saved. Pot them up in medium bark, sponge rock, charcol, and some chopped up spagnum moss. The moss should be about 1 inch long and mixed in with the other ingredients at 1 hand full moss to 3 handfulls of media. Water well and then don't water for a week. Water when the pots seem lighter than when wet. Those with roots you can fertilize very lightly. Those without don't. Mist the leaves a couple times a day with RO or distilled water. Keep warm and in a bright light but not direct sunlight.

[lepetitmartien]

Same as James, all can be saved.

Those with roots can go to regular medium, those with little to none have a go onto just moist sphagnum, under a plastic bag or a in small glasshouse.

I've just save baby phals with no roots so as long there's life…

[nenella]

I agree with above; But would add to not forget to soak the medium you decide to use, before planting.
Good luck & keep us posted

[megan-sue]

Thanks everyone!! I have repotted them as suggested above except all I have is spagh moss and orchid bark, so the 3 handfulls is all bark. Medium was soaked and drained, the keiki with aerial roots I just sat on top of the medium. Someone told me not to bury it because it needs to adjust to the medium.. ? Also, I'm in Kansas and its been about 85-95 degrees F outside and very humid so I sat them out in the shade.. or is that too hot?

New pic of the potting:

[james mickelso]

Phals can take the heat as long as it isn't from direct sunligh. Nost naturally grow in warm moist environments. Without meda. Just growing on tree ark or branches. The one on the right looks like it was in too much sunlight. That is the dead scorchmarked leaves. They should be just fine there. Please keep us informed. Pictures weekly are always nice. Like children growing. If it is in the high 80's low 90's try and mist them every morning and evening. Undersides of the leaves especially and the airial roots oo.

[megan-sue]

Update - the phal with almost no roots and sunburn has dropped the damaged leaves, no new roots but one of the green leaves has perked up and is no longer limp! small victory?

The Keiki's roots have turned green and feel more solid/stronger

The plantlet is not doing well... the one root that it had seemed dry in the beginning so I watered it.. checked a few days later and it was mushy. Now its gone completely and the smallest/new leaf has dropped. I'm paying close attention to it to try to get the right moisture balance. Any suggestions?

the other Phal that appeared to be in the best shape with several roots is hanging in there, but I haven't seen much of a difference. The leaves look a little better, but still wrinkled/leathery.