VERY dehydrated phal, any tips for revival?
I currently have 1 sick orchid. I bought a gorgeous phal from a grocery store in the fall of 2011, in full bloom. I displayed in happily through the holidays, knowing it needed to be re potted once it was done.
It held its flowers for so long, and with all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I let it do its thing. Most of the flowers started to die off right before Christmas, so I clipped the spike and put it with my others until after the holidays.
Well, I finally got around to giving it the attention it needed a couple days ago. I didn't realize how sick it was.
I displayed it in a fairly low light area while in bloom. That combined with being in crappy light at the store, has made it very light deprived. Its leaves are very very pale green/yellow. Problem #1.
Problem #2.. it got root rot from the yucky media it was potted in being really broken down. I re potted it, but had to clip most of the roots. I have about 3 roots left, 1/2'', 1'' and 1 1/2'' in size. It is very very dehydrated from the root rot keeping it from taking up water. The leaves are very wrinkled and limp.
So, I have been baby sitting it for a few days now. I am trying to keep it dry since the rot was so bad, but if it doesn't get some water its not going to make it. It had 5 leaves to start all this, I clipped off the bottom two since they were mostly shriveled away anyway.
As far as watering goes.. I have been just giving the roots themselves water directly via a syringe, which they absorb immediately. These roots are perfectly healthy and showing no signs of rot, fungus or anything else.
Is there anything else I can do to help this plant recover? It is already looking a little better.. one leaf is a little more firm that a few days ago. Should I fertilize at all?
Also, I am thinking it may be in too big of a pot considering the root loss. Is it worth it to put it into something smaller? I have it secured in what its in now so it can be still and root itself. I am more than happy to let this plant have a long break to fill the pot with roots, as I have a bunch of phals in spike anyway..
Any tips to help this plant along would be great.. thanks!
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