Cutting Phal Main Stem (Not Spike)

[KristenJ]

Hi everyone,

I'm repotting two of my Phals right now. One recently suffered from some fungus/rot and has lost many of its roots (orchid I'm holding in the picture). The other is doing okay (orchid in pot in picture).

My question is about cutting the older parts of the main stem when repotting. One orchid has no more roots coming from the main stem. I am wondering if it is okay to cut the older parts of the main stem off before repotting. If so, how do I go about cutting the piece off?

For the other orchid, there are still a couple of good roots on lower parts of the main stem. It's currently growing a bunch of aerial roots from the top of the main stem. I am wondering if I should just repot this one with the main stem below the surface.

Thanks for any help!

[JMNYC]

What I do in these events....I recently posted an account, actually, is remove the rotted portion of the base until you uncover healthy tissue.

I would then let the plant dry some, dust the raw edges with cinnamon or flowers of sulpher, etc.. What I do in such cases when new roots are emerging between the lower leaves, is also remove one or two of the lower ones, depending....to expose those roots and permit burying them in the new medium.

Make sure the new pot is narrow and small, drench the medium and then let it dry (I would use NZ Sphag).....and keep her in the shade until you start seeing signs of recovery.....at which point you can gradually move her into brighter light.

[KristenJ]

Thanks for the help JMNYC! I really appreciate it

[JMNYC]

Originally Posted by KristenJ

Thanks for the help JMNYC! I really appreciate it

My pleasure....I mean it!

[tucker85]

I agree, you can cut off a portion of the main stem. Eventually the old main stem becomes too long for the pot and, if there aren't any roots on it, it isn't really serving a purpose.

[JMNYC]

Originally Posted by tucker85

I agree, you can cut off a portion of the main stem. Eventually the old main stem becomes too long for the pot and, if there aren't any roots on it, it isn't really serving a purpose.

Especially, when the base is rotting! Cause the rot will just travel up the base. When I find overwatered ones, I see this a lot. Rotted bases and lower roots.

[HighSeas]

I just bought a rescue like that. Generally I have decent success with the method described above...but lost the little guy because it had gone too far. It was such a nice little Phal too. You win some....you loose some!

[topiarybud]

You can cut if off or leave it alone, it’s not a major issue, just be careful, don’t’ hurt the healthy part.
I would just leave it alone, because your phal is dehydrated and relative weak. It’s hard to tell which part of stem is still alive, if you hurt the healthy part of stem, the phal will consume energy to heal the wound, that’s not good for the new growth. Just clean the whole plant, and repot the black part of stem into media. The black (or maybe dead) stem can help your phal sit steady in the pot. If you still have the rotting problem, that means you have to examine your watering management & environments. My phal with black stem recovered very well without cutting stem.

[JMNYC]

Originally Posted by HighSeas

I just bought a rescue like that. Generally I have decent success with the method described above...but lost the little guy because it had gone too far. It was such a nice little Phal too. You win some....you loose some!

Exactly! I relate to any human who cares this much re the individual plants.

[KristenJ]

Thanks for all of your help everyone!