Hope for crown rot!
 

Got this little guy for 75 cents at the frocery store. It had 3 healthy leaves and the beginning of a new leaf but the new leaf was dried up. Eventually turned to crown rot and lost all but one leaf. I was ready to give up on it last week when I saw the beginnings of something from the base.

I think its a basal keiki!

Heres another shot. BTW, roots have always looked nice, plump and green!

Sorry but that orchid looks like a goner. I lost one this week due to heat burn on vacation and my cat. Crown started to rot and then all the leaves broke off looked similar to yours. Once the center rots the plant will not have the energy or ability to grow a new leaf. Might as well buy a healthier orchid and start from scratch. Don't worry everyone has killed some along the way.

Most phals dont adapt well after being switched to hydroton, especially when the plant was not healthy to begin with. The mistake is attempting to adapt roots from another medium that are not used to being in such a medium. Most roots will rot. My success has been in a bark mix, although I have tried to jump on the hydroton bandwagon. Seems like there are far fewer success stories with that medium.

^ I agree with the above, although, if you did want to save it (if it's valuable to you, either sentimental, or monetarily) you can save it, it's got a basal growth going, so it's possible. However, you wouldn't see flowers for probably two years - give or take - If you do decide to keep it (or to try for a learning experience) be very careful with your watering, it's very very easy to rot that growth, and they're so small, it's hard to tell if you've gotten water in/on it. The one time I've had this situation (I've killed a couple more than that, but I just got a basal kieke on only one) I rotted the new growth, and another never came up, the roots went shortly after.

I thought this one was a goner too! I was on the way to the trash when I discovered the new growth. And as for hydroton, I have found that in my dry, arid environment that most phals switch over without missing a beat, especially if they were in spag previously, which this one was. It has been in s/h for 2 months with no ill effects on its root system and the remaining leaf has no change since the switch either. Almost all my collection (about 20 phals) is now in s/h and are growing new roots, leaves.

---------- Post added at 12:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:34 PM ----------

Its not that I am especially attached to this one, but I am more curious about what will happen. Its a mini phal, so it doesn't take up very much space or require much work on my part. I will heed your excellent advice about the careful watering though! Thanks!

I thought you all might like an update.

This little mini is thriving in s/h. More new leaves, but the old wrinkled leaf was causing some damage to the new ones so I cut it off.

Here's a better photo.

Looks like you saved it! Good job!

It just goes to show, it is never over with these plants until the last green is gone.

Good job glad you saved it. The very first one I did this to I also saved and am still waiting for a bloom. It looks good but I still see no spike yet. I have another that is just setting and doing nothing.

Good job, crown rot is often fatal, I've found

If any part is green I keep it. I like a challenge, some you win some you lose. I'm glad you didn't pitch it as someone suggested. It's a great way to learn what works and what doesn't. Some orchids just want to survive. Please post a pic when it blooms.

Cheryl

I had a crown rotted Phal with nothing left but roots - it survived, but after the initial burst of new (basal) growth has been extremely slow growing :p

Thank you all for your comments! I am happy that this little guy is on his way to a better life.

Just a quick and dirty photo to show the update on this little guy! He finally bloomed!

Aww beautiful flower too! Good for you, feels good when you think it's on the way out and you can help it along, keep it growing. I have a mini Phal finally growing roots and new leaves. My first and only rescue but it was too cute with its tiny white flowers. One day it will bloom again. You should be proud, nice growing.

Congrats on bringing it back!

Congrats!

It's done well due to your name. Glad you perservered and can show it off! Well done.

I scrolled back to the date of your first post in the thread... Only 15 months! I am so envious and in awe of your mad skills.

WOW, great job!!

So is that the basal keiki you showed us in the beginning? Or...? Please, if you don't mind, tell us what you did and how this beauty came to be. :)

Thanks for sharing. It's a great message not to give up too soon, if at all.

Honestly, I just ignored it. Initially, just stuck it in s/h to see how it would fair, then on the way to the trash one day saw a little basal keiki and decided to see what would happen. Watered, fertilized and gave t-5 lights like all my others. 15 months later I was moving everything around and noticed it had a huge spike with buds. So happy!

So, my advice is, ignore. Don't baby them too much.

Nice going on that basal kieki. I had one do the same thing last year and now I have a beautiful healthy new plant. Just waiting for the first blooms.

A couple of more decent shots now that every bloom is open.

Wow! Cant believe you got it to bloom so quickly! What are you feeding that thing :biggrin:

Looks like Sogo Vivien

From what I read, I'm willing to bet that the single biggest orchid killer is " Too Much". Too much water, too much fertiliser, too much attention....