Phalaenopsis
 

Good evening all , I am a brand new member and have a question .
I had a friend bring me her "sick" phaelenopsis orchid this evening. I have only been growing orchids for 2 years so consider myself a rank amateur!
My question about this plant is that there was only one leaf left on the orchid that the woman had received as a gift from her children. The remaining leaf had a black base at the stem junction. I lifted the leaf to look underneath and it broke away. I took the orchid out of the pot and found that the roots were packed with very, very tight spagnum moss. There were very many dead branches of the root , but a few viable branches ar still visible.
What are my chances of regenerating this plant , and how do I go about this?

Hi,

Welcome to the board. Im no expert but i will chip in.

If there are still some root branches that look lively, your chances I would say still look good.
Cut away all the dead, black stuff, and keep the plant in a humid, yet not stagnant area. Maybe a dip in some sort of disenfectant like physan 20 would help.
One question, does the stem/crown/center of the Phal, where the leaves come out, look rotten or mushy in any way?

Hope I helped.
Also, I will move this thread to its appropriate subforum.

My suggestion would be to throw it in the trash and get a new one if the plant doesn't have enough roots to anchor into the potting mix. If the plant does anchor and has some healthy leaves, then just give it some tlc (light, water, air movement and time) and it should be ok.

I have a phal hieroglyphica and a paph philippinense alba recovering from root loose too. I messed up on my watering regiment in the s/h pot on the paph phil. For the phal, I never flushed the pot with plain water so it lost its roots from mineral build up. They have very short viable roots. They won't even anchor into the pot.

I'm heart broken with the paph. It's my favorite speciees that I have. They've been in a bag with sphag for a good 3 weeks, but the trouble to care for it is just not worth the time and effort.

They're going in the trash as soon as I get plants in.

To me, it soumds like a gonner... hopefully you can prove me wrong though... =)

The roots that have matured to a grey color will remain that color for a while and may fool you, making you think it still has life... the green tipped active growing roots will soon wither to a brown color at the ends... the main plant will start to brown and harden...

-Pat

phaelenopsis
 

Thank you all for such speedy replies to my question. The crown of the orchid is firm and there are some green roots . I am a former nurse so "where there is life there is hope" is my motto in all things. I will "nurse" it along for a while and will let you know how it goes.
Thanks again!
Winterbird1

One need not get disheartened that the only leaf left on the phalaenopsis fell off. It could be that you have exerted more pressure than the plant could withstand or the leaf was just waiting to fall. Many vandaceous orchids exhibit this characterstically when thier root system cannot expend their depleted enegy in supporting such vegetative parts. Once their roots revive the shoot of new side growth or revive their crown. I suggest you treat the plants with carbendazim fungicides or benomyl alomg with a mild proprietary water soluble liquid nutrient. Phals love white sphagnum moss mixed with generous supplies of charcoal pieces.But see the pots have lots of scope for areation. You will have noithing to worry.

:welcome: Aboard winterbird1, I am sure the above information will help you out with bringing this phal around. Sounds to me the plant might have been over-watered and the black base at the stem junction could/might be root rot. I would think if there are roots that have had previous stimulation and are appearing healthy, possibly be a good chance you could bring it back around to become the beautiful chid that they are...keep us up to date on the out come, the ultimate is when you can bring an ailing plant back to it's norm, :D Happy :D Happy :D Happy....gl

Phal
 

Nurse it i had one with almost no roots left and one leaf left! I nursed it back:pray: and a new healthy side plant is growing like crazy. The former flower stalk also has a nice size keiki growing on it, as you said every thing deserves a chance and my nursing was repaid with another exact copy of the mother:dance:

Reviving a hopeless phal.
 

I am happy there are others who believe in patience and persiverance. You know all the orchids that we grow know exactly goes in you mind. Now you only have to combine with the worn out cliche- loves labour is never lost. That I can emphatically state as one who comes from the land of Taj Mahal!

:hello i was looking up information on how to care for a phalaenopsis orchid and i came across your question and then i was looking more and may have found an answer for you.
Remove the plant from its container and let the old media fall away. Carefully trim away any old dead roots. Position the plant it its new container and pour in the new potting media, letting it settle around the roots. Use only a media for orchids that contains bark, stone, sphagnum moss, perlite or similar material that will provide the aeration your Phalaenopsis will need. Resume your normal watering and fertilizing schedule.
here is the website i found this information from...
Phalaenopsis Orchids - Care For Moth Orchid | Plant-Care.com