Phal with rotted crown raised "from the dead"
 

Yes, I would not have believed it had I not seen it with my own eyes, but there is a Phal with a rotted out crown that has been raised "from the dead" - and brought forth new life on two levels! :) This is a thread to give people hope when all seems lost! When you are afraid that you have lost your favorite phal - maybe not?
A coworker brought a phal into my office last december and asked me, "What is wrong with my orchid?" She had been over-watering it - and in the evening (to make things worse - and getting the crown wet - even worse.....
The crown had rotted completely away and the remaining leaves were starting to sag from root rot.
It had a spent flower spike with two drooping flowers. I cut the top of the spike off and applied keiki paste to the bottom two nodes. The next two pictures show the plant on January 28th of this year - a little over a month later.....
The first the condition of the crown after this time.....

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...hid012808a.jpg

The next picture is of the keiki that is now growing on the short spike.

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...d012808_1a.jpg

Jump forward FIVE months now......

The keiki has grown nicely......

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...i05200803a.jpg

When removed, baby looks nice and healthy and mother is still looking sad with NO CROWN. I'm hoping for potentially a basal keiki that can take over mama's root system?

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...i05210801a.jpg

Move ahead another TWO months to July 17th now......

Look what is rising OUT OF THE PIT OF DESPAIR! :D

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...id0717081a.jpg

Earlier this week I was watering the orchids in my office - this is what mama and baby look like today!

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...091208_01a.jpg

And even more amazing!!!

Look what is coming out of the side of mama! :D

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m...d091208_2a.jpg

With any luck we will have a nice flowering phal one year after it was delivered in sad pathetic condition. Further note: This plant sits in an office which stays approximately 72 degrees year round give or take a few degrees and sits in the corner of a window facing NE. To me - phenomenal! Wouldn't you agree?

Wow! What a great thread! I love happy endings!

And I always thought that the best possible/hopeful outcome would be a basal kieki or kieki on a spike...never knew the plant could revive, in time or, ever.

I wonder how many people are kicking themselves now, and regretting, giving up?:hmm

I agree, great thread and lesson!

Thank you!! :bowing :bowing

Mayres,

That is one of the coolest orchid rescue stories I've ever heard...and seen with your wonderful pics! :yikes: Thanks for sharing it with us.

what a great story.

Great job Mayres. Yay you saved the day :clap: :clap: :clap: Go ahead, pat yourself on the back

Lecent

wow what a story! not only a keiki but both mother and baby live :)!!! what are you feeding them haha, anyhow thats wonderful, I hope your happy with the rescue mission! Success

Wow :bowing

I didn't know they could re-grow after crown rot like that. Well saved.:cheer:

It is a source of amazement for me how some chids have such a will to survive while others, under similar circumstances, wither away and die despite our best efforts. Congrats on your success. I'm sure we are all looking foreward to the day you post some pics of the flowers....that will be oh so very exciting!!!!

Let that be a lesson to us all:

These plants WANT to live!!! If they don't, it's because WE are not doing something, or doing something wrong.