Mini Phal Rescue(s)
 

I was picking up a couple of things at Lowe's this afternoon, stumbled upon the clearance rack, and couldn't resist a $5 mini phal. The pot actually had two separate orchids, the sadder one in the photos has a spike that looks like one bud may still be viable (the rest have already wilted) though the second orchid (without the spike) looks to be in pretty good shape, all things considered. They were both potted in sphagnum, without drainage, and completely dried out (I broke the pot to get them out).

I've removed them from the pot and moss and they're both soaking for the moment.

Any thoughts on whether the not-so-good one has a chance (and if so, how to save it)? Should I hedge my bets and give them each a pot or maybe assume that the sickly one won't make it but still give it a chance to live by potting it with the healthier one?

If both plants were healthy, I would pot them separately. Following that line of thinking, would pot them separately now and see how it goes, but that's just me.

I understand the reasoning of those who prefer to devote their time, energy & resources to plants that have the best chance of thriving. But the optimist in me seems to have a soft spot for 'underdogs' & 'lost causes'. If you have a root that turns green when you water it, it ain't dead yet. Hope remains. :biggrin:

Clean it up, pot it up, pour on the TLC. Go for it!

I also rescued a couple of mini phals from Lowe's 2 weeks ago and they were in similarly sad shape. Both had very wilted and soft leaves and were packed in VERY dried out moss. I soaked them both, cleaned up the roots and potted them up separately. Their leaves are still pretty soft and wilty, but the roots turn green when I water them, so I'm holding out hope!

Also, I would recommend cutting the flower spike so that the plant can focus its energy on root and leaf growth. Just my :twocents:. Give 'em a little lovin' and see how they do!

I was about to ask whether I should cut the stem or not. It looks to have one viable bud left (it'll certainly open within a week). I'm torn- if I cut the stem, then the plant can focus more energy into root/leaf growth but can't recoup the energy that's stored in the bud, whereas if I don't cut the stem, it could suck up the goodies in the bud (I'm not necessarily looking for a flower right now) and redirect towards root/leaf growth. Should I give it the benefit of not worrying about the stem or give it the chance to pull the nutrients from mthe stem before I cut it?

It would probably put more energy into developing that bud before it pulls nutrients from it. I'd cut it off.
I learned the hard way. I made the mistake of not only keeping the existing spike on a sad rescue, but letting it spike again from the old spike. Of the four sad but viable leaves that rescue had, one is left- it had to pull nutrients from three of it's leaves to keep that bud and flower going. Never again.

I agree, go ahead and try saving both of them. It doesn't hurt to try!

However, I strongly caution against putting them in the same pot. In the event the sadder one did die, it would only be a magnet for disease that would harm the healthier one. Try saving them both, but in separate hospital beds!

Woohoo! No news on the sadder looking mini (except that its still hanging in there), but the better looking one is starting to spike. I noticed it this morning when I was watering everything. There's just the beginnings (a few days old) of a spike starting between two of the leaves on one side. I have no idea what it will look like, but hey, for a $5 rescue, its earning its keep. :)

Woohoo! It must be enjoying it's TLC! Great job! :biggrin: