bareroot phal importation: how to start them well?
 

In a previous post I explained how a bad habit (soaking plants in a pall for watering) spread out fungal root rot so I lost many phals. My society organized importation from taiwan and I will receive 16 phals with roots streamlined and wrapped in humid sphagnum and newspaper. They will be in that wrapping about a week before i get them, and most roots will be broken from streamlining them for packing (I know from previous importation). The grower suggested that we unpack asap, let the roots dry, then repot in medium treated with fungicide and growth hormone and just water them with that mixture till new roots start growing then start the usual regimen of water/nutrients etc.

Am simply wondering if this is the best procedure. Any1 used to acclimate bareroot plants have some tips? Also if I cut broken roots the plants will loose at least 50% of their roots; so should I cut those or not? (only broken - no rot)

Thanks in advance

Vyltan

Sorry I can't help. Just wanted to give your post a bump :bump:

Thxs Rosie. May do that too. Posted in beginner forum with no great hep either :/

when i worked in a gh, we imported hundreds of phals and had to pot em all up....we trimmed the broken roots, and potted as normal, watering about 3 days later....and they all grew fine....always cleaning the cutting blades in physan between plants...

I think it comes down to (re)potting Phals that are well hydrated and have some broken roots.

What I would do:
1- Make sure the plants are well hydrated. If in doubt you can dunk the roots for 15-30 minutes in plain water at room temperature or slightly warmer (up to 80F/27C). You may also add Physan 20 to this water, to prevent rotting of broken roots after repotting. Of course, make sure to change the water and change/sterilize the container after each plant. Let the roots dry.
2- Well hydrated Phals can withstand 2 weeks without being watered. The same two weeks would allow any broken roots to heal, provided that the new potting medium is not wet nor moist.
3- Pot in a dry medium treated with fungicide, then place in a slightly shadier and warmer place. (Less light - to reduce the plant's need for water; more warmth - to help internal healing processes.) I don't think that trating the medium with root hormone would help, since the root hormone is only good in solution for several hours.
4- I would not cut broken roots, they can heal provided the conditions are right (see above).
5- Water after 2 weeks, adding root hormone (KLN / SuperThrive). No fertilizer for another 2-4 weeks at least.

Fractured roots can heal, but you have to take into account that any fracture can be an entry point for bacteria (rot), and water/moisture would be its carrier. Healing of roots requires dryness.

This is my 2 cents. I'm a beginner and my experience is limited (35 Phals, 10 regular repottings, 2 emergency repottings). Hopefully more experienced growers will chime in.

WOW! For a beginner you have lot of biological knowledge Val. What's your background before your 35 phals? And thanks a lot for all the tips and rationale behind them :))

9 books and hundreds of internet pages and forum posts ;)
(I'm a web developer, nothing "bio" - but I like to learn.)

If you like logical explanations on orchid-related matters, this is a must: First Rays' Free Info .

Just found this in Andre Poliquin's "Les orchidees Phalaenopsis" (Editions du Trecare 1996):

Immerse the whole plant in a sugar solution (10ml sugar per 1L water - i.e. 2 tsp sugar per quart of water) at room temp for 4 to 6 hours. You may add fertilizer (20-20-20 at 1/4th recommended dilution), but this is not vital. Rinse plant and pot in a medium that allows air circulation but retains much water, like sphagnum, then water abundantly. Place in subdued light (500-800 ftcd), in high humidity, and do not water again until you see new root growth. At this stage you can finally repot in adequate potting medium, taking care to remove any dead roots.

My comment: The instructions seem to be based on the assumption that the Phals arrive with dry roots. If they travel with their roots moist, I wouldn't follow the above instructions.

Anyway, this is the only reference to "bareroot import" I could find in my books, and I thought I'd share it.

Thxs again Val :)

Am bumping myself since there is a difference of opinion here: M. Poliquin advise to pot in humid medium and wait for new roots, Val suggest potting first in dry medium to help broken root mending. Any other opinions? :)