Hi OB, for this one, I need your advice!
 

Hello,
I hope everyone's well :)

I've managed to save some pretty dodgy phals over the last couple of years, but they've always had at least one root in the medium. Now I have one with only aerials left!

Some friends of mine have asked if I could try and save her (the plant is called Matilda) since she was a present from their daughter.

Upon inspection in the pot, all the roots were dead and all that's left are the aerials which you can see in the pictures. What I've done is fill a bowl with water, scunch up some J-cloths for better evaporation and stand the plant above it inside a clear pot. There is also just enough room to stand a larger pot on top for extra humidity. (Btw, I must stress that the roots are not in contact with the cloths even though it looks like it on the picture!)

Does this look like a reasonable set-up? I can't think of anything else to do and this is outside my area of experience to be honest! The aerials are turning green with misting, so they're obviously still able to take up water, so I figure I'll carry on doing that as well during the day (believe it or not, but it's around 26 degrees here at the moment!)

Thanks in advance for comments and suggestions :)

I dont seem anything wrong with the overall setup and idea. I might change the plastic bowl with a plastic bag so that they dont bend the leaves as much. If the leaves start to plump a bit (which hopefully they will) you might just snap/crack one. Honestly, it just looks like that plants was extremely underwatered, and given some TLC might perk right back up. Just keep an eye out for new root growth.
Given all the aerials, you might want to think about mounting it, but that's not my field of expertise. You might also be able to just lay the whole plant on new media, and stake it down a bit. Once roots grow they should grow right into the media, but you could also do this once you spot root growth in your current setup.

Thanks, yes, good point about the pot and the leaves. Just keep your fingers crossed I can coax some roots out. All mine are going mad in the root department at the moment so maybe this one will take the hint!

Some of those roots look like they are still growing, so I'd imagine if the leafs are still healthy enough, and can support the plant, it should perk up eventually. Some rooting hormone might not hurt either (KLN, etc). Good luck, and keep us posted.

It looks good! I just recently got a phal healthy doing something very similar -- it put out a couple little root nubbins in a few weeks.

Thanks for the support guys :) The hardest part so far was trying to explain to the 'parents' that it was going to heal in months not days! and yes, you can cont on updates (or if all goes wrong 'pleas'!)

I second the KLN idea. I would soak some sphagnum moss in a dilute solution and then clump it on the bottom of the phal where you would expect the roots to break out. Reapply when nearly dry. I've had luck with this method before (although always with at least 1 real root).

Good luck.

-J

IMHO... It has roots which Is good! the leaves are flacid... I doubt they will perk up alot... personally I would have potted it in medium putting those roots into it.... I also agree that a soak of KLN or other rooting hormone.. although it has roots..won't do any harm. You need to get it growing new leaves as well as roots. I'm sure it will be fine. An other idea, pot it up & cover top of pot/ leaves with the plastic bag to keep more humidity if you need to in your growing conditions.. just keep an eye on it so, you dont leave it too wet and get rot. Good luck! I think it is more than saveable!

Thanks Nenella :) The reason I didn't put it straight into a pot is that the root span of the aerials is 5-6 inches so that'd be a pretty big pot and I didn't want to run the risk of more rot. However, if I end up at a garden centre in the next few weeks (work's a tad hectic at the mo!), I'll try and get hold of one of the small shallow seed trays I have my pleiones in and then I might 'pot it' (since it won't be very deep and prone to holding moisture for a long time).

I've never used rooting hormone, so I may investigate that further as well, but it does have a tip of a new leaf showing in the crown. If I can coax that out (and maybe a root or two), I'll know I'm on the right track!

I feel a bit funny really - it's exciting because I've never had to look after one in this bad shape before but nerve-racking because it's not mine and I don't want to lose it. It's also worrying because I haven't lost one in my charge before so I really don't want to lose my 100% record!! :nailbite:

I have to agree with Nenella. I'd soak it in Hormex, KLN or Essential Plus or whatever you have over there for about 5 to 10 minutes and plant it up in bark and grow as you would any other Phal. I personally don't do well with sphag.