Dying Paphiopedilum
 

I have just assumed there is nothing I can do to save my first dying orchid. It is a paphiopedlium that a friend gave to me after it was finished blooming. It has both the old growth which the flower spike was cut from and the new growth. Just during the past week or two, the entire plant has started yellowing and will not come out of its droop. I had repotted it several months ago, at which time I used a fine bark medium, along with a little bit of spaghnum moss at the roots. When I repotted it, I noticed that the much of the roots had rotted off, leaving one black root. The plant has been looking okay (not wonderful) until the past week or so. I just assumed it's a gonner, but thought I'd attempt to save it if someone has any ideas. Also, if I do loose it, I'd like to know just what I could have done to avoid its death, for future reference. Thanks for all your help!

What size pot did you repot to? And, how often did you water it?

It sounds like you have a bad case of root and/or crown rot. Unpot it, take off any rotten parts with a sterilized tool, and wrap the base in damp sphagnum moss. Then put it in a Ziploc bag, breath hot air into the bag and seal it, and place it in diffuse light. The plant may grow some roots after a few weeks and then you can pot it up. Check for rot and mold frequently though.

Forgot to add, to avoid this in the future, don't put tons of sphag around the roots and definately be more careful with your watering - let the media approach dryness before watering again.

Unlike most other plants, that if they are too weak to survive, simply slowly fade away, I have founds that paphs that are in bad condition, even though repotted and cared-for appropriately, can string you along for months looking fine, and then just crap out.

Thanks for all the feedback... this forum is great!

I potted it about a 4 inch ceramic pot and would water it about once per week. It is located on a humid patio in Florida where it doesn't get any direct sunlight.

Thank you for the suggestion with the ziplock bag and other feedback... I will try anything to save it because I can see if it's ignored, it's just going to die. Is there any sort of substance to apply to the roots to help promote new growth and stop rot before putting in the bag?

I've never used any growth stimulants before, though I have heard of people who have... I just put 'em in the bag. I forgot to mention before about stopping the rot - you can put cinnamon on any wounds that you have once all the rotten flesh is removed; this dries the wound out to prevent rot. ALL the rot must be taken off, even if it means removing whole leaves and sections of rhizome. I wrote an article about this that you can check out if you want: http://www.orchidboard.com/Reviving-...-Paphiopedilum

Okay...
So, I have a large ziplock bag and cinnamon powder ready. But, would like to describe just what I see (the plant is right next to me) before I begin and ask about one thing. I am wondering, with the paphs, since the "parent" plant dies (it does, eventually, right? How long will it take?), can I seperate it from the new growth or will this kill the new growth? I ask because the "parent" plant (not sure of the correct terminology) looks much sicker than the other part. They are both drooping, even after watering. The parent plant has one leaf that is turning brown from the inside outward... it blends from brown to yellow to a greenish-yellow. I noticed tiny dark brown spots on the leaves of this plant months ago, as well. I wonder if they are related to this. So, as I thought it could have been rotting... could it have a virus or other sickness that's killing it instead? Do viruses KILL orchids? I do notice some of these tiny spots on the new growth as well. Any other suggestions as to what I should try before bagging it? I just peeked at the roots, of which there is only one firm one (the other that survived before my repotting has died.
Thanks again for all your help! I'm all ready to play doctor and operate. I have more paphs than any other type of orchid, so I don't want to start loosing them. :_(

You want to leave as much live material on the plant as possible so it can use it for energy. Just make sure all the rotten parts are removed. As far as the spots go, they could indicate a variety of problems; if you post a photo it will be easier to diagnose.

Don't apply cinnamon generally to the roots - just the cut wounds. Anecdotal evidence is that the stuff can quash root growth if applied too liberally.