Do phals have a finite life span?
 

An acquaintance has 3 very old phals, cornu-cervi or similar. They're badly in need of repotting, but I wonder if it's even worth the effort if the plants are on their last legs. The old stem is about 6" (15 cm) long, and there are 6-8 green and seemingly healthy leaves at the end. Lots of healthy aereal roots, but anything in the rotten medium is rotten as well.

Worth saving?

IT IS DEFINITELY WORTH SAVING!!!!!! I do not know if phals have a finite life span, but I've never heard of it before. As phals age and get more strength and maturity, their blooms just get bigger, more abundant, and overall better! Phals grow new leaves and roots all the time as old ones die, so I don;t see why it would be on it's last leg. I have had phals and know people who have had them for much longer than 3 years. So go ahead and repot!!

I believe that in theory at least, with proper culture, most orchids could live indefinitely due to their growth habit. Old growth dies but there's always new growth.

I found this thread specific to Phals on the Big Leaf Orchids forum http://www.phalaenopsis.net/phpBB/vi...php?f=2&t=2728

The plant is still alive, no matter how old it is reputed to be. Please repot it.

It's not dead until it's dead.

at worst, a little time and potting medium wasted...for the chance to enjoy blooms for a few more years, maybe even keikis? save them! especially considering they have healthy aerial roots and leaves - I've read a story on here somewhere, or maybe it was a different forum, about someone reviving a phal that had no roots at all left. it may be some time before they bloom, but to me, the chance outweighs the time and effort in repotting.
if you or your acquaintance really don't want to mess with the plants any longer...ship them to me? ;)

No reason not to save them.

They are worth saving but in my experience phals are very slow to recover. It may not bloom for another 2 years

Always good to save them! I have a Phal that's at least 10 years old now. It get's better and better!

Cut the long stem off below the live aerial roots. Soak the roots to make them pliable, pot it up.

Phals can live for years with the proper care.

Brooke