Some questions regarding the use of KLN water...
 

I have two phals teetering precariously on the brink of demise (no roots, poor leaves, etc.):_( and I am supposed to receive my KLN water in the mail today. I have never used this product before, so could someone give me some tips?:scratchhead: Should I mist, or soak? How long before I see new growth? How often should I apply the solution to the plants? Should I sphag and bag them with the KLN solution applied? Should I soak the sphag in the solution as well?

Would be most appreciative for anyone's :twocents:.

-Kat

KLN is a root "hormone" that would normally be used at about 2 drops per gallon of water. It's very strong. In your case I would recommend placing the plant in a large zip-lock baggie along with a small wet sponge (which should not touch the plant.) Place this in a shady spot till roots develop. KLN needs to be absorbed by the plant and is great for encouraging new roots or additional root development, but I don't think it would be too useful at this stage if there are no roots (I'm sure Ray will correct me if I am wrong) :biggrin: When transplanting plants, KLN is sometimes used to boost the root production, and the bottle has the proper concentration. But in any case this needs to be diluted in water. Store the unused KLN in the original bottle away from strong light and heat (like under the kitchen sink)

K... well I read on the site that KLN should be mixed by the teaspoon per gallon of water rather than the drop...

I am disappointed to hear about the root thing... so you honestly don't think it will promote any root growth at all? Well, that's 20 bucks down the freaking drain... lol.

So you think I should use a sponge rather than sphag?

-Kat

Kat - think we're mixing apples and oranges. That is not money down the drain (trust me :biggrin: ) you will inevitably get lots of mileage from it.

Now the teaspoon figure is for transplanting. But for routine use everyday, you don't want more than 2 drops per gallon of water. Sphag is fine, but seems like a waste to me. The idea is to provide moisture. A sponge will do that, but so will sphag. No difference. Once the first root nubbins show (yep "nubbins" is an official term from Dorothy :lol: ) then I suggest placing plant in a pot with bark that has been soaked in a mix of 1 tsp KLN per gallon of water and then placed back in the bag till you see evidence of heavy root development. In a few minutes I'll post a pic of what I have seen on a Dendrobium with steady use of KLN. Back later....

If these plants have even 1 viable root you can use the KLN.

I agree with Terri. But Kat said no roots, so I am working from there.

Here is picture of Dendrobium anosmum after a year of daily use of KLN

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...bs/DSC2572.jpg

Here is a NOID Phal with daily use of KLN

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...bs/DSC2573.jpg

On the occasion that I import plants and they arrive totally rootless, I soak the plants in tepid water bearing one teaspoon per gallon of KLN for a couple of hours, and it seems to work fine.

Phalaenopsis are not particularly heavily covered with leaf stomata in the first place, and they tend to keep them closed during the day, so you might try soaking in the dark.

Right Well Terri and Ross, you are both right sort of. One of my phals still has some small root tendrils, but the fleshy covering rotted away... velemin? velamen? but there is one uncovered root that is about an inch long... so I'm hoping the KLN will be able to get to the plant through that?

The other phal, however, is pretty much completely dessicated... no roots at all :( So is this one a complete gonner?

-Kat

Not yet, my :twocents:

Try bagging it with moisture which keeps up the moisture in the plant, and see what happens. If it dies, you were right, but if it grows new roots, won't you feel bad had you "dumped" it?

Thank you so much ray! You are my ray of hope :bowing

I think when I get the KLN I will make a mixture of one teaspoon in a gallon of water, soak the plants in the closet for about an hour, then put them in a bag with some sphag with some of the kln mixture spritzed on and then spritz the plants every few days with a more diluted kln mixture? Sound like a plan?