Plant in Semi-Hydro Going Down Fast...

[WaterWitchin]

First, please quit changing the medium it's growing in. Choose one, and stick with it. Each time you change how you're growing it, it weakens the root structure. Roots grown in bark, roots grown in sphag, roots grown in semi-hydro, now back to bark... not good, especially on an ailing plant.

Were it mine, I'd get those rotten leaves peeled off of it, and see if the bottom of the crown is rotted. If it is, there's not a whole lot of hope. It looks like you might have two viable leaves, unless the base of them is also rotted?

Does it have viable roots at all? If not, I'd be doing some sort of sphag and bag method on it. Put in a glass or plastic "something" and cover most of top of the vessel? A cloche? When it gets some viable roots, choose a medium and stick with it.

Please don't take this as being harsh... I just don't know how else to put it.

[bogdan]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

First, please quit changing the medium it's growing in. Choose one, and stick with it.

Pretty sure this is a trait observed on Youtube where those abusers are trying to cover a wide range of audience.

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by bogdan

Pretty sure this is a trait observed on Youtube where those abusers are trying to cover a wide range of audience.

Among other things... agreed.

[PlumCrazy]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

First, please quit changing the medium it's growing in. Choose one, and stick with it.

I have been kicking myself for taking it out of the spag. After 3 years it FINALLY had some growth, so I should have just let him be happy in there! It was the fact that I wanted to put him in my case that did him in, i.e. vanity. Didn’t want fungus gnats in the case. As I’ve learned, the case will be too humid for him anyway, but I’ve found a home for him in my office now where I can enjoy him.

DityCoconuts – When it was infested, I’d been using toothpicks to get in there kill the bugs by stabbing them/ opening the leaves to pour in alcohol, but hadn’t thought about wedging the leaves open more permanently by placing them horizontally. I think I may try that *steady hands, steady hands* if it needs further drying out.

The good news is, as of right now, it looks like those remaining two leaves have not started rotting yet. It does have some roots at this point (the spag did help with that) and when I was transplanting him this morning, I even saw a tiny little nub of a new root forming.

Question: should I put it back in the spag then? I really am listening about not changing the medium, but this is in one day, so I think it’s a little different. If I do, I promise I will let him settle in

[estación seca]

No, don't repot it now! Leave it alone for a while. Paphs don't care what the potting mix is. Water so the roots never go dry. The coconut fiber may retain water for quite a while, or you may need to water every other day. I can't predict that.

Make sure the heating mat doesn't get too hot. Put a thermometer down into the bottom of the pot to check.

[PlumCrazy]

Ok. The little guys is still alive. I've been letting him sit on a heating mat since August. What can I do to get him growing again, or should I let him be until spring? He does seem to have a few new roots growing. I dare not move the potting medium to see exactly what is going on.

No new leaf growth. No fungus gnats. No mealy bugs in the entire house

[lithic]

I know this is late, it might help someone else with the same symptoms. Use an eyedropper or a pipette with a squeeze bulb. Add a few drops of Physan 20 to the area of rot. I use it on my Phalaenopsis, Catts, Brasso's, Phaps and Catasetum when I have a problem.

It will kill the fungus and disinfect the plant and medium. It will not hurt the plant. You can also add 1 tsp. to a gallon of water with your fertilizer and water your plants with it once a month as a preventative. I use it on both semi-hydro and the phals I have in moss. I usually wait until spring so I have root and leaf growth before repotting into semi hydro. I grow under lights. Hope this helps.

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by PlumCrazy

I have been kicking myself for taking it out of the spag. After 3 years it FINALLY had some growth, so I should have just let him be happy in there! It was the fact that I wanted to put him in my case that did him in, i.e. vanity. Didn’t want fungus gnats in the case. As I’ve learned, the case will be too humid for him anyway, but I’ve found a home for him in my office now where I can enjoy him.

DityCoconuts – When it was infested, I’d been using toothpicks to get in there kill the bugs by stabbing them/ opening the leaves to pour in alcohol, but hadn’t thought about wedging the leaves open more permanently by placing them horizontally. I think I may try that *steady hands, steady hands* if it needs further drying out.

The good news is, as of right now, it looks like those remaining two leaves have not started rotting yet. It does have some roots at this point (the spag did help with that) and when I was transplanting him this morning, I even saw a tiny little nub of a new root forming.

Question: should I put it back in the spag then? I really am listening about not changing the medium, but this is in one day, so I think it’s a little different. If I do, I promise I will let him settle in

You should put it into whatever medium YOU are most comfortable growing it in. If it was working in spagh, and that's where you were seeing improvement, yes, please put it back in spagh. I realize it's only been repotted for a day, so no harm, no foul.

Yes, I thought DC's schooching a toothpick in there for air flow was a great idea. I've used toothpicks to get alcohol down into Tolumnia, Brass, etc, by opening it up while spraying... but the air flow thing is a good idea. That's why I said remove the leaves that are rotten to base. All they're gonna do is keep rotting, and hopefully not start in on the leaf next to it. So remove or toothpick. And let us know how it goes!