"bag & spag" details please

[jamesgang]

heiio, i have several new 2"-3" pots of Phals that I have now had in a south window dthat gets a llittle filtered sun and bright light -- not seeing anything as to new growth-- would bag & spag help jump start some these guys ? I want to get some new growth to be able to move them to s/h medium. Jim
PS or.....am I just messing with them to much and I just need to back off and them them be?

[Dorothy]

Here is details on it from Ray's site - Sphag-n-Bag
If the plant already has an established root system and you want to stimulate more roots .. I wouldn't suggest this ..
Many here use KLN to stimulate root growth and can give you advise on it.

[priz_m]

Hey Jim, Ray's instructions helped me bring a phal back to life the little one has grown quite some roots and also a new leaf, I've only used sphag-n-bag as a corrective measure, I don't know if it will help perking your 'chids up, however considering sphag-n-bag is meant to increase the humidity, perhaps you could use a humidifier and see if it will help the root growth. I've used KLN too and it helped, but it goes hand in hand with the sphag-n-bag....

For what I read in other posts there's fellow growers who've had different outcomes on moving phals to s/h without waiting for the 'chid's growth cycle. Some were good, some not so much....

I'll look the posts up to help you decide...

Priz

[priz_m]

There there! the following is a thread I started, and you can read the comments of Ramon and Terri who had different experiences with phals in s/h

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...t-timer-d.html

I truly hope this helps to make your phals grow beautifully!

[jamesgang]

[IMG]IMC_0368.JPG[/IMG] I have now opened the new wing of my orchid hospital thanks to all the great info I am very hopeful that I can save them all! I went off buying these at HD not knowing a good orchid from one near death--I soaked these guys in a lite KLN bath and bagged them! the bags puff up nicely ! need to find my sharpie and date the bags not sure the pic attached correctly so I will try again if not Jim

[Dorothy]

Jim - here are the links to help you post your photos on the OB -
You have to resize your photos first -
Resizing Images...originally posted 6/13/06 by Marty
Thumbnail pics in posts
Gallery Photos
I gave you all 3 to cover all the bases

[quiltergal]

Just to add to the confusion. About 4 weeks ago I transfered a mini Phal with a damaged crown to S/H. It had a very good and extensive root system. In fact I didn't have to trim anything off. It had a few relatively new roots but no newly emerging roots. This plant has done nothing for the last 3 years except grow roots. Since the crown was damaged I wondered if perhaps it was terminal, and I was hoping for a basal Keiki. Last week when I was watering I noticed a new leaf tip peeking out.

I was completely surprised by this reaction. I fully expected to have a similar experience to the one I had with my first Phal transfered to S/H. I kept checking this new transfer for leaf shrivel and signs of rotting roots. I can see some of the old roots through the pot, and not only are they not rotting they're actively growing. Granted I can't see what's going on in the center of the pot, but from the reaction of the plant I'm assuming all is well.

[Ray]

Terri, it may not be so confusing after all.

The tailoring of root cells to the environment is a fact. It is also a fact that moving roots to a different environment affects how well they will work. However, it is a matter of degree.

For example, a phal that has been in a soppy, packed mass of sphagnum will view the S/H environment as an improvement. They're probably already used to constant moisture, and the sudden ability to breathe again will be a relief.

Not all change is stressful!

[quiltergal]

This plant was in coco, and as I said the root system was very healthy. I'm not an overwaterer so the roots appeared to be getting enough air. The coco hadn't degraded at all. So I guess my question is do the old roots always die, or are they occasionally able to make the leap from traditional medium to s/h without massive die off?

On a side note I was looking at this plant this morning when I was watering. There is another new leaf coming up in a different spot. I think this plant may have tried to make a basal Keiki but it came up inside the plant instead of beside it. Right now it looks like it has 2 fully functioning crowns. As if it weren't enough of an oddball it's peloric too.

[Ray]

No, roots do not always die when transplanting, but they will die naturally at some point, which is why the plant grows new ones.