Phal crown rot remedy with S/H
Hello,
I have just joined this forum and had some time to browse though several postings. I have to say, I am overwhelmed how helpful everyone is. This is a very positive community and I am so glad I joined.
I am hoping I would get some suggestions to my sickly phal. I will try to be short, but here is a history of my orchid.
I got this healthy NoID phal in late 2009 at a local COSTCO. I think this phal resembles Sogo F-1138 but I can't be sure. In any case, the plant bloomed for 6 months and I thought I was doing good.
Once it stopped blooming, I cut the spike half way and left the plant on the windowsill in hopes for more blooms. Instead, the plant started growing a new leaf. After few months of growth, I noticed the leaf never opened up but stayed in a closed funnel shape. I repotted phal into sphagnum moss and started researching for leaf deformity. I got some very good suggestions and instructions from "orchidhelp" mail list to cut the leaf to open it up, so I did. It was also suggested that the orchid wasn't getting enough light, but that's another problem.
Few days later, I noticed the bottom leaf yellowing. At first I thought it's just shedding its old leaf; however the leaf drastically started getting worse, changed color to brown.
After reading more info on the orchids, I concluded it must be crown rot. I un-potted the orchid and sure enough it was. I realized my problem: in my inexperience, I packed moss way too dense and it probably been soggy for weeks. I cut the leaf off and gently scraped remaining rot as much as possible. I poured some hydrogen peroxide (3%) on the wound and dusted it with cinnamon. I wrung out moss, potted phal back (I removed half the volume of moss) and bagged it. It has been two weeks and it appears to be doing OK. It is tough to say if it is growing any new roots.
At this moment, I am wondering if putting this orchid in S/H would do it any good. I read all the wonderful things about S/H and can't help but think it will be a magical remedy. I have been monitoring phal's moisture levels in the bag, but I am afraid to take it out and water it. This is my first orchid; I have few later additions, but I am very much attached to this one. I really want this little one to survive. Any suggestions?
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