Small Success - Orchid Board

quiltergal · #1 07-08-2007, 10:37 AM

Just wanted to report that the phal I repotted into s/h a while back has decided to live after all. I pulled it out of the pot a couple weeks ago and trimmed off all the rotted roots which left it with about 2 viable roots. I was sceptical about it's survival at that point but kept up with the watering and feeding for the subsequent two weeks. Yesterday when I went to water I noticed not only a new leaf but a new baby root as well!

I did the same thing with my Lc. last week. It's starting to send out new baby roots so I'm hoping they'll both be survivors.

Let my experience be a lesson to anyone considering s/h for the first time. Wait for new root growth before you repot! You might not be as lucky as I was.

cb977 · #2 07-08-2007, 11:03 AM

Congrats, Terri!

Becca · #3 07-08-2007, 11:47 AM

Terri,
When you put your phal into the s/h without new root growth, did it go through the limp leaf stages and then bounce back? How long did it take it to bounce back if so? I tried this out as well with a phal that did not have new root growth....I freaked out and put it into some moss....one leaf is soft, but not limp, and two other leaves are limp and soft, kinda wilted looking. It has been a few weeks since I put it back into moss...I should have just left it I guess, but like I said I freaked out

Congrats on your success!

quiltergal · #4 07-17-2007, 03:03 AM

Becca, sorry for the late reply, but I was out of town last week. The leaves did (and still are) limp, soft and just a tad wrinkled. The new one is not. It is just the way you'd want a phal leaf to look. I have a feeling those leaves will never bounce back but merely hang on until the new leaves & roots are able to fully support the needs of the plant.

mojomick · #5 07-23-2007, 07:01 PM

I have several phals that went through the limp leaf stage. i was almost ready to throw them out and decided to just wait. I now have new growth and the old leaves eventually dried up and fell off. The plant now looks healthy and has lots of roots. So the moral of the story is to wait, wait and wait some more. Mojo

justatypn · #6 07-23-2007, 07:13 PM

Love the success story Terri, it's always a great feel of direction when you can bring what we once thought was dying, but now it provides us with growing strength

quiltergal · #7 07-23-2007, 08:52 PM

No kidding Cheryl. You should have seen me doing the happy dance around the kitchen when I spotted that baby leaf.

quiltergal · #8 07-23-2007, 10:09 PM

Here are a couple of pics of the recovering Phal. Check out the new root.

justatypn · #9 07-23-2007, 10:21 PM

Way to go...excellent, you should be dancing around.
Something to be very proud of.....

Buds! · #10 07-24-2007, 02:42 AM

Hi Terri,
Congrats!

Your story is an inspiration!
This board is just the best!

By the way, I used an African Violet as a guinea pig to try out s/h. It has only been 2 days, so far so good.
I can see why it can be quite a 'shock' for plants going from traditional potting medium to s/h.