Help can I save this phal?

[sweta]

One of my phals is dying. It hasnt been doing great since I repotted it. Lost all its roots except 2 tiny ones which have been hydrating the plant. It hasnt grown any new roots or leaves during this time and now recently it started declining even faster. 3 leaves have started yellowing and it seems to be deteriorating fast. Please help if there is anything I can do to save it!

[estación seca]

What are your temperatures day/night? Humidity? Light? What is it potted in? How are you watering?

It may be salvageable, but it is very likely going to lose more leaves, and may not flower for several years.

I strongly recommend in the future you not cut off any roots when repotting. I can't always tell which are alive or dead. This plant is failing because the existing roots can't support the number of leaves. It is possible you cut off still-functioning roots that might have helped the plant.

To survive the plant needs to be kept in a very warm and humid environment. You can read on OB about the "sphag and bag" method. It involves setting the plant on top of - not potted in - some just barely moist sphagnum inside an enclosure, like a terrarium, jar or plastic bag. The moss should be just moist enough not to be crisp, and not so wet you can feel wetness with your fingers. The warmth and humidity encourage new root growth. When new roots grow the plant can be repotted.

A sticky thread here may help you. From the left yellow menu choose Forums then Beginners. Look near the top for The Phal abuse ends here.

[sweta]

Thank you for your response. I did not cut any roots while repotting but after repotting roots started rotting. I cut the flower spike in order to reduce stress on the plant but still it didnt grow any new roots or leaves. I repotted it in bark medium but later added moss as top layer to promote root growth but I could see no sign of new root growth. I will give a try with sphag-bag method also although I havent had much success with it in the past but I'm ready to do anything to save this phal. Temperatures in our house are usu.ally 70deg F and its pretty dry so not a lot of humidity. But I had put this one on the window sill that is west facing and looks like the afternoon sun rays must have scorched the leaves I keep my orchds on window sill for light but summer light has been too hard on them. I've now moved them to low light area and have growing lights set up.

[estación seca]

Sunburn could also damage leaves. If you could raise the temperature well above 70 F / 21C and put it someplace with much higher humidity it would have a greater chance of survival.

[SouthPark]

Totally agree with ES.

Also ----- how long has that orchid been growing for roughly in that spot?

Also - some nice information relating to phals can be found at this link here.

[sweta]

Sadly the poor orchid died It had stem rot which was hidden underneath the leaf sheaths. And the rot was pretty deep, when I tried to cut away the dead tissues the leaves fell apart

[SADE2020]

Just go and get a new one you really like and enjoy it!

[estación seca]

Sorry to hear that.

Instead of another Phal, consider a different kind of orchid, one better adapted to your temperature and light conditions. Many Oncidium hybrids would do well for you.

[sweta]

Thank you all, I really want to get different type of orchid but we dont get other varieties here anymore. Earlier TJs used to carry orher varieties but for some reason they've stopped. Now only phals are available. I really want to get sharry baby this time but its expensive to order online. TJs used to sell them at a reasonable price.

[Phalaenoptics]

Originally Posted by SADE2020

Just go and get a new one you really like and enjoy it!

I really like this attitude, because it's reassuring for us newbies that sometimes in the course of learning, you will have failures. And you can...just get another one.

@sweta, I also live in a cooler climate (Northeast US - although right now it's hot and humid!!) and I'm learning how to adjust for that. I believe it's possible to grow phals and even have them do very well, especially since the Trader Joe's hybrids they sell here seem to be bred for hardiness. My mom, who knows nothing about orchid care, has been keeping them for years and they respike and rebloom and put out new leaves for her year after year.

I think my go-to resource is the "Here But Not" blog though, since he is in a climate that is similar to mine.


Not to discount any other advice, of course! I would also love to get some oncidiums, but I feel like I should level up in my orchid and plant experience first before I spend big bucks on a special order orchid 😭