Dying Phal with Keiki

[jmain3]

Hello, I got this mature phal about a month ago and it is not looking good. Is there any hope for the keiki? It has one root... I am worried this plant is dying faster.. It's lost three leaves. Could I try to remove it..I'm not sure what to do. Here are the pictures:

https://plus.google.com/photos/11414...83651974297201

Thank you so much for the help.

[tucker85]

I'm not sure the plant is dying. I see some good roots in the pot. Are there holes in the bottom of that pot? I think I would leave the keiki in place and try repotting the whole thing. If there are good drainage holes in that pot, then take the plant out, cut off any old dead roots, replant it in the same pot with fresh bark or coconut husk chip mix. Let it get almost completely dry between waterings and fertilize with a very light dose once a week or once every two weeks. When the keiki developes more roots you can pot that also.

[jmain3]

Well, all but one of the leaves are yellow and dying... Can an orchid live with just one leaf?

[tucker85]

If it has some good roots it can live with just one leaf. You may be right though, it might be too far gone but I would still try repotting it first and if the last leaf dies, then try potting the keiki. It never hurts to try.

[jmain3]

Yes, I looked at it and I truly believe the orchid is gone. Can I save the keiki? Would it need to be put in a flask or is it far enough to try its own pot?

[camille1585]

The keiki doesn't have any roots (that's a spike), so at this point it would have less of a chance of making it on its own than if it had a few roots. The roots on the mother plant look pretty good, so I'm assuming that that the plant got stem rot, which would explain the yellowing leaves. With any luck the remaining leaves will be spared. I would remove that budded spike though, right now the plant is diverting energy to it, so keiki is probably not developing as fast as it could.

Even if all the leaves die, there is a chance that the roots will continue feeding the spike carrying the keiki.

[orchid623]

Yes, I'd listen to Camille. Even with my limited experience, my gut says to keep the keiki on until it grows its own roots.

[silken]

I agree with the others. I see some good roots in the pot and the keiki does not have enough roots to live on its own. If it hasn't been re-potted yet, it's likely the reason the leaves are yellowing (root rot). I think you should re-pot it as it is likely in soaking wet moss. I don't have much luck going from straight moss to only bark so I mix the two, but whatever works for your conditions is good. A look at the roots and removing excess moss is a priority and you can likely save your whole plant.