When will you see sign of recovery after repot?

[tsun1108]

So, I was given one little flowering phalaenopsis from a friend as she is moving but it turns out to be more a rescue mission to be honest...

When I received it, it's potted in a bark medium in a clear plastic pot, sitting inside a terracotta pot. BUT INSIDE A PUDDLE OF WATER!!! My friend probably didn't know you need to tip the terracotta pot dry! So, the bottom part of the medium has decomposted and I can see some root rot.

This is what I have done for the poor thing (sorry I was in a state of hurry and didn't take photographs!)
1) Repot on 12.01.13
2) Approximately 1/3 of the roots had been bad - brown and mushy (no black or moldy ones thankfully). I cut these away with sterilised scissors (washed in bleach and then ran the blade over flame for 30sec)
3) Spinkle some cinnamon powder over the cut
4) Repot into new coarse bark medium (which was presoaked overnight with distilled water). I stuck some of the bottom aerial root into the medium too.
5) I also cut the flowering spike and one of the yellowed withered leaf

I repotted in a clear pot (which I can just fit all of the older root and some of the aerial root) so I can keep an eye on the moist level and root status.

Initially I stuck a wooden skewer inside the pot, then I noticed that there were white spot on the skewer. Worrying that it may be mold, I threw away the skewer, checked the medium which was fine but decided to treat with 3% hydrogen peroxide by immersing half of the pot into the solution for 5 minutes (there was alot of fizzing!).

Let it drain and only watered once when I see no condensation inside the pot and the roots were looking less green.

Now my question being, when would you expect to see sign of recovery / improvement usually after repotting?

So far, it hasn't deteriorated further but it hasn't shown any signs of recovery like new root or new leaf - or am I being too impatient?

[euplusia]

From your description it reads that you are on a good way. Orchids teach you to be patient. They grow and die slowly in most cases.
I would exspect first signs of recovery like green root tips, water uptake and a new leave within a month or two. The next spike and flowers within one year.
Good luck!

[silken]

I agree, things will take a while. I find my Phals grow fairly slowly anyways and it will likely just sit and adjust for a while. It sounds like you have done everything you can. Come fall, I like to chill my Phals for a few weeks which usually induces a bloom spike but let them have good light at that time also.

[Silje]

I had this huge repotting and fiddling day on Christmas Day last year. I know...weird timing, but still...the good thing is, it's an easy date to remember. Don't even have to make a note of it.

Ok, you and I are both on the southern hemisphere and we're in the middle of summer and peak growth time so this is the time of the year when my phalaenopsis go crazy! They grow roots and new leaves and they spike all at the same time.

My point it, this time of the year, you should be able to see new, green (or purple/silver) tips on the roots pretty quick. In my case it took about a week this time.

That said...I think orchids are like people. They all have their own personality and characteristics. Some are quick, some are slow. Some are happy and some just sulk over nothing at all.

I'm not sure there is much more you can do. It should come around pretty soon.

Good luck.

[tsun1108]

Thanks for the reassurance.

I can't seem to see the root tips - they are hidden inside the bark but the bits and pieces that I can see between bark medium seems unchanged and still green and healthy.

Since repotting we had a bit of cool summer like max 25 degrees Celsius with rain.

I guess I will wait patiently and hopefully once it gets over the shock of repotting will give me some green leaf!

[tsun1108]

I assume growing new leaf after repotting is a sign of recovery?!

Can't see any root yet.

Would this be a good time to start fertilising?

I didn't fertilise initially after repotting because I want my plant to have a little break and some rest.

[Ordphien]

A new leaf is normally a sign that the phal is happy..
I normally don't relax with my phals until I see new growth.
And since the roots are hidden in my pots that's normally when a leaf starts growing.
And it looks pretty happy in the picture to me.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

[Oscarman]

I would not start to fertilize until you see evidence of new root growth. Once that leaf starts to emerge you should see some root growth. It looks like it is doing OK so far.

FYI, in an attempt to prevent water from collecting in the crown of the plant, I try to pot all my Phals at an angle in the pot - more like in nature with leaves hanging down off the side of a branch.

[tsun1108]

It's definitely slightly slanted rather than straight, it might be the angle I was taking the photos.

And I make sure whenever I water it, I water from the side of the bark and if I splattered any water onto the crown they get absorbed up with tissue paper.

Although how do I know whether there is any new root growth? I mean I can see the old root from the clear pot looking good and green...

I guess pulling it out of medium to check is not feasible......

[Paul Mc]

New roots come from the base of the plant and they can be a good sign. Do you see any little nubs around the base as if a root is wanting to break out?

As for roots inside the pot, that's why I use clear pots. To me, it makes it easy to look at the root tips to determine if they are actively growing or have stunted.