Saving a Phrag and a Phal in S/H
 

Hi All,
I work at a Botanical Garden and the greenhouse keeper refuses to give "special" treatment to any particular plants. Needless to say 1) The orchids all look like hell salted over and 2) he won't be caring for the gh's much longer. Anyway, I brought home a Phalaenopsis keiki that was still alive despite the mother being a pile of mush/muck; though the cane had fallen over and laid on the screen bench for who knows how long and a new Phragmipedium division that was a last ditch effort to survive. The Phal keiki has roots trailing in excess of 6" but there are 2 distinct rosettes and they both were terribly wilted, wrinkled, you name it........pretty poor health. The Phrag. division looks healthy enough but there are no roots on it. The stock plant again was in a state of liquification. So far the Phal looks much better than the day I brought it home but the Phrag. hasn't changed much. I'm not counting my chickens but I might be able to save them. Any comments or advice are helpful.

Take care,
Joe

I'm certainly no expert on s/h. I just re-potted 5 of my six 'chids into semi last week. But I have read a bunch of smart posts from smart members in this forum. It sounds like the most important thing to keep in mind when moving plants to s/h is new active/new root growth. Most people, if there is not any new root growth, will do a Spahg-n-bag, or a variation of it, until they have some new viable roots and then make the move. Seems like the new roots "take" better to the change in medium.

Your Phal looks like it should do fine. The roots look pretty healthy to me. I think that the Phrag would really benefit from some time in a bag. Might get some root action going. Good job on rescuing them anyways, And good luck on the recovery!! I hate the waiting though! Post pictures of your success (hopefully)

I had forgotten about bagging the Phrag for some root action. If I still show nothing in another week I might just do that.

BTW, these have been in the S/H for 1 week this past Saturday.

Thanks

I would put a bag over the SH pot with the Phrag in it. Does not have to be closed around it. This will create an local area of high humidity and help balance the moisture the plant is losing from the leaves with what it can take up as it develops new roots. Some rooting hormone and a systemic fungicide as a preventative (not physan) may also help.