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How deep can I plant this Phal?

Discussion in 'Issues, Disease and Pests' started by Chalti, Apr 15, 2021.

  1. Chalti

    Chalti Member

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    Hi forum!
    I am struggling very much with my very first orchid, that of course, went through total roots loss, since I had no clue what to do with it. Since it is first orchid in my collection, I am trying very hard to keep it alive, but the picture is sad for now. My question is: how deep i can plant it into the media? It lost quite a lot of leaves on the bottom, and now I have naked stem with several roots sticking up in the air. Can I plant it deeper, so these roots can go into the media and be useful in hydrating the orchid? right now it has exactly one root in the media, and it is not enough. I am worried about potential rotting of the stem, it will definitely not survive it ..
    16185063629504385745914765353070.jpg
     
  2. The Orchidomaniac

    The Orchidomaniac Active Member

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    Idk... Mist the roots until they start actively growing, then cut off the top part and pot it? I'm not very good with phals. Good luck; if it doesn't make it, don't feel bad, as most of us have killed more plants than we can count.
     
  3. KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Chalti, welcome to the forum.

    Your plant is extremely dehydrated and you need to act soon.

    How often do you water and how do you water?
    Does your pot have good drainage?
    Is the one root in the medium shriveled and dry, mushy and dark, or plump and white?
    Have you ever repotted this plant or is this the way you bought it?

    The answers to those questions will help someone help you better.

    Even without knowing the answers, I would take it out of the pot and place it in water with all roots submerged. Leave it in the water at least overnight to help it get rehydrated.

    With more information one of us should be able to help.

    BTW, looks like you have at least one spike forming.
     
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  4. J E

    J E Jaime Escobedo

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    It looks like a Keiki with 2 other growths that could be spikes or Keikis. If they turn out to be spikes you should remove them to divert energy into saving the plant.
     
  5. The Orchidomaniac

    The Orchidomaniac Active Member

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    I'm not sure about that... they look like keikis, probably an attempt at self-perpetuation. Dying orchids will put out flowering spikes that have some of the biggest flowers I've seen in a last attempt at setting seed.
     
  6. J E

    J E Jaime Escobedo

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    Yes I agree they're more likely Keikis but 2 are still small in the photo so in the chance I'm wrong and they are spikes i stated they should be cut to attempt saving the plant.
     
  7. Chalti

    Chalti Member

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    Thank you for the replies! The root in the media is not alive any more... I did replant the orchid deeper now, so the dead root is removed, greener roots are a bit deepened in the media, but I just put the bark around them: they have always been out in the air, sk I am not sure how they would take more water- keeping media. This bark around the roots dries very fast though.. I run a bit of water through it almost every day now. But plant is getting worse. Should I try to fill the pot with water and keep it like this for a couple of hours?
    To answer the questions: the plant was a present 4 years ago, it is my first orchid. So it is my subject to every possible mistake and error :( Normally I keep phals in bark (watering with soaking for ca. 10 min) or mix of bark and little bit of sphagnum.
    Now I reported this orchid in the bark with a bit of sphagnum, but no sphagnum around the roots. Leaves started to yellow now, it doesn't look good... And yes, it is a little keiki, with no roots. The little flower spike is not growing, it froze the way it is. If it starts growing, then i am definitely cutting it off.
    Any suggestions what else I can do?
     

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  8. The Orchidomaniac

    The Orchidomaniac Active Member

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    idk, try potting it in just sphagnum.
    You can give it crushed B-complex vitamins in water to relieve stress
    Your best bet is that keiki. I doubt the main plant will survive. It will put all its energy into that keiki in a desperate attempt to propagate itself. Remember, you aren't the only one trying to save that plant; orchids try to save themselves too!
     
  9. Chalti

    Chalti Member

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    forgot to answer some of the questions: pot has side ventilation holes and bottom drainage, but top, where the roots are, dries a lot faster than bottom, but there are no roots on that "bottom", so I don't care about it now. Pot was chosen this size to fit the wide roots that are not flexible at all...
     
  10. Chalti

    Chalti Member

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    Thanks for the advice! How do I do it? proportions?
     
  11. The Orchidomaniac

    The Orchidomaniac Active Member

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    ah, i just wing it. the water should be kinda yellow
     
  12. Chalti

    Chalti Member

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    so you take any vitamin-B complex and dissolve pills in water until it is yellow? And the soak plant in it of just run through the pot?
     
  13. The Orchidomaniac

    The Orchidomaniac Active Member

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    soak the plant. the pill should only have b vitamins
     
  14. Chalti

    Chalti Member

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    Uodate: I can see new roots starting on this one! very exciting! 20210430_094631.jpg
    Plus another good news for me: I have a phal that has stem rot and all that I was able to save were top 2 leaves. I read that in this case the orchid has no stem left, so it has nothing to grow roots from, but it doesn't hurt to try, right?... and today, after almost half a year, see what I notice: 20210428_063415.jpg

    Let's hope :)
     
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  15. The Orchidomaniac

    The Orchidomaniac Active Member

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    Good luck
     
  16. Chalti

    Chalti Member

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    thanks
     
  17. Chalti

    Chalti Member

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    Just an update: orchid seems to start to recover, two remaining leaves are quite hard now, and it is shooting several keiki... so far so good: 20210617_212256.jpg 20210617_212304.jpg

    Plus the one with two leaves and small root tips, from the previous message, looks like this now:
    20210527_064206.jpg
    it is a good feeling when things go the way you want them too :)
     
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