What should be my next steps with this phal? - Orchid Board

stylingpat · #1 01-06-2014, 09:46 AM

I've got a phal that suffered major root rot! I soaked it in Physan for 15 mins then cut off all the dead roots and soaked again for another 10 mins. Then I treated all the open cuts with cinnamon and soaked the new potting mix in the Physan solution.

Now the plant is in sub-dued light on a heat mat in its new potting mix which is a very open med-large fir bark with styrofoam peanuts chopped up for aeration. The pot has all air ventilation around it. With a light fan moving air from the other side of the room for my whole grow table. I am VERY excited about this new potting mix for me. I am a 'busy bee' with my orchids so the mix drying out faster then normal isnt a concern.

My biggest concern now with the future of my small collection is having the roots breathe!!

Orchids were originally put into pots because when they were first being discovered and loved they were being brought back to Europe! There's like 2% Humidity over there!

I live in the south and travel from Louisiana down to Florida. I will never have a problem with humidity! Anyways just ranting, VERY excited about my collection and my personal growing ability!

So moving on!

This phal is going to bounce back. I've had it for years and it was my first one! It is such a trooper, you guys got no idea! It was trying to bloom when the roots were turning bad! I said nope! Pinched it and said you need to focus on growing right now!

So its been in its new pot and mix for 2 days now. It was ready for water last night but I wanted to wait and let the cinnamon seal up some more and let everything dry a little more since we delt with rot.

So today its timing for a soaking.

My question about the whole post is..

Should I give it just plain water w/ 1 tsp of Physan just as preventive and then next time just plain water?

Or should I skip the Physan because everything looks good? And go ahead with plain water and 1 drop of Super thrive?

Or just plain water for now?

I plan on keeping it under my grow table on the heat mat for 1-2 weeks depending on how it reacts but everything is looking good. Ive repotted a rotted phal before and over night it was telling me AGHHHH IM DYING lol. This guy is telling me "I got this lol"

He still has 1-3 small 1 1/2 inch roots sealed up on the ends with cinnamon

I think this is going to be my magic mix! I still am going to use my current mix of 1/2 Orchiata + 1/2 Lava Rock all same size with some of my plants. But something about this mix gets me very excited!

Optimist · #2 01-06-2014, 01:21 PM

You live in the south and have no problem with humidity. Why are your orchid roots in bark at all? They should be out drinking up that humidity with their roots. I would think the combination of high humidity and also watering would mean the poor roots would never get any air.

Why not just put them out like a vanda? Have you tried that? If anything you can drape a bit of Spanish moss over the roots.

(Example: This is an experiment I started recently)

Phal mounted on cork with roots out. In this case the roots are on a large piece of wood. When the wood is soaked it will hold moisture and then gradually dry. When the cork is dry to the touch, re-soak it again. How to soak? Use a plastic container that the cork fits into. Put enough water to barley hit the line where the roots and leaves meet, never touching the crown of the plant with water. You can put your superthrive or fert to the correct very weak solution in the water before dunking.

stylingpat · #3 01-06-2014, 01:35 PM

They are inside in now because of winter! Its 30 degrees right now and going to be 19 degrees tonight lol!

Thats a nice phal you got there!

Optimist · #4 01-06-2014, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stylingpat

They are inside in now because of winter! Its 30 degrees right now and going to be 19 degrees tonight lol!

Thats a nice phal you got there!

Oops I forgot!
Funny. Yeah, it got to minus 9 here last night. I hear the south is being hard hit. I am not a phal fan. I don't like monopodial orchids. Give me something with a bulb!

Polarizeme · #5 01-06-2014, 11:30 PM

Just make sure your Phal gets plenty of water. you may want to give it seaweed mixed in the water to stimulate root growth. You should avoid getting cinnamon on the roots, it stops the roots from growing/damages them.

Try not to "over fuss" Let the plant get it's roots back under it. It's going to take time.

stylingpat · #6 01-07-2014, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polarizeme

Just make sure your Phal gets plenty of water. you may want to give it seaweed mixed in the water to stimulate root growth. You should avoid getting cinnamon on the roots, it stops the roots from growing/damages them.

Try not to "over fuss" Let the plant get it's roots back under it. It's going to take time.

Fantastic! Thats what I keep telling my self. Dont 'over fuss', let the plant bounce back.

But should I 'let back' on the watering just a tad since its in super cold right now and the plants metabolism is very slow?

Brooke · #7 01-07-2014, 02:10 PM

Is your house heated and is the Phal getting the appropriate light inside the house?

If you answer yes, then it doesn't know what the temps are outside, only what the surrounding air and light it receives.

I never change what I do for an orchid after repotting. It goes back on the table and when it needs water, it gets watered.

Brooke

stylingpat · #8 01-07-2014, 07:10 PM

The house is heated but its definitely colder in the house. In the 60s instead of the 70s

Polarizeme · #9 01-07-2014, 10:50 PM

If it's cooler in the house, then it stands to reason that the medium won't dry as fast, right?

Just make sure that the small roots that are left are getting the moisture, not just the medium. Check the weight of the watered plant, as it gets lighter it will be ready for water. Use your good judgement.