so many questions!!! - Orchid Board

Wrebbitrocks · #1 (**permalink**) 10-30-2009, 02:17 AM

ok my mom moved this following plant from one part of my living room to another. to my regret and all the blooms shriveled and fell off. so i unpotted my phal baldans kaleidoscope 'golden treasure' from spagh and it had a mass of rotting roots. i cut all of them off and was left with a few dying looking things. i dont have any fresh spagh or a pot so im putting it in a vase. the leaves feel a little limp but the whole plant looks healthy still. its plump and i see the beginnings of a new leaf in the center. its been in the vase for like 5 days now and idk of itl do good and i dont want to lose it. the roots are broken in several plaves where theres black mush but smaller segments of helthy root attached together by the center filament. are they still helping the plant even though they aren't attached to the plant with root just that cord thing in the center? the leaves have some small blister looking things. whats the cause? im afraid that the vase is getting too cold and might hurt the plant. when i touch the leaves theyre super cold. plus its alone in the living room without humidity or heat. is that bad? how do i cure the roots and get rid of the rotten sections so that i can maybe repot it(hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, mouthwash?) its wierd how the moss in the center of the root mass(i found like 5 layers of different mosses still condensed in the shape of the previous pots where im assuming the grower dropped on the plant)was fresher than the outside moss. oh yeah, i left the spikes on it beacause one of the nodes seemed promising but seeing as how its being stressed out right now, should i cut them off so the plant concentrates on growing? my three phals including the one above havent grown ANY new roots. they just have the same ones they came with. why is this? the other two(dtps. i-hsin sun beauty and dtps. shih hua gold) are in bark. the third (baldan)is the one i wrote about above.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #2 (**permalink**) 10-30-2009, 05:08 AM

Please organize and abbreviate your questions so that people want to read them.

Writing one big paragraph has a tendency to put people off from even wanting to read it to begin with.

It also makes it difficult to find questions and answer them.

It would be cool if you could break the large paragraph up into smaller paragraphs.

Thank you.

Dorothy · #3 (**permalink**) 10-30-2009, 10:03 AM

I think Wrebb was on a roll when writing this .. but I agree with King that it's difficult to read .. you can edit and change it if you wish to ... it would make it more desirable to read ..

Bird Song Farm · #4 (**permalink**) 10-30-2009, 10:47 AM

Could you post a picture of your Phal. Kaliedascope? I'd like to help and a picture would really make it easier.

Re your watering of the phal. If it was in moss (I think I got this from your post) watering it twice a week was the reason for root rot. You might be able to save it but I really need a picture of the area (roots) and where they join the plant.

I can't help you with your Dens. You might want to post your question(s) in the Den. forum.

AL

Doc G · #5 (**permalink**) 10-31-2009, 01:58 AM

I agree that your post is a little overwhelming.

Here are a couple quick answers. Humidity trays are good, or useful, especially if you are only counting on misting for humidity. In order to grow properly, orchids need the correct balance of light, temp, water, humidity and food. Some orchids may need little extras for blooming such as a resting period or a temp change from day to night.

Overwatering is probably the killer of the most orchids. Your Phal. in moss mixed with the lower temps is a recipe for rot.

Some Dendrobiums will produce keikis instead of flowers when overwatered.

A final suggestion. If you have gained any info that you wanted from these posts, do a follow-up post in this thread, restating the questions you still have.
Take heart, everyone wants to help.

Wrebbitrocks · #6 (**permalink**) 10-31-2009, 04:13 AM

im sorry. i tried to fix it then something happened and it didnt save my edits so all my work is lost. i'l retry later. anyways sorry for the confusion. i meant that the baldan phal got watered every other week not twice a week. il fix it later

trdyl · #7 (**permalink**) 10-31-2009, 05:06 AM

Wrebbitrocks, When editing it is best to first type it up in a document file then copy the text over. The site has timed my session out so many times that I have learned to do this.

Singingirl96 · #8 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 01:13 AM

You don't really expect people to read this do you?

Wrebbitrocks · #9 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 01:59 AM

no. i dont. i see that its too big a document and thanks for the tip. i will do that next time

WhiteRabbit · #10 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrebbitrocks

no. i dont. i see that its too big a document and thanks for the tip. i will do that next time

No worries! Lots of thoughts and questions - and you are looking for help.
I haven't had a lot of success with phals *sigh* I did mount a couple a few months ago - and both started growing new roots quite quickly - so that may be an option to consider.
I am sure some more successful growers will chime in.
good luck and don't be afraid to ask questions.