phal help!! - Orchid Board

aries23 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 09:35 PM

might have cut off too many roots that i thought were bad but were not. phal had 4 beautiful green long leaves. one of the lower ones just came off. I put some cin powder on the parts that didnt look good. i think the fertilizer consistancy was too strong even thou i followed directions. I think she got fertilizer burn.? I cleaned her up again and the other leaf. pieced some styofoam and used a bit of moss and put them in my bathroom so hopefully this works. and i did rinse the powdered rooting hormone off as well and will not use it! I hope she will root. I saw on my other post a suggestion of pumice powder dont know where to purchase it locally not online so can not use this , mayb ill try the willow idea. I will post pix when i can.

quiltergal · #2 (**permalink**) 10-10-2009, 11:09 PM

I thought your Phal had 3-4 good roots left? Sometimes the more you mess with them the worse they get. If it still has any roots left, plant it and then leave it alone. You will loose some leaves for sure because the roots system isn't big enough to keep them all alive. Eventually you will start to see some new roots growing. Just be patient and let the plant do it's thing.

johnblagg · #3 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 07:26 AM

why are you opposed to rooting hormone powder?

Willow water would be pretty much the same thing only with a bigger chance of fungal or bactierial contamination.

I dont understand the aversion to rooting hormones....Please explain

RosieC · #4 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 02:41 PM

Many people here use rooting hormone liquids such as KLN, but my understanding is that the powders do not work on orchids.

I think although I could have mis-understood this, that the powders are too strong for orchids, and being too strong they actually inhibit rooting rather than encorage it.

quiltergal · #5 (**permalink**) 10-11-2009, 05:08 PM

Rooting hormone powders are intended for woody plants, not orchids. KLN or Superthrive are fine to use. Aries is trying too many things at once to try and save this plant, and may actually be making it harder for the it to recover. Cinnamon, fertilizer, rooting hormone powder, pumice powder, willow water.......there are just too many things for the plant to deal with at one time.

aries23 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-12-2009, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quiltergal

Rooting hormone powders are intended for woody plants, not orchids. KLN or Superthrive are fine to use. Aries is trying too many things at once to try and save this plant, and may actually be making it harder for the it to recover. Cinnamon, fertilizer, rooting hormone powder, pumice powder, willow water.......there are just too many things for the plant to deal with at one time.

Yes , I have learned my lesson .. no more rooting hormone, just weak fertilizer weekly for three weeks then flush!!! no more repotting. I will just put them in the shower for misting and them leave them be!!