Help: Phalaenopsis, No Leaves, Rotten Crown, Poor Roots, Leaves Budding in Stem? - Orchid Board

KristofferNgo · #1 03-01-2021, 09:16 AM

Hi

I am new in the orchid world. The person who was great in taking care of the orchid left the orchid in care of another person, but the other person wasn't able to take care of it well. I am now the new owner of the orchid. Since I bought an orchid myself recently (phalaenopsis as well), I'd like to take on the challenge. The crown is rotten, the last leaf is wilting, and the roots are in poor condition. A lot of the roots are rotten and have no outer covering, maybe due to over/underwatering and too much fertilizer! Its previous medium were bark and egg shells. The shells were never removed. I assume the orchid is still alive because it's growing two buds made out of leaves from the flower stem. May I know 1.) how to revive the orchid and 2.) what do I do with the leaves growing from the stem?

I'm planning to use hydrogen peroxide on the crown to heal it. Good idea? How do I revive the crown? Thank you.

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---------- Post added at 10:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:45 PM ----------

After doing some research, I realized that the 2 buds are keikis. I guess I'll just cut the keikis and repot them after they grow in considerable size and form roots of their own while on the stem. However, can the mother plant still be revived? Any suggestions on how to treat the crown rot and any other useful tips to help it become healthy again? I assume it's still alive because it has the energy to produce 2 keikis...

realoldbeachbum · #2 03-01-2021, 10:36 AM

Welcome to the OB! I am a newbie to orchids as well so really can't help you here. Just so you know, though, you have found the right place for great orchid guidance. These folks KNOW orchids! They have saved mine many times.

One of the experts will reply soon, I am sure. If you have a close-up pic, that will help them tremendously

Roberta · #3 03-01-2021, 12:08 PM

First, Welcome!
I think that the original plant is done, but hopefully it has enough strength left to nourish the keikis (actually, basal growths) until they are big enough to take over. I'd suggest not removing them... one of the ways a Phalaenopsis can propagate is to make basal growths- if it succeeds, both can flower and make a very nice display. The bad roots can still get water to the plant (if inefficiently) so don't cut. I strongly suspect overwatering. If they develop, the basal growths will grow new roots, so at this point, just try to keep it going. If you are able to rescue it, a great triumph. If not, a good learning experience.

Dollythehun · #4 03-01-2021, 12:35 PM

NO peroxide!

KristofferNgo · #5 03-01-2021, 01:04 PM

@realoldbeachbum: Thank you for the welcome and reassurance. Unfortunately, I don't, but will take note just in case.

@Roberta: Thank you for the welcome and thank you very much for your pieces of advice. I will definitely keep taking care of the plant until the basal growths form roots. What is the difference b/w basal growth and keiki? Also, do you think it's advisable to keep on taking care of the plant after I replant the basal growths upon maturity? Just to see the mother plant is still alive?

@Dollythehun: why don't you recommedn hydrogen peroxide (3% only) to cure the rot on the crown? Application will be to apply a small amount then wipe it off gently and cleanly with tissue paper or cloth after 10 minutes?

Dollythehun · #6 03-01-2021, 01:49 PM

I know you think you will be extremely careful. However any peroxide on roots harms the root hairs. It's best not to even use it rather than have any risk. Of course this is my opinion and it's worth what you just paid for it.

Roberta · #7 03-01-2021, 02:09 PM

I agree with Dollythehun with regard to peroxide. It isn't going to cure the crown that is already gone, and if it gets on roots it will damage them. (While none of the roots are wonderful, you need to preserve any root function that you still have.)

So for now, fresh medium (whatever works for you... I like small bark but some people like sphagnum) , water it before it becomes completely dry. The goal is "humid air" rather than "wet" in the root zone. When you water, water well.. let water run through the pot, which flushes out "junk" and also pulls air into the roots zone.

What you're seeing sometimes gets called keiki, but it is really part of the mother plant, not an offshoot - I think of "keiki" (Hawaiian for baby) as more of a truly separate plant that develops (usually up an old spike), with a good separate root system. So while a keiki that develops separately is a candidate for separating once roots are long enough to sustain it, the formation of basal growths, to form a clump, is more like the plant just sustaining itself. I would not separate those unless they look really independent once developed. The degree to which these form a clump is at least partly a factor of its ancestry - some species tend to do that more than others, imparting the characteristic to its progeny.

estación seca · #8 03-01-2021, 04:10 PM

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

Fuerte Rav · #9 03-01-2021, 05:16 PM

I have to say they really look like potential keikis to me, growing as they are on the old flower spike, rather than basal growths. But I'm a relative newbie myself .......
Good luck with rescuing the plant.

Mountaineer370 · #10 03-01-2021, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuerte Rav

I have to say they really look like potential keikis to me, growing as they are on the old flower spike, rather than basal growths. But I'm a relative newbie myself .......
Good luck with rescuing the plant.

I'm confused, too. The pics I saw show two different growths somewhere along what appears to be an old flower spike. If these get enough nutrients, I would expect them to eventually grow their own roots, at which time they could be separated and planted by themselves.

I thought a basal keiki was a new growth that starts at the base of the main plant. Maybe I'm missing something in the photos.......