Operation - Save Keikis on Phal and maybe the Mom

[salvador1970]

Hi Guys,

I have this Phal, which since I received as a gift I never repotted but instead experimented on with Keiki paste.

The result was 4 keikis growing on the two spikes. After the flowering I repotted it. It had some root rot so I trimed and treated and repotted in bark. The result: 1 big leaf became yellow and died so it now has 2 leaves and the keikis remaining. I took it out of the pot and found out that the remaiining roots were dried up and empty on the inside!

What I did next was clean the base after removng the remaining roots, soak in water with root powder, I repotted it using coconut husk to have more moisture and burried the base of the 2 lower keikis on the 2 spikes. You can see the operation from the picture

As for the upper keikis I just wrapped the base with a net piece of cloth with coconut husk isnside for the moisture retention(rooting powder also used).

I placed the pot inside a bucket filled with water but not touching the water to increase humidity and moved to a more shady area.

I am pretty sure that it will not work but I really had to try saving them

So, if you guys have any thoughts on this, I would love to hear them!

Thanks

Fadi

[salvador1970]

and the last two pictures,,,

[salvador1970]

I forgot to add that there are no roots on Keikis yet...

[cindiras]

No roots on the mother plant or the keikis could be tough to save. The plant(s) now depend totally on the leaves for energy. If you mist the leaves, they will absorb a little water that way, also nutrients if you have a very weak fertilizer in your misting water. Keep the humidity around the plant quite high- the leaves will respire less that way. Hopefully.

[salvador1970]

Thanks Cindiras...Lets hope it works since my humidity level is not that high at home(around 35-45%). I will keep on misting

[kfir from israel]

did you add some rooting hormon to the mother plant as well???-you sould!
put in a shadier place and more humid
dose the keikies breath or they close in this bag?
good luck
it allways nice when the keikis get to bloom at the end

[salvador1970]

Hi Kfir...

I did add Rooting powder also for the mother plant. As for the upper keikis they are wrapped with net cloth so air goes in. As for the humidity, thats the difficult part and that what worries me. Instead I will mist a few times a day and lets hope for the best.

P.S- Kfir, the Vanda is doing well by the way I soak it every morning, since I have less humidity than you have and mist it two more times during the day. It seems to be growing, I think a new root. Something is trying to come out the upper leaves. by the way, I will be gone for a week next month so I should find the way to keep it moist. Maybe I should temporarily place it in a pot with Bark!

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Good luck, Fadi, with the rootless phal. Hopefully if you keep it in a shadier location, it will regrow some new roots.

RE the vanda: If you are not going to be gone for long, you could possibly leave it with a friend instead of potting it up. Vandas like to have air movement around their roots. If it is not a possibility to leave it with a friend, then you could add some Spanish moss over the basket and roots. The moss will help hold some moisture in and shade the roots. Water really well before you leave and then obviously as soon as you return. Best of luck with both projects.

Cheers,
BD

[salvador1970]

Thanks BD
Does it usually take a long time for new roots to emerge on Keikis or a rootles phal or does it depend on how much humidity and shade there are?

Thanks

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Thanks BD
Does it usually take a long time for new roots to emerge on Keikis or a rootles phal or does it depend on how much humidity and shade there are?

Thanks

It seems that when I watch an orchid - it never grows! The keiki roots *seem* to grow pretty fast, but I have never compared the two. Mostly when I have a phal where the roots have all died, I just chunk it unless it was a special plant or it has really good leaves. I have been pretty lucky with growing new leaves from a phal that just has roots, but not a plant with just leaves.

I would think that all things being equal, if you put on the root hormone and keep that section of the plan moist, shaded, and give it plenty of air movement so that it doesn't get sick, the roots should show growth in less than a month.

Cheers,
BD