Rootless Wonder - Rootless Phal getting a new leaf?

[silverstoli]

I have a rootless Phal that has been hanging on for about 4 months. I won't tell you all the ways I have tortured it to try to get some roots

I currently have it in a ginger type vase that supports the three large leaves with the base in water. I added a drop of KelpMax a couple of days ago. It was located in my kitchen window (East) for many months, but I finally put it outside. Our temps have been in the mid to high 80's. A few days ago, I noticed it is getting a new leaf. I think it appreciates the heat. It is barely poking out, yet I see no new roots. I don't understand how it is growing a leaf with no roots to support it. The three large leaves are wilted, but still green and other than being wilted look ok.



Should I just leave it as is or should I bag it. I am afraid that as hot as it gets here, that it may get too hot in a bag. Inside there will not be enough heat as we keep the house very cool. Our humidity is currently around 50% at the lowest (mid day) and 70% to 90% morning and night. I have it under an arbor with shade cloth on the northeast side of the house. It is bright, but the light is indirect.

Thank you in advance for any advice. I just can't give up on this guy, he has tried so hard to live through all of my abuse.

[silverstoli]

Update on this guy. He is not growing just one new leaf, it appears there are two sprouting out. Still no new roots, but I keep hoping! I brought him inside as we are expecting more thunder storms today. I'll put him back out after they pass. As he is just propped on top of the ginger jar. I would hate for him to get blown away and lost or blown into the pool..

[78Terp]

Sounds like it is getting itself together. Keep doing what you are doing.

[Mararda]

I agree with 78Terp, if it is happy enough to produce new leaves then roots should follow suit and emerge with time..

[zainal abidin]

When time come soon you can see the new roots will emerge from the base of your plant just maintain this environment since he already adapted and avoid secondary infection, the wilted leaves is common phenomenon once the new roots come slowly it will be back to normal.

[silverstoli]

What a wonderful surprise! You all are correct! The little guy is putting out a root. It is under the bottom leaf where it attaches to the base of the plant. It is pushing it out, but hasn't come through yet. But I can see the lump and the tip of the root!

I'm just going to leave him where he is for now. When he gets more roots and some health back, you guys will have to help me get him back into a normal pot. For now, I am going to celebrate his new root and new leaves that are coming in! I'll try to get a picture tomorrow.

[Traci]

Silverstoli,
Congrats on the new root. There is hope for my rootless wonder yet. I am hesitant as well to completely bag mine for fear of rot, but I have it in a fish tank with Saran Wrap over 90% of it. Humidity levels fluctuate between 50% to 90 %. I check it several times a day. I told my partner that when it sprouts a new root we are going to party with some champagne or at least this very nice bottle of wine I have been saving for such an occasion.

[silverstoli]

With my guy, I tried the moss thing (OK, I've tried a lot of things over the last four months). He kept getting worse. After much googling, I came across some info about putting the little stump in water - "green water". So, I put him in a ginger jar vase with his little rootless stump in the water. The design of the vase holds the leaves out of the water. I put a drop of KLN in the water at first. I put him outside in the shade - our humidity is pretty high now - I did not tent him with a bag. At this point, I kind of told him he was on his own. That if he was in too much pain, it was ok to go....

The "green water" part of it is just to allow algae to grow in the water. I had a few pieces of bark from a healthy orchid I had purchased recently that had algae growing on them so I dropped them in the jar. I also had a little spag moss with algae growth so I put them in the jar. The algae started growing on the glass jar. I just topped of the water as needed. Last week I noticed the new leaves poking through. Also, on Saturday, I received my KelpMax, so I changed out the water (leaving the algae on the glass and retaining the bark pieces and spag) and added a drop of KelpMax. And it is working!

I can say since last Saturday when I spritzed my Vanda's with KelpMax and added some to this guy's water, I have seen roots sprouting everywhere. I don't think it is a coincidence. I think the KelpMax is some great stuff!

Best of luck with yours!

[Traci]

Wow may try your method if this doesn't improve within a few weeks. I have used superthrive mad quantum orchid so hopefully something soon will happen.

[Traci]

Well now mine is getting a new leaf! Will keep looking daily for a root to appear.