Root Rot: Is this phal too far gone?

[Sheilalev]

Hello, here are my horrific photos of my phal with root rot. I replanted it in fresh bark a few weeks ago and have been keeping a clear plastic bag over the plant. Today I noticed a leaf yellowing so I pulled it out to see what it was doing. I was surprised to see one green root but all of the others were brown and mushy. It's now sitting out of it's pot, am I supposed to let it dry out? For how long? What should I do? Is there any hope in saving it? Please help! I wasn't going to be one of those first orchid owners with this problem, boy was I wrong! Any advice would be greatly appreciated, TIA!

[navyderek]

That's looking a bit rough. I think your best chance would be to give it some root stimulator, wrap the column with sphagnum moss then place inside an plastic sandwich/storage bag. Keep the top of the bag open, and when the sphagnum is almost dry to the touch, rewater. Place it in a shady spot (a north facing window would be fine since you're in Michigan) and hope it grows some roots.

[cindiras]

You might want to soak the root/stem in hydrogen peroxide for 10 minutes or so. Dry gently after the soak and try the sphag and bag technique that Derek has listed. I use Rootone powder on orchids I am trying to root. sometimes seems to work, other times it just takes a long time for those roots to grow!

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Good luck with that one, it will be a long road to recovery when it is that far gone. At least there is one good root. Follow Derek and Cindi's advice and let us know how it turns out.

Cheers,
BD

[wetfeet101b]

The main problem with that kind of orchid ailment (specially for monopodal orchids) is that the pathogen may have already made its way inside the main stem of the plant.
Chemical treatment may address only whats on the outer layers of the stem but may not reach all of the pathogens.
A prolonged chemical soak may help, but the key is to make sure that the treating chemical actually soaks completely into the plant's interior to kill all the offending pathogens.

If the plant is already too sick, then the treatment itself may induce more stress to the plant and hurt it more instead of helping.

[Sheilalev]

I know what you mean, I did the peroxide soak now I lost a leaf and about to lose another. Time to bury it :-(

[smwboxer]

Yea, unless the plant is special to you, I'd toss it and get new phal