Question
I recently found a tiny Phal specimen in bloom at my usual garden centre - it's only a few inches tall with a root ball of maybe one inch wide by 2 inches tall. When I found it I had to take it home as it looked like it needed to be nursed back to health - the root ball was extremely dry and one of the tiny leaves has a complete break across the middle. I'd like some advice on caring for such a young plant as I don't want to get the water levels wrong. Also, would it be best to remove the damaged leaf at the fractured point, or leave it to fall off (it seems to be hanging by the leaf veins)? When I come to repot the plant, do you have any advice about the best kind of potting material (it is currently potted in moss) for a rootball so small?

Answer
Thanks for your question Sally. If the damaged leaf is just hanging by its threadlike veins, it is probably not getting as much nourishment as is needed so you probably would do the plant no damage to remove it. See if you can  find some seedling orchid potting mix.  Otherwise, purchase some standard orchid potting mix and put some of it in a colander that will permit the smaller particles fall through. Next step in the separation process is to remove any dust from the filtrate so you have only small particles of the potting mix.  Since you have a small plant, not much potting mix is needed, but save the unused portion for repotting later. Soak the potting mix you plan to use now and, while  it is soaking, remove the plant from its pot and soak it separately.  Soak each for about an hour.  Then remove the moss from about the roots and examine the roots.  Any root that is mushy is dead and needs to be removed.  Repot the plant into a well drained plastic pot in the wet orchid seedling mix. (use a pot size just large enough for the remaining roots. Set the newly repottted plant aside until all excess water has drained away and the leaf surfaces are all dry (It is best to repot early in the day so all surfaces are dry by nightfall). Seedling orchids are more difficult to maintain than the larger plants because a potting mix can easily become either too wet or too dry.  To minimize this, set the pot into a container that has a bit of damp moss in the bottom to help provide humidity around the pot.  Light air circulation will reduce stagnant air about the plant. How well your plant does will not only depend upon these special growing conditions, but also upon the health of the roots and the number of leaves.  It will probably take a couple of months before you know that the seedling is responding well with new roots and leaves.  Obviously, as a small plant with little leaf surface the plant should have minimal light.  These babies are also sensitive to temperature so try to maintain a narrow range.  Ideal is 70- 80 degrees F.