Question
Mini phal in need of d
I purchased this mini phal earlier this year and when it was done flowering, I cut the stem nearest to its base. I kept it in the bathroom for humidity and ocassionally brought it out to the living room for more sunlight. I tried watering it once a week as well. For a while, it was showing new root and leaf growth, but that has stopped. Now it is turning yellow and the leaves are wrinkling. What can I possibly do to try and save this mini phal (it was my first orchid and I loved the look of its flowers in bloom).
AnswerThanks for your question Sanny. I only wish it had come earlier. While orchid plants may look healthy when in bloom, there is often an insidious condition in the roots which cannot be seen without unpotting the plant (which of course would not be done while the plant is in flower). When the potting mix breaks down, the mix is more able to retain water which has the effect of hastening its further breakdown and creating a condition toxic to the roots. If this condition proceeds too far without remedy, the plant cannot be saved. All you can do at this point is obtain some freah orchid potting mix and repot the plant in a container that has lots of drainage holes. When you unpot the plant for repotting, rinse off the roots and, if I'm right, you will finds roots that have collapsed (are mushy). These are no longer able to provide the nourishment the plant needs. Healthy roots are firm and turn green when wet. If you have one or more healthy roots, proceed with the repotting into a suitaable orchid potting mix. If the plant has the resources to recover from the root damage, it should slowly generate new root and leaf growth. Since the roots need air as well as water, try to find a potting mix that has 1/2" to 1" fir bark particle size.
Please don't hesitate to ask further questions-- especially since this is your first orchid and there is still a lot to be learned.
