Question
QUESTION: Dr. Jim,

Is there any hope for my Phalaenopsis Triplets?

The Saga of How I've Harmed Them:

-Obtained from Lowe's; in spaghnum moss; this nightmare substance never seemed to dry out -ever- and seemed to be so packed around the roots that it prevented them from being aerated.
-put orchids on makeshift humidity tray, keeping bottom of pots out of water; cut back on watering and kept in low light
-got root rot (black)
-soaked plants, (new)net pots, new Phalaenopsis growing medium in Physan 20
-performed "surgery" cutting off rotten roots per. various online directives
-dipped cut ends in cinnamon
-dipped roots in root hormone (there were so few roots I was afraid they would have no way to survive unless they grew more)
-re-potted in the new growing medium in net pots
-the potting medium got dry and one day I saw dry withered roots through the side of the net pot; I promptly watered the orchids
-one orchid lost its leaf
-one day I observed white fungus stuff at base of Orchid #3
-today I re-soaked the orchids, their net pots, and their soil in Physan 20 again
-#1 orchid has some firm roots and one good aerial root with green tip with no flower shoot (I cut it off because it was brown), #2 orchid has all of its roots dried up with a green shoot but no flower, and #3 orchid has many of its roots dried up and most rotting with a few firm ones left and a flower shoot that is budding.  Some of the roots are just the little interior stringy part.
-cinnamon/growing medium left a mucky substance covering the roots; it hasn't washed away with waterings but seems to be smothering some of the roots.
-is there any hope whatsoever for #2 and #3?

Thanks so much,

Erika


ANSWER: Hello Erika,

I'm no Dr., so just call me Jim.  

Yes, as you've found out the hard way, sphagnum moss is not the best potting material to use.  The only time it is good is for those persons who are not mindful of watering.  

What you did was pretty good up to a point.  It is best to not allow the potting mix to go totally dry between waterings, but to wait until it becomes barely moist.  Once the mix becomes totally dry, it can be difficult to rewet it, thus the dry roots.  To rewet dry mix, try soaking the entire pot in lukewarm water for about 30 to 60 minutes.  

White fungus looking stuff on the bottom of a pot could actually be salt.  Is your water supply considered hard?  If so, that could be due to high levels of sodium and chloride in it.  It also can come from undisolved fertilizer as most fertilizers are made of various mineral salts.  

To try reviving them, I'd suggest repotting them into fresh potting material.  Keep them in a warm shady place for 3 weeks then move them back to your growing area.  If the potting mix you are using is some what open, they may need to be watered every 3 to 5 days in warm weather and every 7 to 10 days in winter.  Also, it is beneficial for there to be some light air movement around them.  

Hope this helps.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Jim,

Thanks so much for your lightning-fast response.  

I think 2/3 of my orchids are not going to make it.  Wish I'd asked your advice sooner, perhaps they could've been saved.  But I do think Orchid #1 will make it.  

Orchid #3, who at this time has no leaves, is just a shoot with bud.  Its leaves were covered in black spots by the time they fell off.  I think the white powdery stuff was some sort of fungus, rather than salts or fertilizer, because it was on the crown of the orchid.  Then it turned black.

I did what you suggested, repotting everyone with fresh mixture, using distilled water.  I think one mistake I made was not watering them enough and allowing their roots to dry out completely.  

I will definitely do as you suggested with soaking the pots for 30-60 min. to water them.  I also appreciate your advice on how often to water them and I will follow it.  

Question:  Do you advise a periodical treatment with Physan 20 to prevent infections?

Question:  Do you advise throwing out the dried out roots connected to the budding shoot that is Orchid #3, or could it by some miracle recover?  I feel embarassed even asking this, yet I feel guilty throwing out the budding shoot because it does seem to be still alive.

Thanks again!

Erika
Auburn, ME

ANSWER: Hi again Erika,

You are probably right that #3 had fungus.  As for saving it, since the top or crown had turned black from the fungus, there is not much hope for saving it.  Phalaenopsis normally produce new growths from the crown, once it dies the rest soon follow.  With that said, there is the faintest hope that it may produce a keiki from the base but don't get your hopes up on it happening.  The best thing you can do would be to cut the flowering stem off and placing it in a bud vase with some water, the flowers can stay alive for weeks and even a month or longer.  Just add a tiny bit of sugar or 7-up soda to the water and try to replace the water every few days.  

I don't recommend using chemicals unless absolutely necessary.  The reason is because insects or diseases can become immune to the chemical over time as any that are not immediately killed can build up a resistance to it.  When I do use chemicals, I use them according to the instructions.  

When you water them, it would be a good idea to feed them lightly with some balance type orchid fertilizer.  Like you and I, orchids can only survive on water alone for only so long.  (grin)  

I'll keep my fingers crossed for #1.  

Ah, you live in Auburn, Me.  One of my brother's mother-in-law lives up near Bangor.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Jim,

Thanks again!  I did all you recommended and your advice is much appreciated.  I think your watering advice is probably key for the survival of Orchid #1.  I'd been watering it by pouring water on the top of its soil, like one does for a normal plant.  Now I'm soaking it per. your instructions and I'm sure the medium's absorbing a lot more water.  I think my not watering the correct way with the net pots may be what finally killed Orchid #3.

The nearly dead stump #3 has developed white frosty powder on it, and this just a few days after my soaking the whole plant in Physan 20.  

Q:  Given the re-infestation with white powder, shall I hold on for the faint hope of a keiki, or toss the stump?

Q:  I also forgot to note that I dusted the stump with cinnamon powder.  Is this something you would recommend for this, or any injury to an orchid, such as the removal of a rotten root?

I lived in Bangor for a few months and loved it; it has a lot of character!  Has your brother visited his mother-in-law there and if so, does he like it there?

Thanks again for your help.  I've spent an awful lot of time on the internet trying to figure things out, and still have not gotten some of the good info. you're giving here, so it's great that you're here to help all of the orchid caretakers.

Erika
p.s. got a miniature orange tree at Whole Foods and it is really neat and is growing small green oranges the size of peas; have you tried one of those yourself?

Answer
Hi Erika,

I'd go ahead and dump the stump.  Hey!, that rhymes!  (grin)  

A little cinnamon powder could help to minimize infection from a cut.  I use it once in a while myself but not regularly because when I am repotting orchids it would slow me down.  It takes me from 5 to 15 minutes to repot an orchid, depending upon the size.  What I do is not water newly repotted orchids for several days to a week to allow any cuts to heal over.  

Glad that I have been able to help you with your orchids.  Yes, most web sites have how to grow orchids but not much about what can go wrong with them.  

My brother and his wife go to visit her mother every year around early Sept. to enjoy the fall color.  She has lived in a Assisted Living facility for several years now, she is able to care for herself but after her husband died she just wanted the company of others.  When they visit her they fly to Boston and take a few days to drive up to Bangor, visit her for a few days then slowly drive back to Boston making stops at several Lobster shacks they know about before flying back to San Jose.  They've also done some stuff on a lake (I think it was Moose something or other) and floated down a river on inner tubes and some other things.  

No, I have not tried the miniature orange tree at Whole Foods.  I have a full size navel orange tree in my back yard that produces more than I can eat.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.