Question
Hi,
I have a phal with all roots dead.  It has a spike with flowers and cut them.  The leaves have wrinkle and soft.  I think that was a good idea to cut the leaves. I left the half of the leaf. I put it back on the basket with sphagnum moss. What can I do to save the plant?

Thanks for your help.

Answer
Hi Karem,

Wow, that phal of yours does not sound very good.  Sorry for starting out this way, but I didn't want to get your hopes up too high about saving it.  It might still be able to save it but it will take some work on your part, are you ready to go to work?  

To begin, I would take it out of the sphagnum moss and put it in a plastic bag with just a little of the moist (not dripping wet) moss to help with humidity, partially closing the bag.  Put it in a warm shady place (60 to 70 F) until you see new root growth appear (hopefully), this may take from several weeks to several months.  Keep an eye on it, opening the bag to allow an exchange of air then reclose it, make sure the moss is still moist.  

Too bad you cut the wrinkled leaves, even though they may not have looked very good they could have supplied some moisture for the phal during recovery.  Phal leaves are their only water storage mechanism, when the roots are gone and the phal needs water, it takes it from the leaves and the leaves begin to wrinkle and go limp.  This is not to say your phal is dead, just that it may take more work to revive it.  

If what is left of the phal turns brown and mushy while in the bag, that would indicate it is beyond saving.  If this happens or even if it doesn't happen, you might think about buying another phal.  If you do, keep in mind that phals prefer the potting media to become barely moist between waterings.  If the media is kept too wet it will cause the roots to rot quickly.  

Hope this helps.  Good luck with the phal.

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.