On 22/10/2014 22:12, David wrote:
On 22/10/2014 20:06, Ophelia wrote:


"Spider" wrote in message
...
A few years ago, I was on the verge of losing a treasured white Phal.
given to me by a friend. It had almost flowered itself to death,
producing about 45 flowers in its final season, after years of normal
blooming. Someone on urg (probably Bob Hobden) told me that some white
Phals are reputed to die after such a grand flowering event.

I was determined not to lose it, but it began to look very sad indeed;
starting to deteriorate at the base of the crown from where the
underground roots grew. I removed it from its pot, cut away the damaged
basal growth and old roots, which were also looking poorly.
I then repotted it by burying a few of the very healthy aerial roots,
still leaving many aerial roots above ground.

It took months for the plant to respond at all, and 2-3 years before I
could be sure it was alive and growing well. Earlier this year it put
out
a flowering spike, which is now blooming. Looking today, I see it has a
2nd and 3rd flower spike just starting to develop. I am really chuffed
:~)). I appreciate that not everyone wants to go to this trouble and
would normally throw out such a sickly plant. However, where a plant is
particularly valued (and patience in good supply!), it is well worth the
trouble of resurrecting it.

Congratulations)) As always I am in awe of you

I still think you ought to write a book!

Off topic a little,
Yesterday i re-potted 2 Dendrobiums, No choice as they couldn't stay
upright, One has 7 new shoots all now around 12 inches long, no way
would they stay upright in their small pots.
Probably wrong time of the year and wrong pot size, but no choice really


Well done. All I ever do with Dendrobiums is kill them :~((. Must try
harder. I'm sure you've done the right thing whether it was the right
season for it or not. Sometimes a job just has to be done.

Also re-potted a cymbidium I bought that was going cheap( couldn't
resist a singing orchid).


Groan.


Bought a Phaelenopsis that had finished flowering for £1.99.
I've had 6 re-flower this summer but they have been specked with Botrytis?
Just wondering if you can use a fungicide on orchids


I've never had to try a fungicide on orchids. I'd certainly not want to
get it on the roots as it might upset their bio-interface-thingy with
the compost. Are you sure it's Botrytis? Some orchids get blackish
speckles, and it's supposed to be harmful, but I've never noticed any
harm from it. If it is Botrytis, could you cut out the damaged area, or
is it too wide spread?

Just found a link that covers Botrytis Blight on orchids, so hope it's
of some help. Good luck, David.

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/botrytr...hid-22392.html




David @ a still damp side of Swansea Bay


--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay