Looking for help to revive a dying orchid

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Author Message   Dancer  My Weather Posted on Monday, March 17, 2008 - 01:44 pm EST :    Hello all. Thanks for your help and feedback. I just rescued an orchid, and it is in rough shape - though not hopeless. It is a phalaenopsis (moth). When I picked it up, it was potted in very densely packed, wet sphagnum moss. The roots had all rotted but one, so it has one good viable root. The leaves are soft, like cooked spinach. It has one big flower spike, and has spent all its flowers. The tip of the flower spike looks like it has a couple of as-yet unformed, green buds on the very end. I just trimmed off all the dead roots and repotted it in orchid medium (fir bark, hardwood charcoal and redwood bark). I rinsed it once, drained it and put it near a window where it will get diffused sun. I'm really hoping I can save this one. Should I cut the flower spike off, so it will concentrate any energy it may still have on its root system? Should I feed it some orchid food, to offer it some energy for regrowth? Any other ideas or suggestions? Dancer - Massachusetts, Zone "?"   Markvs  Posted on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 - 01:59 am EST :    Yes, by all means cut off the spike. Just a thought on feeding... On some plants you can feed them with a sugar solution on the foliage, taking care in this case not to allow water to sit in the centre. A fairly dilute solution would be the key Markvs - Waiuku, Zone "9 down to -5 C"

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