do you know what kind of phal this is?

We will never ever know. My niece got into this thing of bringing me all the rootless $1.00 "deals" from Lowe's (she had part time job there). Well - I would smile and thank her, of course. But she kept doing it. When we got to a good half dozen (maybe more - yes, I think more) I had to tell her to STOP THAT!! ....LOL....
So the blooms will be a big surprise. Most likely - Big - WHITE - . I've really enjoyed watching it grow tho. So all is not lost(?).
Pat....

Pat,

I have a "theory." (Surprise, Surprise!)

My 8 year old Noid Phal loves to kick up its heels and always has more than a dozen fresh-tipped roots in the air. Last time I repotted, it still had a live, green (ok, pale) crown stem clear to the bottom of its standard terra cotta pot, accompanied by wonderful roots and no sign of rot. On repotting, I did not try to force the aerial roots back into the pot. It blooms every year and has always been in a roughly 50/50 mix of fir bark and NZ sphag.

My "theory" is that some of these Phals use aerial roots to balance elements in their environment--oxygen, moisture, even temperature--but not as direct compensation for anything amiss in their culture. That is, I do not believe that these roots are symptoms of anything, but rather, that they are characteristic of certain Phals.

Now, since your heel-kicker and mine are both NOIDs, which Phal(s) (if any) might generate this characteristic remains a mystery.

Those are beautiful pictures of your miracle Phal, by the way; thank you. And Congratulations on a phenominal rescue!

Sweetcicely

Just put a tag on her and call her Medusa. Congrats on another phinicky phal refusing to die.

Brooke

hello, Pat, I am impressed with your success.so i hope you don't mind that i have a few question. when you mount the orchid, what do you use to keep it on? do you use any rooting hormones ? and when you water, do you just spray or do you soak? please tell me anything else i should know. I wish i can just send you my sickies. thanks.
sue

Pat, don't stand too close, roots are going to grab ya!!
Lovely roots- what on earth do you feed them??!!

That's interesting SweetC! It is kind of strange that this -one- has opted to .....to do ....this ... thing. You may very well be on to something there!! What will this thing look like in 2 months? Maybe, and that is a big maybe, the flowers will give a **hint** as to heritage. Buy a camera SweetC (I keep saying that don't I ;0)...post a picture of yours when it blooms next time.

New tag - Phalaenopsis Medusa Brooke 'Highjack'

Sue, here is a post I made back in Dec. about this very phal. My pictures are missing because PhotoBucket and I got in a fight - I lost. Had to open a new account. Anyway, as to how I attach the plant to the mount - I usually drill a hole through the mount. I tie jute (small cord type) to the lower stem. I pull the jute through the hole, adjust the plant so that the upper stem rests on the wood (just inside of the hole) and tack the cord to the back of the mount to hold the plant in place. I tuck a little moss around the bass of the plant. That's the only tie down it gets. Within a couple of months, the plant grows roots and attaches itself to the wood. The jute rots away at about the same time. I'm pretty well convinced (as crazy as this sounds) that the "help!! I'm falling out of my tree" method(?) stimulates explosive root growth in a very short time. That's the way it seems to me, with phals. This phal was mounted to a natural V in the top of the wood. But it was secured in the same way.
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/orchids/msg121023129690.html
In the old post I described water for the rootless wonders. After mounting, I mist (to dripping wet) them a couple of times a day until the roots really get going. But after they are well established on the mount, they are soaked "to the bone" daily in summer. I water overhead (GASP) with an auto watering system. The exception is a rainy day, or cloudy day. After the sprinklers go off, fans come on and the plants are dry or near dry before dark.
I don't mind answering your questions at all Sue. And thanks for wanting to send me all your "sickies"...
But alas....there's the that whole Canadian/United States border issue, with the plant police and all that...darnit.....;0)

Sambac, I feed it very small children.

I'M KIDDING!!!
The real answer IS.......worm tea.

Thanks everybody!!
Pat...

hello, Pat, thanks for the info. i find it very difficult to get interesting Phals here and the border thing is ... well, you know. so i finally got a couple that i really would like to keep: Phal violacea and dtps chingruey's goldstaff. I will have to try your method to rehabilitate them. thanks again.
sue

I will assume Pat you will get this phal awarded so the name shall be Phal. Medusa Brooke 'Highjack' BS/GWOS.

Of course everyone will want a piece of this wild child so please do a stem prop and distribute to all my friends on the GW :>) I'm sure you will be able to supplement your retirement income with this offering. (giggle, giggle, snort, snort)

Brooke