Root Rot in Phalaenopsis Needed repotting

[CR7cristiano]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

Yeah I'd definately just let it dry out and mist only until you see how much of those roots stay alive. The root itself is probably ok but the velamen is suspect. The root can grow out more root tips but the velamen needs to dry out so you can see how much survives., It will continue to photosynthesize using the starch in the leaf tissue. Warm and bright but not too bright. A little water below the root level if you suspend it in a glass or cup will help with humidity also. Good luck. I've saved much worse. You grew it well. Let it use what it has stored.

Would you believe that even though i cut off all roots on the Phal instead of sending out a root it has sent out a new spike. Very surprising considering I would think that the plant would be focusing on growing roots; but nope no sign of any new roots yet.

[CR7cristiano]

Originally Posted by bronco

I have had several Phals that had root rot and have been sucessful,reviving them using water culture.
I recently had 2 Phals with no roots at all.
I placed them in a container of water submerging the plant in water uo to the lower leaves. In about 3 weeks it put out healthy new roots.
Here are the pics.

Wow, someone else on this thread said not to leave it sitting in water. But you seemed to have had success with it. How long did you have it sit in the water? and did you have to change the water any at all? thx

[Wynn Dee13]

It's not surprising your plant put out a spike. Many Phals will spike when they think they are going to die to have one more chance at producing offspring. You need to cut the spike off if you want the plant to live. Blooming takes a lot of energy and if you let it grow the spike it will put all it's energy into that and then die. You want to make the plant put that energy into roots and new leaves.

That might of been the reason the plant bloomed before even though it had rotted roots. Phals will spike from stress too. I'm not saying every spike was from stress but the last one before you found the root rot could of been from that.

I have never tried water culture but from what I have read it works for a while but isn't good for long term growing. If you use the water culture to grow some new roots you could then transfer it to semi-hydro. That seems to work for some people.

[Wynn Dee13]

One more thing. For roots to live in water, the plant needs to grow roots that are for growing in water. If you took a Phal potted in bark with healthy roots and put it in water culture, the roots would die because they were grown for growing in bark.

Search the site for water culture and look in the semi-hydroponic forum for more info on these methods.

[CR7cristiano]

Originally Posted by Wynn Dee13

It's not surprising your plant put out a spike. Many Phals will spike when they think they are going to die to have one more chance at producing offspring. You need to cut the spike off if you want the plant to live. Blooming takes a lot of energy and if you let it grow the spike it will put all it's energy into that and then die. You want to make the plant put that energy into roots and new leaves.

That might of been the reason the plant bloomed before even though it had rotted roots. Phals will spike from stress too. I'm not saying every spike was from stress but the last one before you found the root rot could of been from that.

I have never tried water culture but from what I have read it works for a while but isn't good for long term growing. If you use the water culture to grow some new roots you could then transfer it to semi-hydro. That seems to work for some people.

Well i cut down the spike to the second to last joint on the original spike as i do for all of my phals. and it still sent out the spike....the very last joint on the spike is at the very base of the spike. This is a first for me regardless of the condition of the roots; I always cut the spike 2 rings from the base. Well i will cut of this new spike coming out then and see what happens re new root growth.

[Wynn Dee13]

I always cut my spikes all the way off. I don't cut above a node and let the spike branch. I want my plants to put their energy into roots and leaves so the plant builds up energy for the next flowering. If you let the old spike branch by cutting above a node it will only put out a few flowers that are smaller (if any at all).

[bronco]

Originally Posted by CR7cristiano

Wow, someone else on this thread said not to leave it sitting in water. But you seemed to have had success with it. How long did you have it sit in the water? and did you have to change the water any at all? thx

I kept them in water about 3 to 4 weeks,changing the water every week.
Just 2 days ago I took them out of the water and decided to see how they will do mounted to my Dogwood tree. here are the mounted pics.

[CR7cristiano]

Originally Posted by Wynn Dee13

I always cut my spikes all the way off. I don't cut above a node and let the spike branch. I want my plants to put their energy into roots and leaves so the plant builds up energy for the next flowering. If you let the old spike branch by cutting above a node it will only put out a few flowers that are smaller (if any at all).

That has not been my experience cutting over the second to last node...this is an isolated case, they usually send out a whole new spike for me.

[Wynn Dee13]

Then the plant is spiking as a last resort. I hope you can get it to grow some roots!

[CR7cristiano]

Originally Posted by Wynn Dee13

Then the plant is spiking as a last resort. I hope you can get it to grow some roots!

I sure hope so too! The leaves are very thick and a rich deep green and very healthy...it really is just to get it to root! UGH!
I remain positive.