Root Rot in Phalaenopsis Needed repotting

[CR7cristiano]

Originally Posted by Vanda lover

Lava rock is usually easy to find. Here we buy it in Canadian tire. It's used as a landscape mulch. You could likely find it in home depot or other similar stores. I use the smallest pieces, smash them with a hammer if necessary and wash them well. Then soak them over night in water mixed with a little fertilizer and Super thrive if you have it.
It's much cheaper than many other mediums.

Nice....thanks.....i wanna try some S/H in vases

[Vanda lover]

I've been using some plastic vases that I buy in dollar stores. They look like a crystal vase but it's easy to put holes in by using a soldering iron. You can also heat the tip of a nail over a candle.

[CR7cristiano]

Originally Posted by Vanda lover

I've been using some plastic vases that I buy in dollar stores. They look like a crystal vase but it's easy to put holes in by using a soldering iron. You can also heat the tip of a nail over a candle.

I appreciate the suggestions!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Kinda throwing this comment out there pretty late in the post, but I think it's worth a mention...

Just because the plant blooms doesn't necessarily mean it's in good health. The plant could be dying and it could still throw out blooms left and right, as long as it has the energy to do it. If you held on to the belief that if you saw blooms on your plant that it is in good health, you wouldn't even suspect the plant was declining until it's too late.

I recommend discarding the notion that blooms = a plant in good health.

I highly recommend replacing that idea with a different one - a plant with strong roots, sturdy stems, and good leaves + has the ability to put out beautiful blooms = a healthy plant.


Flowers are a plant's genitalia.

If it were a person, would you judge its overall health just based on its genitals and/or its ability to perform intercourse, or potentially have intercourse?

[CR7cristiano]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Kinda throwing this comment out there pretty late in the post, but I think it's worth a mention...

Just because the plant blooms doesn't necessarily mean it's in good health. The plant could be dying and it could still throw out blooms left and right, as long as it has the energy to do it. If you held on to the belief that if you saw blooms on your plant that it is in good health, you wouldn't even suspect the plant was declining until it's too late.

I recommend discarding the notion that blooms = a plant in good health.

I highly recommend replacing that idea with a different one - a plant with strong roots, sturdy stems, and good leaves + has the ability to put out beautiful blooms = a healthy plant.


Flowers are a plant's genitalia.

If it were a person, would you judge its overall health just based on its genitals and/or its ability to perform intercourse, or potentially have intercourse?

Well i am not sure if this was a general statement or directed at a specific comment in particular....but as I was the one that started this thread, I am fully aware of all of the things you mentioned above; as a matter of fact these things are the basics when it comes to understand how to care for, and cater to an orchids needs. But I must also point out that although the roots and the leaves are the main signs of health, blooms too will show the condition a plant is in, and the level of health it is in as well, so I would not count it out as a tell tale sign of a plants health. From the number of blooms on a spike to the colouration and how firmly blooms stay erect and flat; these are also signs that can point us to poor health of the roots for example, assuming the leaves are healthy in appearance. A perfect example would be several vandas and a mokara i got from my aunt which were in spike and one with blooms which were all just potted before she gave them to me, as a result of the shock from repotting some of the spikes had bud drop, and all had droopy blooms; and these were all resulting from the shock the plant experienced. Of course now that the plants are settled in their pots the next spikes and blooms will show true.

So its not always that we can look and see the roots of a plant to diagnose a problem or its leaves, but to look at it in its entirety. An orchid will always show signs of how happy it is.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

The post was made in response to a couple of statements made in the first few postings in this thread on the first page, that I interpreted as possibly maybe that the flowers were used solely as a means to determine the plant's health. If I have misinterpreted, that's fine, and my posting can be used as a general repeat piece of information.

As was mentioned, I think that flowers are only part of the story. Everything else counts too. Imo, I think roots, stems, and leaves are far stronger indicators compared to flowers as to the health of the plant. But flowers do count to some degree, as they can sometimes be indicators of the plant being in shock. However, I have noticed on some occasions that orchids in particular don't always show signs of distress through dropping flowers. I have in some instances seen plants that go into full bloom or have put out multitudes of inflorescences, just to only start crashing shortly thereafter, that's all.

Again, if it is known, then this is just repeat info. Doesn't hurt for other people to see.

[CR7cristiano]

Makes sense...

[CR7cristiano]

Hey guys, just wanted to give you an update on the phal that had suffered root rot. As of today it has sent out a new keiki which is growing quite quickly. I also have seen signs of what seems to be bulging new roots on its monopodial stem perpendicular to the natural growth of the leaves.
I also wanted to add that i have another instance of a repotted phal that has sent out two new keikis also growing fast.
Lastly another Phal that had previously double spiked and had the spikes cut down to the second to last nodes has also keiki'd. Its roots are thick and healthy.

Can anyone explain this keiki phenomena!? lol

[thepiecesfit]

I dont think throwing it in LECA at this point would help much. I made the mistake of switching a dying orchid into LECA and the base started to rot in the hydroton clay. Think it needs to show some signs of root growth to repot. If you stick the aerial roots in the LECA they will also rot almost immediately. What seems to work for others and i havent tried yet is creating some sort of heat under the leca using a heating mat or warmer environment. For me where I live its pretty cool (NYC) and ive almost given up completely on LECA.

I got a sick orchid with one AERIAL root thats hanging on to dear life sitting on top of some bark mix with wires and sticks holding it up. Ive been spraying the base with KELPMAX from Ray. But maybe it looks like I need to purchase his heating mat.

---------- Post added at 07:58 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:57 AM ----------

Sorry didnt realize i resurrected a year old thread :P