Cut Phalaenopsis leaves? + Roots are fuzzy

[orchidlauren]

Hi i’m Lauren, new to owning orchids! The three bottom leaves are yellow or turning limp, can they be saved or do I just snip them off? The ends of new roots are fuzzy, I saw that fuzzy roots are an occasional occurrence but I’m not sure if it’s fungus or not, the potting for this orchid in particular is moss which is starting to decay & turn green so this might play a factor? I don’t know if its okay to repot because my orchid is still in bloom. Help?

[SouthPark]

If you have a digital camera ----- it will be useful to post some photographs of good resolution - just to get a good visual on it.

If the plant is dying, then it is going to need as much energy as it can get to recuperate. This may even require the flowers to be cut-off, so that the orchid can use its reserve energy to survive.

Since you have checked the roots - and I assume you took the plant out of the pot, then one recommendation is to let the roots dry out a bit. And use new media.

Also, grow the plant in a place where air-circulation is good ---- not in still-air environment.

[orchidlauren]

It doesnt seem to be dying as the healthy leaves are going on strong, not sure how to post a picture ? My orchids are kept in my room where my fan is always going as well as having the windows frequently open, they’re watered every week unless their media is still wet/damp

[Roberta]

First, welcome!

If the bottom leaves are turning yellow and limp, they could be cut but my inclination would be to just let them fall off naturally, which they will. The fuzzy root tips could indicate a fungal issue, but they are very fragile, so don't touch them. It does sound like repotting is in order. Phals don't typically care if they are potted while in bloom - just be careful to not knock off flowers. Once you get the plant into fresh media (either sphagnum moss or small bark) if there is fungus on the roots it will resolve itself. No need to treat. The downside of sphagnum is that it stays wet. The upside of sphagnum is that it stays wet if you don't water often. Bark dries faster, and tends to stay more open (orchids like "moist air", not "wet".) You will probably find that the roots in the center are pretty much mush. My suggestion would be to pull off the stuff that is mushy (the coating of the roots, velmin - which absorbs water) If bad roots come off with a gentle tug, that's fine. But if the central "stringy" part of the bad roots is well attached, leave them - they still capable of hydrating the plant while it is growing good new ones, and will also help stabilize the plant in the new medium - also important, you don't want it to wobble.

---------- Post added at 02:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:19 PM ----------

To post a picture, if you "Go Advanced" from the "reply" dialog box, you'll see "photo manager" below that box. You can then select to upload a photo, select it, then click the upload button. I have heard that one must make 5 posts to be able to upload a photo, but I have seen some from people with fewer posts, so I don't that limitation is enforced. If the system tells you that you need 5, just reply to this message, maybe post something in the Introduction forum, and you will have hit 5 anyway.

[orchidlauren]

Thank you, I think I got that to work? Sorry if I didn’t still working this out

[Roberta]

Actually, looks like a healthy plant. It is normal to lose lower leaves. Still, I suggest that you gently remove it from the pot to take a look at what might be going on in the middle.

[orchidlauren]

I snipped one of the leaves, turned out it had been nipped & accidentally cut, the other one was just decaying at the base, I decided to leave the last small leaf to see if it gets any better

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by orchidlauren

I snipped one of the leaves, turned out it had been nipped & accidentally cut, the other one was just decaying at the base, I decided to leave the last small leaf to see if it gets any better

New leaves will come from the top of the plant (the little "pocket", the crown. For Phals, Vandas, etc. this is the only growth point. If it gets damaged, sometimes the plant will produce another growth at the base, or sometimes will just die. So that crown is very important. You don't want water to sit there, especially if it is cold, can lead to crown rot. (Not always, but why take the risk?) Best to water in the morning, so any that gets caught in the crown (or at the base of leaves) can dry off before evening.

[orchidlauren]

Keeping that noted, thank you! I always avoid getting water in the crown for that reason, the leaves I removed were at the bottom of the crown