Multiple problems with my orchid!

[christieinthesky]

I’m not sure what species my orchid is. It was given to me in February and was beautiful at the time with ten blooms (blue, so obviously dyed). I have a skylight in my bathroom where I kept it. I didn’t over water it and would move it around in the bathroom to expose it to different levels of light. Never too dark and never in direct sun. The bathroom is also the most humid room in the apartment. After about two months, the flowers slowly began to shrivel. I plucked the dead ones. When there were no flowers left the orchid still looked healthy in regards to the leaves and the long arched stem. I had heard orchids shed their blooms but that they do return after a while. I’m still not sure if this is true or healthy? Recently I’ve gained a lot more plants ya and have become obsessed with their maintenance, researching everything I can. The orchid is the only one not doing well. I read about root rotting, took the orchid out of its ceramic pot to see the clear planter and sure enough, it was mushy, brown and very wet. The roots above the soil looked as if they had some mold on them (a green, white and purple-ish). I put it in the sun outside for a few hours in order to try to absorb the moisture and kill the mold. After only six hours of direct light, the leaves became softer at the middle and almost bleached looking (guessing sunburn). I found this site and did more research but this is my first and only orchid so most of what I’ve tried has been intuitive guesses. The roots looked crammed and still just as bad so I gently removed the plant from the planter. I started removing the rot that most easily fell away and washed off the rest. There are still green roots but most turn orange-brown at their ends. Above the soil line, it looks good (besides the newly sunburned leaves). All the soil had turned to brown wet hay like mush so I reported it in a larger container with brand new soil. Is my plant likely to make it or am I nursing a lost endeavor?

[Ray]

Welcome, Christie.

Your plant is a phalaenopsis. They love it warm, humid and shady, with no direct sun at all, as you have - unfortunately - learned the hard way.

A key to orchid growing is understanding that orchids do much of their respiratory gas exchange processes through their roots and not just their leaves. In the case of that plant, the potting medium (most orchids cannot tolerate potting soil) became waterlogged and suffocated the roots, leading to their death and decomposition. Orchid potting media for home growers tend to be coarser and airier because of that.

As to is your plant "rescuable", that's going to depend upon the degree of damage and your interest in doing so, but it sounds reasonably hopeful.

This is the technique I use to rescue plants, and it can work with-, or without the KelpMax I mention (full disclosure - I sell it), but it does offer an advantage.

[DirtyCoconuts]

1) Hi

2) good advice above

3) i would remove the dead material (planting medium) and then let the roots dry a little (1-2 hours) then give a gentle shake and little pull at the roots, healthy ones will be very apparent, rotten ones will fall apart in/on your hand and those should be removed. Then repot in the open medium of your choice (based on your growing environment and habits) and then enjoy

[DrDawn]

Hi! Welcome Christie!

I agree with Ray, you can either try to rescue this plant or start over with a newer (healthier) phalaenopsis and work on keeping it healthy. What sorts of plants to you currently have that are growing well? What sorts of growing conditions do you have? I see that you're in New York, I'm in Massachusetts so I might have somewhat similar conditions. I mostly grow phalaenopsis plants. (I have other types too but not really enough light to keep them happy! I grow on my east-facing windowsill). Root rot definitely is a danger until you get to know your plants and how to tell if they need more water or not. Also, your pot should be very well-drained, it should not be possible for your plant to sit in water if the pot has enough drainage. Feel free to keep asking us questions! Also, if you want, you can post some pictures so we can take a look at the roots and let you know how rescuable it is.

[christieinthesky]

Thank you Ray and everyone for the quick responses! Here’s a photo of the plant’s roots, I hadn’t dried it out before replanting it so thank you for letting me know to do that! I uploaded a photo of the bottom half here: Meet Google Drive – One place for all your files

Dr. Dawn, hi! To answer your question, I have a TON of plants now which I’ll be more than happy to list all of if you would like but for now my “indoor babies” include:

A Raven ZZ who is doing fantastically. Probably one of the easiest plants I’ve ever owned. I have a Dracaena that’s also doing quite well. Two happy bonsai trees (both are different, I have to identify them). Then there’s my two rescue plants who aren’t “thriving” but look better than they did when I got them. I have Monsterra which was dying at Walmart and almost laying down in the planter. I added soil, ties and a chopstick to support and it now stands upright (it looked dry when I got it but is greener and healthier already in the few days I’ve had it). My other needs some help. I rescued it from a friend’s yard (with her permission). It’s a Begonia Maculata. The stem looks great and is also secured to a stick but the leaves are still floppy with some dryness at the end and a tear in another. It does look somewhat better than when I got it but I’ve been moving it around the house seeking the healthiest position for it.

[Ray]

Your link needs a password...

[christieinthesky]

Oops, sorry, try now: IMG_1502.JPG - Google Drive

[WaterWitchin]

It's very salvageable. Get that soil rinsed off the roots. Try to keep water out of the crown (the top middle part). If you do, wick it out with paper towel or Qtips.

Folks usually either plant Phalaeonopsis in a mix of bark, maybe some large chunks of perlite, and maybe a bit of sphagnum. OR they put in lava rock or LECA (hydroponic stuff). If you have no other resource, go somewhere and get some pine bark nuggets (mulch). If you like to water a lot (like every couple days) try lava rock or LECA (can get online at Amazon or from a Home Depot, etc.) Put in a pot with drainage. If you want to water less, put in the bark mixture. You should be able to find most at a local nursery or hardware. Then....patience.

I suggest a clear pot, because you can pot it so you see at least one green root at side of pot. That will help tell you when to water.

---------- Post added at 10:41 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:40 AM ----------

Yes, it will grow a new spike (the tall thing the original flowers were on). I wouldn't try to force that spike to reflower because of poor root condition at present. You can leave the old spike as is, or cut it down close to where it comes out between the leaves. I do the latter. Some leave it to dry naturally.

---------- Post added at 10:45 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:41 AM ----------

And it sounds like it probably came from a grocery store or etc. They are usually potted in tightly packed sphagnum moss, and many times that moss has degraded to the point of mush. For a beginner, that's also a hard way to figure out how to water.

If you get or buy another Phal, I'd get it repotted asap, as mentioned above.

[christieinthesky]

Thanks everyone! I cut off the blackened roots and washed the rest of the rot off, drying it now so it can be planted in its new home/clear container with drainage.

[Token]

Originally Posted by Ray

A key to orchid growing is understanding that orchids do much of their respiratory gas exchange processes through their roots and not just their leaves. In the case of that plant, the potting medium (most orchids cannot tolerate potting soil) became waterlogged and suffocated the roots, leading to their death and decomposition.

This is good advice, the person that invented semi-hydro was clearly an inexperienced person and semi hydro has been around for 40 odd years yet nobody questions that it does not really work for exactly the reasons Ray has posted.

The other thing you will see orchid beginners try out to kill their plants is douse their roots with 3% Hydrogen peroxide.

Bad advice seems to linger and those 2 I keep see beeing used badly again and again