Phal with some shriveled roots: Should I repot or not? - Orchid Board

Vespucci8 · #1 03-05-2021, 05:53 AM

Hello fellow orchid lovers,

Spring is coming! Are you also looking forward to it?

I have a question about my phal. I think she's fine, but through the transparent pot I see some dried-out roots that no longer turn green when I water it. My neighbour accidentally forgot to water this orchid when I was on vacation.

Now the question is .... Should I repot these and remove the dried-out roots?

The orchid has these roots for a while and shows no further cures ... The leaves are beautiful green and I think the new leaf is still growing. I am a bit hesitative to repot, because I don’t always have good experiences with repotting. Sometimes it seems as if it is stressing the orchid before it is getting used to new pot(ting medium).

Dilemmas ....!

rbarata · #2 03-05-2021, 06:27 AM

I would leave it as it is. It is perfectly normal to have dead roots among good ones. Most of the ones seen in the photos are in good shape.

Ray · #3 03-05-2021, 07:41 AM

Agreed. There is nothing that would require an immediate repot.

The best time to do so is just when new roots are emerging from the base of the plant.

rbarata · #4 03-05-2021, 08:01 AM

As a side note...not your case but when I repot plants with a small number of roots, I always keep the dead ones as they help to hold the plant in the pot.

SouthPark · #5 03-05-2021, 08:09 AM

That will be fine as it is. Just water it in the same caring way you had generally done - before the neighbour began to look after it.

And avoid over-compensating. As in ----- don't over-do the watering.

camille1585 · #6 03-05-2021, 08:19 AM

What are those orange things in the pot in the 3rd photo? They look like mushrooms/fungal structures, but could be something else. In the first case, repotting may be a good idea.

Whenever you do repot, don't be scared. Phals generally don't miss a beat and can be pretty much repotted whenever. You often need to adjust your watering schedule for a couple months while the new medium ages a bit, and usually the plants do very well.

SouthPark · #7 03-05-2021, 08:30 AM

Probably osmocote - or similar.

karrolhk · #8 03-05-2021, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbarata

As a side note...not your case but when I repot plants with a small number of roots, I always keep the dead ones as they help to hold the plant in the pot.

If you keep the dead roots in the new medium, will the dead roots rot quickly and accelerate the decomposition of the new medium?

estación seca · #9 03-05-2021, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karrolhk

If you keep the dead roots in the new medium, will the dead roots rot quickly and accelerate the decomposition of the new medium?

1 maybe 2 no. Don't cut them off.

Vespucci8 · #10 03-10-2021, 09:18 AM

Thank you all! I am relieved

---------- Post added at 08:18 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:17 AM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by camille1585

What are those orange things in the pot in the 3rd photo? They look like mushrooms/fungal structures, but could be something else. In the first case, repotting may be a good idea.

Whenever you do repot, don't be scared. Phals generally don't miss a beat and can be pretty much repotted whenever. You often need to adjust your watering schedule for a couple months while the new medium ages a bit, and usually the plants do very well.

Yes, I think it is osmocote. I have this orchid for a year and bought it with these 'orange things' in the pot.