Phal: should I cut more roots?

[Pollicino]

Hi guys,
I'm Irene. I've been reading this board for ages and I know the very basics re-potting a Phal... but when it's time to put it into practice... Well guys, I need your help.

This is a Phalaenopsis from the grocery store that has been sitting in a sphagnum core for too long. Please, help me save her.
Imgur: The magic of the Internet
Imgur: The magic of the Internet


Should I cut more roots? There are a lot of black spots, but they are firm to the touch. I'm afraid it's more damaged than I thought

Thank you so much,
Irene

[camille1585]

Black spots aren't a major problem, and your plant can't afford to lose more roots by trimming those. Generally, the only roots that would be cut are the visibly dead ones (hollow and mushy).

Sometimes it happens that a section of root is bad or shriveled, but the growing tip is healthy. Unless the root system is large and other wise healthy, it's best to not cut off these suboptimal roots either.

It's ready to bepotted up, and should likely recover just fine.

[aliceinwl]

I agree, even if the roots are really ugly: black spots, mushy sections, etc. do not cut them. Unless it’s mushy all the way to the tip, the root is very functional. When in doubt, it’s always safer not to cut ;-)

[fishmom]

Listen to Camille. Even the wiry core of the root, as shown in your second picture, can help to hydrate the plant, though less efficiently than a full root with its velamin coating. Don't cut roots.

[Pollicino]

Thank you so much, I watched thousands of video tutorials (I'm not kidding), but everybody has a different approach. Unfortunately there's no way to tell if that person is an actual expert.

I even found one where they cut every single root that wasn't spot-on green. And then they removed a few healthy leaves so the plant wouldn't struggle to hydrate them....
...and don't forget those who are deliberately damaging their plants so they can upload a "how to re-pot" video tutorial.

I cut only what was rotting. I always left "the string inside the root" (I found roots that were healthy - then "string" - then healthy again, but I understand this is normal). I surgically cleaned around the stem, that sphagnum wasn't easy to remove!

Thanks again!