My mini phals keep loosing their roots to root rot

[camille1585]

For the second, recently purchased one, since it was in moss the roots may have already been on their way out depending on how it was watered before you bought it. How were the roots when you repotted it? Phals transitioning from sphag to bark generally need a higher watering frequency at first (not keeping them wet, but just slightly damper than usual), since they are used to more humid root conditions.

For the first one that you've had longer, you are either underwatering or overwatering. Given your watering frequency and northernly location/temps, I would guess overwatering, but slotted pots do dry out faster.

How large is your bark?
How do you determine when they need water?

Watering very frequently when leaves look dehydrated is counter productive and ultimately makes the problem worse since the substrate has no time to dry out and can rot the roots. Dehydrated/wrinkled Phal leaves don't bounce back quickly, it takes several weeks or months fro them to smooth out again and they often never completely return to their normal state.

The best course of action (in my experience) is to give them a long soak at each watering and then try to water when they need it (roots turning silver), which could be as little as once every 7-10 days at those temps.

You could also give them a boost by giving them higher humidity for a couple weeks/months, by placing them (potted) in a large clear bag or small aquarium, out of direct light. Phals react generally rather well to this treatment.

[lindasbabies]

Thank you Camille! The bark I have them potted in is small pieces. I have to say that even though I’m in the north we have to take into consideration that it’s not warm here yet. Temps are in the 40F to 60 F range so my heat is still on so the air is very dry in the winter here. The roots on the new little phal were in good condition when I repotted her as soon as I got her. There might have been one or two roots already mushy that I removed but the rest were fine

---------- Post added at 10:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:58 AM ----------

Thank you Phalenoptics! I can see the bark through the sides of the slotted pots and I water when the bark looks very dry. On my two big girls, I water them once a week by soakin for 5 minutes or so then drain and they’re doing great. The little ones I’m finding very hard to manage. I think I’m going to try Camilles suggestion of putting them in a plastic bag for a month or two and see how it goes. I assume I leave the top open?

[Phalaenoptics]

It might be good to diagnose the cause of root rot so it doesn't happen again! Especially if your new phal came with healthy roots and now seems to be struggling.

How hot is it in your house with the heat on? How low does the temperature drop at night?

Also, sometimes if your house environment is very dry, the outside bark might be dry on the surface, but inside the middle it might still be wet.

Figuring out the cause of the root rot will help you know how to adjust your care, and also help those of us who want to learn

[lindasbabies]

It’s stays a constant 68-70f in my house day and night but outside it is around 40-60f during the day and 30-40f at night. I’m not sure how to diagnose the root rot. Sometimes I think they just dry out quickly and it’s more that the roots are getting too dry and other times I think it’s root rot. I’m just not really sure to be honest. I just love these little phals and want to help them to be healthy. I love my big phals to.

[Phalaenoptics]

Originally Posted by lindasbabies

It’s stays a constant 68-70f in my house day and night but outside it is around 40-60f during the day and 30-40f at night. I’m not sure how to diagnose the root rot. Sometimes I think they just dry out quickly and it’s more that the roots are getting too dry and other times I think it’s root rot. I’m just not really sure to be honest. I just love these little phals and want to help them to be healthy. I love my big phals to.

Yes, I didn't expect you to diagnose it! That's why I'm asking more questions, to see if we could figure out what could possibly be causing it 🤔

When you say you thought the roots might be getting too dry sometimes, were you looking at the aerial roots or at the ones in the pot?

[lindasbabies]

Both really

[yug]

Do you use air-conditioning? AC can dry up the air to the point that plants, especially orchids, are affected.

[Roberta]

In terms of deciding when to water... can't really be prescribed by the calendar - your conditions are different than mine are different than other people's...An approach to consider, weigh the plant after watering, using a postal or kitchen scale. Then do it the next day, etc. When the rate of weight loss starts to decline (not much more water to lose), then it's time to water again. So the plant gets to the point of being barely damp... not bone dry but not wet either, then repeat. After a few times you'll get a feel for what is needed in your environment with your medium. Then you don't have to guess what is going on in the middle of the pot, the numbers will tell you what you need to know.

[lindasbabies]

Thank you Roberta. I can try that. In the winter here the air is so dry because of using the heater but in the summer when it gets really hot, we’re wall humid so it’s hard to regulate. I did put both mini phals in plastic bags it’s the tops open. I’m going to see if that helps in case they are too dry.

---------- Post added at 01:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:36 AM ----------

Yug , it’s not anywhere near air conditioner here yet since I’m in Maine and it’s still very cool here. In the hot months of summer I may use the air conditioner a couple weeks out of the whole summer. I only turn it on when it’s really hot and humid because I have trouble breathing in that climate.

[camille1585]

I'm only speaking from my experience in my conditions, but I've found that slotted pots under 4in in size to be rather tricky to water correctly, especially in low humidity winter conditions.

I've either repotted those into standard transparent pots (I don't see the purpose of slots in small pots, as those are already rather fast drying compared to large pots), or take the entire thing and slip it into a slightly larger transparent pot, as a sort of cache pot. The advantage is that you get the fast even drying from the slots, but the other pot maintains a more humid atmosphere around it. This works quite well for me.