Is my phalaenopsis healthy? - Orchid Board

Pseast · #1 10-24-2021, 06:43 PM

Hi there,

I have a seemingly happy orchids, but wasn’t sure about the grey spots that have come up on the roots. I have thought about asking on a forum previously, but decided to see how it goes and the orchid continues to grow, send off new roots, flower and the pseudo bulb and leaves are generally not affected. Just curious if anyone can shed more specific info on this. Are the roots Ok? Is it rot? I have it in a different medium that the usual and it took to it really well, grew a ton… It is a mix of clay that is used to soak up oil spills and such. I got it to try with bansai’s, but thought it may do well for orchids too… Perhaps there is not enough breathing room in the glass case though? No drain holes. I water it after it dries out and don’t leave water resting in it. Any thoughts on this? Is it healthy?

Thanks for your help.

P.s. There are some black spots near the pseudobulb on the roots, but they have been there for as long as I’ve had it, and it hasn’t seemed to have progressed. It still grows an grows…

Roberta · #2 10-24-2021, 07:35 PM

First, Welcome!

Black spots on roots appear quite routinely. No big deal. Those look like happy plants!

estación seca · #3 10-25-2021, 03:24 AM

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

How long has it been in that container since you repotted it? It appears to me you don't have many roots in the medium, but lots of aerial roots. That suggests to me the medium isn't great for orchid roots.

The particles look quite small to me. I would worry there is not enough air at the roots. Most people who grow Phals like this use a medium with much larger air spaces.

I suspect the plant would do better with larger particles of medium, or a shallower and wider container.

Mountaineer370 · #4 10-25-2021, 09:53 AM

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

I, too, am wondering how long it has been in that pot. You say that you don't let water stand in it, but I'm wondering how you prevent that when it's in a glass container with no drainage holes, and in a comparatively (for orchids, anyway) fine medium.

What little I can see in the way of black spots on the roots does not look concerning, and the plant looks healthy in general, at this time.

I personally, though, would want it in a container that would allow for drainage of excess water, as well as air flow to the roots, plus I would use a chunkier medium. If you choose something like a plastic orchid pot with holes and/or slots, you can always drop that inside a slightly larger decorative container and just take it out for watering. If you were to make such changes, keep in mind that you will probably have to water more frequently.

Pseast · #5 10-26-2021, 05:12 PM

Thanks for all your help. Much appreciated. You're right that it has been a while since I potted it in that. I was thinking it may be good to remove some dead roots and repot. I'll try some things out and may get my hands on some coconut husk or something like that.

estación seca · #6 10-26-2021, 07:01 PM

If you want to grow it in that vase look for LECA, fired clay balls sold at hydroponics shops.

Pseast · #7 10-22-2022, 10:45 AM

Thanks for the feedback and sorry for not responding earlier.

I drain it by tilting the vase over and pouring out the water, but hold the substrate in with my hands that kind of seive the particles. Not too hard. a few grains fall out inevitably.

I assembled another orchid in this substrate and it is quote healthy. I tend to find watering frequency (allowing it to dry out regularly), helps prevent rot. I can post photos if anyone is interested to see.

So basically, I water it about 1x every 2 weeks. let it soak for a few secs, then pour over and drain out. sometimes I mist the visible roots and top layer.

For another pal, doing the more standard orchid bark mix in a breathable orchid pot which is resting in a cylindrical glass vase that holds water that is touching the bottom of the bark. Seems to keep a nice atmosphere and that pal also responds well to this environment.

---------- Post added at 09:44 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:36 AM ----------

I tried some hydro balls (I think that was what they were called where I bought them), seemed to be the same things. Found that they did't really hold any moisture so it was not really the best/ most optimal medium unless wanting to water and drain very regularly. At least, that was what I found in my experience.

I used to be interested if orchid roots can be trained to be hydroponic and submerged in water. I thought I read about that being possible, but also am skeptical and hear that that is not really the case, and the roots generally rot...

I've seen people grow orchids on waterfalls in Thailand and it seems they must have a timer. Foudn it very interesting. Anyone know about this? I tried doing that with a small fountain, but my timing didn't work out and there was some rot.

---------- Post added at 09:45 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:44 AM ----------

I tried some hydro balls (I think that was what they were called where I bought them), seemed to be the same things. Found that they did't really hold any moisture so it was not really the best/ most optimal medium unless wanting to water and drain very regularly. At least, that was what I found in my experience.

I used to be interested if orchid roots can be trained to be hydroponic and submerged in water. I thought I read about that being possible, but also am skeptical and hear that that is not really the case, and the roots generally rot...

I've seen people grow orchids on waterfalls in Thailand and it seems they must have a timer. Foudn it very interesting. Anyone know about this? I tried doing that with a small fountain, but my timing didn't work out and there was some rot.

tmoney · #8 10-22-2022, 10:52 AM

howdy!

we do a similar approach with another genera of orchid, but our phals are in the airy, typical bark and clay mix. for phals, you can find lots of pics and reports of people doing almost everything with them, depending on a lot of factors (local environs, how often they want to water, etc). from full air root mounts all the way to full water culture. i will admit we had trouble with phals in semi-hydroponic growing at first, but after trying some things we finally have 2 phals that seem to be doing well with that method. but i still feel for our conditions that traditional weekly soaking in bark is our most successful method with them.

Pseast · #9 10-22-2022, 10:56 AM

Awesome, thanks for the quick reply. What did you try that helped with semi-hydroponic method, if I may ask?

tmoney · #10 10-22-2022, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pseast

Awesome, thanks for the quick reply. What did you try that helped with semi-hydroponic method, if I may ask?

ha! basically having them in an s/h style container but draining the reservoir a day or 2 after watering and letting them dry out. our paphs are all in s/h, and those are flushed 2x per week with weak ferts on the weekends (so 3 total watering s per week). the phals we just water once a week like all of our other phals in traditional culture

edit to say im not sure you can really call it s/h growing honestly. it’s just them in leca balls