Dealing with rescued phalaenopsis

[Roberta]

Black spots on the undersides of the leaves may be spots of mold where the cells were punctured allowing the sugary juices (honeydew) to escape... and that sounds a lot like the sort of damage that spider mites do. They are tiny - almost microscopic (so you won't see them, unless you use a magnifier), and while some display webs with a bad infestation, some species don't do that. So another pest to consider. Search the Forum for "spider mites" or "spidermites", there has been a lot written about them. Because they are so tiny, they are everywhere - they can easily get through the smallest opening, even window screens.

[greenochre]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Black spots on the undersides of the leaves may be spots of mold where the cells were punctured allowing the sugary juices (honeydew) to escape... and that sounds a lot like the sort of damage that spider mites do. They are tiny - almost microscopic (so you won't see them, unless you use a magnifier), and while some display webs with a bad infestation, some species don't do that. So another pest to consider. Search the Forum for "spider mites" or "spidermites", there has been a lot written about them. Because they are so tiny, they are everywhere - they can easily get through the smallest opening, even window screens.

I had spider mites a few times, this time it looks very different. Maybe it's not thrips, but definitely not spider mites. And I'm certain it's not mold, because visible part of the mold is only it's fruiting body, and its mycelium usually rooted in the plant => mold doesn't go away easily, you have to scrap

this black stuff I found was glued to the leaves with very thin web-like threads and came off very easily, with a single touch

---------- Post added at 11:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:14 PM ----------

I took some photos of the damage but for some reason can't upload, because I keep getting an error (

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by greenochre

I took some photos of the damage but for some reason can't upload, because I keep getting an error (

What error are you getting? If you are having trouble doing it using the Manage Attachments function of the Board, another approach is to put the photos on a "cloud" drive (Google Drive or Google Photos, OneDrive, or one of the photo services) and put a link in your post. ( I usually use the Board functionality, but occasionally use Google Drove, Share, Get Link) By using an "external service" you also can provide a higher resolution photo, since the Board software downsizes big files, it was developed years ago when storage was expensive and downloads were slow.

[greenochre]

Originally Posted by Roberta

What error are you getting? If you are having trouble doing it using the Manage Attachments function of the Board, another approach is to put the photos on a "cloud" drive (Google Drive or Google Photos, OneDrive, or one of the photo services) and put a link in your post. ( I usually use the Board functionality, but occasionally use Google Drove, Share, Get Link) By using an "external service" you also can provide a higher resolution photo, since the Board software downsizes big files, it was developed years ago when storage was expensive and downloads were slow.

Yes, I'm trying to use the Board, this is what I get:

"Your submission could not be processed because a security token was missing.

If this occurred unexpectedly, please inform the administrator and describe the action you performed before you received this error."

[Roberta]

Weird. I just tried uploading a photo and had no problem. And you have posted photos before so it has worked for you. I wonder if it is a transitory glitch. It is worth trying again. I am sending you my email address in a PM, if it still fails you can send me the photos and I'll upload them for you.

[Optimist]

Here we are lucky to get 20% humidity. I have to overwater everything. I can't even imagine 70% humidity inside a house. That would be like a steam bath.

[estación seca]

Most of the plants you showed had normal roots when you pulled them out of the pots. All they required was repotting into fresh medium, in a pot just large enough to hold the roots.

Online guides and older paper books tend to be written by very enthusiastic people with less than 5 years' experience, or by plant sellers who are overly optimistic about ease of culture.

Phals. in chunky medium watered once a week with your conditions are probably not rotting. The roots are probably drying out from insufficient watering, and also have damage from the various treatments applied

Many Phals. sold in markets have old medium. They can be repotted at any time, unlike other kinds of orchids. Other Phals. are sold with media in better condition. Most newly-bought Phals. only need potting into new media. Treating with various insecticides or fungicides is not required most of the time. I've never had to treat for any of these on arrival.

I pull the plant from the pot, shake off only what falls off easily, then repot into fresh medium.

I don't think the roots on your monted plants rotted. Drying out or chemical injury is more likely.

By far the most important factor for Phals. growing in homes is warm temperature. They survive at 12-15C but they prefer temperatures above 25C. Some form of supplemental heat is helpful.

[greenochre]

Damage I think to be thrips

[greenochre]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Most of the plants you showed had normal roots when you pulled them out of the pots. All they required was repotting into fresh medium, in a pot just large enough to hold the roots.

Online guides and older paper books tend to be written by very enthusiastic people with less than 5 years' experience, or by plant sellers who are overly optimistic about ease of culture.

Phals. in chunky medium watered once a week with your conditions are probably not rotting. The roots are probably drying out from insufficient watering, and also have damage from the various treatments applied

Many Phals. sold in markets have old medium. They can be repotted at any time, unlike other kinds of orchids. Other Phals. are sold with media in better condition. Most newly-bought Phals. only need potting into new media. Treating with various insecticides or fungicides is not required most of the time. I've never had to treat for any of these on arrival.

I pull the plant from the pot, shake off only what falls off easily, then repot into fresh medium.

I don't think the roots on your monted plants rotted. Drying out or chemical injury is more likely.

By far the most important factor for Phals. growing in homes is warm temperature. They survive at 12-15C but they prefer temperatures above 25C. Some form of supplemental heat is helpful.

Thanks! I'm not sure if I've got it right - you mean the pot should be as small as possible, just for the roots an orchid has right now?

On the photos of two older phals all I was thinking was rotten I cut, so there are no photos. But I'm pretty sure it was rot - dried roots seems to shrivel, and the previous phals I lost have their roots black and soft, sometimes even slimy, but not shriveled. But it's totally possible they died because of the reasons you've mentioned, and then rot because any dead matter in humid environment will

---------- Post added at 01:28 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:26 AM ----------

Originally Posted by estación seca

Most of the plants you showed had normal roots when you pulled them out of the pots. All they required was repotting into fresh medium, in a pot just large enough to hold the roots.

Online guides and older paper books tend to be written by very enthusiastic people with less than 5 years' experience, or by plant sellers who are overly optimistic about ease of culture.

Phals. in chunky medium watered once a week with your conditions are probably not rotting. The roots are probably drying out from insufficient watering, and also have damage from the various treatments applied

Many Phals. sold in markets have old medium. They can be repotted at any time, unlike other kinds of orchids. Other Phals. are sold with media in better condition. Most newly-bought Phals. only need potting into new media. Treating with various insecticides or fungicides is not required most of the time. I've never had to treat for any of these on arrival.

I pull the plant from the pot, shake off only what falls off easily, then repot into fresh medium.

I don't think the roots on your monted plants rotted. Drying out or chemical injury is more likely.

By far the most important factor for Phals. growing in homes is warm temperature. They survive at 12-15C but they prefer temperatures above 25C. Some form of supplemental heat is helpful.

My current temperature is about 21-22C during the day and about 18 during the night. I have a small heating mat and when I had my phals potted I placed this mat between pots and the wall thinking it would help both with temperature and with substrate drying faster, but it seems it didn't. Maybe I should rather put it under pots

---------- Post added at 01:33 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:28 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Optimist

Here we are lucky to get 20% humidity. I have to overwater everything. I can't even imagine 70% humidity inside a house. That would be like a steam bath.

I like high humidity, most of the people says it's easier for them to be in dry and hot climate than hot and humid, but I for me the opposite is true. Maybe I'm a subtropical specie))

But it's not so good for my plants because I tend to overwater, because I just like doing it. It's very calming ang grounding. When I had only a few plants, I killed most of them with too much attention, I really need to have a lot, to keep me busy

---------- Post added at 01:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:33 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Roberta

Weird. I just tried uploading a photo and had no problem. And you have posted photos before so it has worked for you. I wonder if it is a transitory glitch. It is worth trying again. I am sending you my email address in a PM, if it still fails you can send me the photos and I'll upload them for you.

It works now, seems it was a temporary bug. I posted photos of damage

[greenochre]