What is this white stuff?

[Leobaby]

There is white stuff in my media , amongst the roots , this is my healthier, faster growing and blooming orchid . I hope she’s not sick or infested with something .

[Dimples]

I’m viewing the picture on my phone (tiny), but I don’t see anything to worry about. The medium and maybe some dead root tissue can often get a little moldy/fungus-y as it breaks down. How long has it been since you repotted this phal?

[estación seca]

I can't see well but it's probably harmless mold growing on the medium. Molds that attack dead organic matter don't attack living plants. What are your growing conditions? Temperature, humidity?

[Roberta]

The only white stuff I see in the medium are chunks of perlite (sponge rock). It gets added to help keep the medium open and airy even after it starts to break down. I don't see anything in the medium that would be a problem, it actually looks quite good. (And I am looking at it on the "big screen" of a desktop, zoomed in so I think I can see it pretty well.

[Leobaby]

Originally Posted by Dimples

I’m viewing the picture on my phone (tiny), but I don’t see anything to worry about. The medium and maybe some dead root tissue can often get a little moldy/fungus-y as it breaks down. How long has it been since you repotted this phal?

Hi ,
Thanks for answering . I never repotted, I just got into this orchid passion relatively recently, this one I bought this year . Mold and fungus sound scary …

---------- Post added at 01:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:25 PM ----------

Originally Posted by estación seca

I can't see well but it's probably harmless mold growing on the medium. Molds that attack dead organic matter don't attack living plants. What are your growing conditions? Temperature, humidity?

Hello , thanks for replying . Well, my phals live indoors only, humidity is about 55, temperature around 67. I water once a week . I hope this mold thing is not dangerous … but is there a way to get rid of it without replanting ? I don’t want to break the growth tips by accident , she has quite a few now .

---------- Post added at 01:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:27 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Roberta

The only white stuff I see in the medium are chunks of perlite (sponge rock). It gets added to help keep the medium open and airy even after it starts to break down. I don't see anything in the medium that would be a problem, it actually looks quite good. (And I am looking at it on the "big screen" of a desktop, zoomed in so I think I can see it pretty well.

Hi , thank you for taking the time to reply . I thought about perlite , but the problem is, the white stuff was not there before , about 3 -4 months ago when I bought this phal. So it’s something new … I think it may be mold , and that doesn’t seem to be good. But the plant appears to be very happy and growing , as opposed to others that aren’t so active .

[quasar17]

Could it be a precipitate? I get grainy white flakes forming if I don't flush the pots regularly. But I also know my tap water is considered very hard.

[Dimples]

Mold and fungus aren’t scary. They’re a normal part of the environment, especially when plants and moisture is involved. It’s normal and nothing to worry about. Technically, it’s part of the natural process that breaks down organic material (leaves, bark, dead animals, etc.) into nutrient forms that plants can use. If it’s mold/fungus, it’ll probably be around for awhile before it disappears again. No treatments needed.

[Leobaby]

Originally Posted by quasar17

Could it be a precipitate? I get grainy white flakes forming if I don't flush the pots regularly. But I also know my tap water is considered very hard.

I don’t flush… ever. The water here is fluoridated, etc…it smells like chlorine too. I drink filtered water, but that is alkaline and I know orchids like it slightly acidic. So I buy distilled water for them. I can’t flush with that, I would need way too much, I have 10 orchids .

---------- Post added at 08:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:11 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Dimples

Mold and fungus aren’t scary. They’re a normal part of the environment, especially when plants and moisture is involved. It’s normal and nothing to worry about. Technically, it’s part of the natural process that breaks down organic material (leaves, bark, dead animals, etc.) into nutrient forms that plants can use. If it’s mold/fungus, it’ll probably be around for awhile before it disappears again. No treatments needed.

Ohhh, I appreciate that information , that lifts a stone off my chest.
I’m so invested into this new hobby, I really want to keep my phals happy, healthy and blooming !

[Canadienne]

In case you have access to it , the acidity of rainwater is perfect for orchids.