Spotty new leaf & black coloration at base of mini Phalaenopsis

[FishyPlanter]

Hi everyone! I received this phal as a gift a few years back (first and only orchid), and have been following basic care instructions, but now am trying to learn more to give it a better life (reading articles from orchid societies and posts on forums like this one, etc.). I've noticed some changes for the worse over the past couple of months and am hoping I could get some advice on my specific situation.

It's been in its container from a big box store since I got it (sphagnum moss in plastic liner with drainage hole in a terra cotta pot). It hasn't flowered in over a year and the newest leaf looks unhealthy (black/brown spots). I started to repot it into a container with better aeration and orchid mix, but all except maybe one of the roots that were in the moss were dead (I removed them, the whitish root in the photos is the one remaining). For the short term, I just have the plant suspended over water to keep it humidified and am soaking the roots for about 15min/day. But I am wondering:

1. Do I need to remove the newest leaf? I am not sure if it's rot or not, but if it is I don't want it to spread to the crown (but on the other hand, don't want to take off a leaf if it's ok!)

2. There is some black on the base of the plant where it was sitting in the sphagnum. Does this require intervention? It is very firm, not mushy at all

3. Where do I go from here in terms of re-potting? Re-pot with the one (maybe) living non-aerial root in the substrate to anchor it? Something else?

I'd really appreciate any advice!

[Roberta]

First, Welcome!

You have a good root system there, the oldest leaf shows severe dehydration (serious underwatering). Don't cut anything! That leaf may or may not have issues, if the plant has a problem with it, will be shed naturally. But it is green, and contributing to the plant. Looks like it it really trying to survive, growing new leaves. Give it some help... pot it up in some small/medium bark. Water well (so the water runs out of the pot) Keep it warm (a seedling heat mat can help if the house is cool).

To decide when it needs watering, here's one approach... after you water and let it drain, weigh it on a postal scale or kitchen scale. Weigh it again the next day. When the rate of weight loss slows down (not much more water to evaporate) time to water again. With fresh medium, you may be watering every few days and that is fine. The goal is humid air in the root zone - it does not want to be fully dry.

for some notes, take a look at this sticky thread The Phal abuse ends here. After you read through the first few pages, you will have a lot of good information.

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board.

I suspect all the remaining roots were above the medium. They are very healthy. The plant is very severely dehydrated, probably because the roots in the medium were not able to take up water.

Phals. can survive this kind of event but it will likely be several years before it flowers again. The thread Roberta mentioned will teach you a lot. In brief, Phals. like plenty of air at the roots, lots of water, warm temperatures and high humnidity. They can be grown successfully in lower temperature and lower humidity homes once you learn what they like, but warmer is always better.

[Shado]

Hey Hey,

There is a cool life hack to spot if weird spots are rot or not.

If you hold it in the light and it looks kinda wet and glimmery then its an active spot where funghi and or bacteria have a party.

You could easily just use some 3% H2O2 and rub the spots with a q tip. Should take care of it. If it spreads you might have to remove the leaf. (If it is rot or something unnatural!!)

Hope that helps~

[Roberta]

General advice... don't rush to cut anything! Even some fungal problems resolve themselves and dry up. Observe... take your time. Nothing happens fast. Lots of good plants have been damaged or destroyed by people rushing to cut based on what they saw on YouTube. A lot more than were lost by attacking too slowly. Patience...

[FishyPlanter]

[accidental response, sorry!]

[FishyPlanter]

Originally Posted by Roberta

General advice... don't rush to cut anything! Even some fungal problems resolve themselves and dry up. Observe... take your time. Nothing happens fast. Lots of good plants have been damaged or destroyed by people rushing to cut based on what they saw on YouTube. A lot more than were lost by attacking too slowly. Patience...

Hi Roberta,

Thank you so much for the welcome and words of wisdom!

I will leave that leaf alone, and honestly that was the advice I was hoping to hear! I will keep an eye on it and see how it develops, if nothing else it will be a good learning experience for me.

I've moved the plant to a new container with small-ish bark chips now and will get a seedling heating mat as well, since my house is cooler than it would prefer (65F).

I really like the weighing system you suggested for determining when to water, and I have the perfect kitchen scale for it. Part of my problem previously was that I should have been paying more attention to the appearance of the roots in the substrate. I would water it, but the roots were mostly dead so I wasn't actually providing the plant with as much access to water as I thought. In addition to the one living root that had been in the substrate, I put a couple of the shorter aerial roots in at the edges, hoping they might adapt. This seems like a controversial approach from what I've read (seems like some folks do it routinely, others advise against), but since it has so many aerial roots I thought it might be worth a try. And hopefully it will start to put new roots into the substrate in time.

Thank you again for your help, I really appreciate it!!

[Roberta]

Suggestion... get a larger pot so that you can get more of the roots into the medium. If you soak the roots well (for an hour or two) they will soften a bit and that will help in coaxing them into the pot. Also, you can gently twist the plant as you are working the roots into the pot. With the large bark, you'll have lots of air around the roots even in a larger pot, and it'll be easier to maintain moisture. Just be sure the pot has good drainage.

[FishyPlanter]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Welcome to the Orchid Board.

I suspect all the remaining roots were above the medium. They are very healthy. The plant is very severely dehydrated, probably because the roots in the medium were not able to take up water.

Phals. can survive this kind of event but it will likely be several years before it flowers again. The thread Roberta mentioned will teach you a lot. In brief, Phals. like plenty of air at the roots, lots of water, warm temperatures and high humnidity. They can be grown successfully in lower temperature and lower humidity homes once you learn what they like, but warmer is always better.

Thank you so much for the help and welcome!

You're absolutely right - all but one of those roots were above the medium. Since the roots in the substrate were almost entirely dead, when I watered I wasn't actually doing much beyond providing a bit of humidity for the roots above the medium.

I've repotted it in an orchid mix with small/medium bark fragments, and will better observe the roots. Hopefully this will help and it will start to put some new roots into the substrate in time (I did put a couple of the shorter aerial roots into the substrate with the hope they might adapt, but will see what happens). I will also get a seedling heat mat to increase the temperature.

Thank you again, I really appreciate the help!!

[estación seca]

I doubt that will work. Those roots need to be in the medium. I suggest you repot it. Soak the roots in water for 20 minutes to soften them, then gently twist them in one direction to fit them into the smallest pot that will hold them. I think that pot is too small. You will probably crack roots. That is not a problem; don't cut off any broken roots. They still function normally. Then backfill with your medium. Fresh bark doesn't hold much water. You can water by soaking the plant in a bowl of water for 1-4 hours, until the medium opens up and holds more water.