Is this rot on my phal? - Orchid Board

Kayt · #1 09-16-2008, 09:01 PM

I purchased this phal from a general garden store a few days ago. From what VERY little I know it looked fine. Yesterday I noticed a thin layer of mold growing on top of the sphag moss so I re-potted it and another one of my older phals today. This is the first time I've ever re-potted an orchid and I noticed a big difference between the two. The phal that I've had for a few months now had lots of green and white roots, while the new phal has less roots and many of them were brownish and spotted. The one big thing that I'm worried about is at the base of my phal, where the leaves meet the roots, it is dark black. Does this look like it's rotten or is this normal? Will this guy be okay?

This phal was planted completely in layers of sphag moss, while my older, healthier looking phal was potted in a bark-type mix.

mayres · #2 09-16-2008, 11:57 PM

oh boy - looks like "trouble in river city". I believe you are correct to suspect significant issues here - not much root mass left and questionable as to whether or not they can supply nourishment to the plant through that dark area? Hard to tell for sure from the pic alone. Is the tissue hard or soft? This plant may require one of several potential recovery processes - one being "sphag and bag", some have just lay loose sphag over the end of the plant and keep damp, etc. Of prime importance will be keeping the humidity up in the area - especially at the base of the plant above the black area - you will be hoping for new root development here......Good luck......some others will probably share what has worked for them in situations like this - lots of different approaches - some work and others are more of a challenge.

hollylee · #3 09-17-2008, 12:27 AM

can it peel off? I had a dead leaf leave a spot like that on my chid. I literally just peeled it off, no problems since!

The roots look better than some ive seen thats for sure. They look plump and some are green. Not ideal naturally, but a fun challenge!

Ranchnanny · #4 09-17-2008, 12:41 AM

Kayt if that were my orchid I would cut off all bad roots them rinse in tepid water. I would also use reg. Listerene the brown kind full strength leave on for a bit then rinse again then I would dust with cinnamon. I have done that to several of my Phals and they are doing fine. I have never tried spag and bag I just pot in my s/h medium. I can keep a good eye on the root system through clear containers.

Good Luck - Sheridan

priz_m · #5 09-17-2008, 02:51 PM

I am with Hollylee and Sheridan.

It is very common for phals to experience root rot if planted in tightly packed moss. not your fault, though, they are usually overwatered before you buy them, been there, done that.

I too have had to "peel off" the remaining of an old phal leave, I did it carefully with sanitized tweezers. as for your roots, half of them look decent to me, cut back all the hollow ones, rinse with Listerine (as suggested by Sheridan) or hydro peroxide and repot, I use a mix of bark, LECE and a loose layer of moss on top. Keep in a warm and shady place and hold back on the watering for a couple of weeks.

PS Remember to pre-soak the potting mix 24-48 hrs before repotting

Tami Bell · #6 10-07-2008, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by priz_m

I am with Hollylee and Sheridan.

It is very common for phals to experience root rot if planted in tightly packed moss. not your fault, though, they are usually overwatered before you buy them, been there, done that.

I too have had to "peel off" the remaining of an old phal leave, I did it carefully with sanitized tweezers. as for your roots, half of them look decent to me, cut back all the hollow ones, rinse with Listerine (as suggested by Sheridan) or hydro peroxide and repot, I use a mix of bark, LECE and a loose layer of moss on top. Keep in a warm and shady place and hold back on the watering for a couple of weeks.

PS Remember to pre-soak the potting mix 24-48 hrs before repotting

Sorry to hijack the thread but you said something that caught my eye. "pre-soak potting mix 24-28 hrs before repotting?

You mean leave the mix in water for that long or soak it for 30-45 minutes 24/48 hrs before and let it sit to dry out a bit? (can ya tell I'm VERY new to this?)
Thanks
Tami

priz_m · #7 10-07-2008, 03:15 PM

Hi Tami, yes I mean soaking it in water (sometimes adding rooting hormone) for a couple days so the bark can absorb the moisture when you water, otherwise it will not retain as much and you'll only end up watering more often for a while.

While this is not a rule of thumb it is highly recommendable, depending on the mix you are using you should at least rinse it. I've read of fellow OB members that even boil their media prior to potting.

hope this helps

betwixtimes · #8 10-07-2008, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tami Bell

Sorry to hijack the thread but you said something that caught my eye. "pre-soak potting mix 24-28 hrs before repotting?

You mean leave the mix in water for that long or soak it for 30-45 minutes 24/48 hrs before and let it sit to dry out a bit? (can ya tell I'm VERY new to this?)
Thanks
Tami

It means to soak the mix for 24/48 hours. so that the bark will absorb more moisture. If you don't---then it won't retain water as well. I believe. As the bark breaks down it retains moisture more easily.

cirillonb · #9 10-07-2008, 03:16 PM

When I magnified the area of concern it looked friable (loose and fibrous) suggesting a dead leaf or other thing outside the crown structure. Several of the roots look non-functioning but not as bad as we all have seen from time to time.
I suggest a soak and then try to tease this black material to see how far down it goes (use a stick or tweezers ) If it is just debris, you should get to green or white material, if it is rot, it will stay very dark and soft, which to my thinking, spells doom to the plant.
I'll leave to others how to treat it but the soak I refer to is about 30 to 45 min in water with Physan mixed according to the label.
Of course, once you decide the plant is worth trying to save you will need to trim off the bad roots.
Nick
Nick

Flowerpot · #10 10-07-2008, 03:48 PM

Ooh! I rescued an orchid recently that had such rotten roots they were all brown and mushy (maggots in the soil would you believe!) and a mouldy leaf (one good leaf) I thought it was gone for good. It had one dry root sticking up so I chopped off all the mouldy roots and poked the dry root into some fresh compost and in 6 weeks it has grown 2 new leaves and good roots and an old node is springing into life.