so many questions!!!

[lais817]

Originally Posted by Singingirl96

You don't really expect people to read this do you?

Why not, I did. If you aren't going to help, don't post, no need for the flaming mate.

Originally Posted by Wrebbitrocks

the roots are broken in several plaves where theres black mush but smaller segments of healthy root attached together by the center filament. are they still helping the plant even though they aren't attached to the plant with root just that cord thing in the center

I believe that they do still work "as roots", as the outer velamen is the part that has died, the central "filament" is the part of the root that transports water and nutrient, though I could be mistaken.

Originally Posted by Wrebbitrocks

how do I cure the roots and get rid of the rotten sections so that i can maybe repot it(hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, mouthwash?)

You aren't going to have much luck healing the dead sections if that's what you mean, best to lop them off beyond the rotten parts, dab them with a bit of your chosen antiseptic (mouthwash etc, I use cinnamon powder) and let it dry for like, an hour or so. Assuming there isn't any rot in the stem below the leaves or anything, you should be pretty safe from the rot. Pot it up, or mount it, I've mounted my two half dead phals and they're doing well. Give it a systemic fungicide, a bit of seaweed solution and some food (if it's growing season over where you are) and you should be in business.

When I mounted mine I didn't use moss, just a small amount of coconut coir fibre and I water it daily, but the coir dries out daily so just check how often you need to do it. We've got quite high humidity, and I grow all my 'chids outside, so a humidity tray or humidifier might be a good idea for you, all depends.

Bear in mind that I live in tropical Australia, so what worked for me might not be the best for you, but it'll give you an idea where to start. Hope I've helped!!

[Wrebbitrocks]

thanks guys. um. i'l try to post pics of the phal but im not that good at it. i think its near gone now. what a shame. so are my other plants. i really feel like giving up but my hopes that theyll make it past winter are high so i'll keep trying. i lopped off all the dendrobium keikis though and theyre starting to shrivel up because i dont have any means to pot them. they arent looking so good

[Bayard]

Welcome!

Try this - get some sphagnum moss (Chilean or New Zealand), wet it, wring it out well. Now find a small clay pot and lightly tuck the fluffed-up moss around what's left of the roots. Put the pot and plant into a sealed plastic bag and place in bright light. Wait for roots to form, and then gradually open the bag to acclimate the plant. Put in a brighter, semi-sunny (East or Southeast) window. Water and fertilize as the plant begins to dry. Repot every 6 months, as moss tends to break down quickly, rotting the roots.

Good growing!

[ronaldhanko]

I opened your thread because of the title "So Many Questions." I remember how I felt when I started with orchids many years ago - I repotted my first plant in potting soil. Hope you weren't put off by the people who had trouble sorting out your post, you'll find the OB helpful - it's just that your post was bit confusing.
So:
(1) the flowers fell off the plant because it was moved - especially in the house, flowering plants do not like to be moved while in flower.
(2) The roots that are still plumb should be left on the plant even if cracked, at least I leave them on and only cut off the dead parts. Those that are dead should be cut off (a hollow shell around a center string). You probably should put something on the blisters (they sound like rot or fungus). Perhaps you can check some of the threads on this site to find out more about what they are and what to put on them. Water on the leaves in a cold environment is death to Phalaenopsis.
(3) It probably won't hurt to leave the spikes on, but get that old moss out of there - it holds moisture in the center of the plant and cause the roots to rot. Whoever potted the plant like that was irresponsible.
If you have other questions you can ask again, but that's the best I could do without pictures.

[Wrebbitrocks]

here are some pictures or at least i hope they're there. theyre not the best of quality but thats the best i could do since i lost my digital camera and only have my phone

[quiltergal]

It looks like you have plenty of good roots left to me. I'm going to offer a couple of suggestions.

1) repot ASAP. Since you haven't had much luck with moss and I'm assuming you live in a colder climate I'd suggest trying fir bark or coconut husk chunks (CHC) mixed with perlite, and charcoal. I've also mixed in some LECA (light expanded clay aggregate) pellets which can be purchased at any store that sells hydroponics.

2) choose your pots wisely. I like clear plastic pots that have an inverted cone in the bottom. The cone has slits all around and allows air to get up into the middle of the pot. This helps things dry more evenly. Clear pots also allow you to see how your roots are doing without taking the plant out of the pot.

3) cut the spikes off now. They are draining the energy from a plant already struggling to survive. With proper care it will rebloom for years. As already stated cut off any roots that are black and mushy. I don't treat the ends with anything. Cinnamon on roots is not a great idea IMO. It's pretty caustic stuff and can do more harm than good.

Here are some links to online potting supply sources. I have used them all and feel comfortable recommending them.

Orchid supplies, orchid growing, spaghnum moss, neem oil, humidity trays and more

Slot Pots

https://www.firstrays.com/cgi/cart/c...uct=Containers

[temperance]

Good luck W'rocks -- it looks like you have many healthy and hopeful roots.

Ron, reading -- "I repotted my first plant in potting soil" -- was very comforting for me because I did the exact same thing.

[Wrebbitrocks]

thanks. actually. those pics are a couple weeks old. the roots left after half of them died roughly represent the first picture. sorry i didnt clarify. i do have a bag of potting medium somewhere but everytime i potted orchids in it, mold grew in it and killed like 4 of my plants, or at least thats what i say to comfort me, so i got discouraged from using it. i could go look for it and use it. is there anyway of sterilizing bark media? i.e. boiling in water? i stuck it in the microwave once thinking it would kill bacteria and almost set my house on fire!!!

[Bird Song Farm]

Originally Posted by Wrebbitrocks

thanks. actually. those pics are a couple weeks old. the roots left after half of them died roughly represent the first picture. sorry i didnt clarify. i do have a bag of potting medium somewhere but every time i potted orchids in it, mold grew in it and killed like 4 of my plants, or at least thats what i say to comfort me, so i got discouraged from using it. i could go look for it and use it. is there anyway of sterilizing bark media? i.e. boiling in water? i stuck it in the microwave once thinking it would kill bacteria and almost set my house on fire!!!

\I know that at the time it wasn't funny but now it is.

I boil bark medium in the microwave......never had any problem. When you first use bark it is very saturated so you need to be careful about watering for awhile. A gentle air flow will help to eliminate many mold issues.
Hope this helps some.
AL

[Wrebbitrocks]

Originally Posted by Bird Song Farm

\I know that at the time it wasn't funny but now it is.

I boil bark medium in the microwave......never had any problem. When you first use bark it is very saturated so you need to be careful about watering for awhile. A gentle air flow will help to imitate many mold issues.
Hope this helps some.
AL

lol, indeed it is. i was supposed to stick water in it?!?! obviously maybe thats why the whole pot burst into flames in there. my kitchen smelt like burrnt for a week. anyways, how long do you boil it in the water? should i buy that physan20 stuff or watever?