Need Phal care help...Bad roots..

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Imagine the irony!

After posting this message, someone posted a message on a thread called "Wanted to share my spike" started by Pilot.

Check out his pic.

[frostedeyes]

if ur going to pot it... i would suggest charcoal... and pebbles... just make sure they are tightly potted. you'll know if you've potted the right way is in a weeks time ull see new roots starting to show at the base.

[Donald]

AHH! The moss or no moss debate. I have 5 phals all growing in loosely packed moss here in Massachusetts where the humidity level in the sunroom where they reside during the winter doesn't get much past 30 to 40 percent. I have NEVER had a problem with rotting roots. As a matter of fact the medium drys out in one week and thats when they get watered. Growers choice on this one.

[JackiBlu]

****I am by no means an expert**** but I have some of my phals just in moss & I am in South Florida. I watch my orchids that live in moss very carefully to be certain I do not over water. In Florida, it is mostly humid 70%+, so I may water once a week - at most twice - during the high humid days of summer, it just depends. I can only imagine, but in Az being it is so very dry & very hot in summer, moss wouldn't be as much a problem.

Those top roots which are dead, if you are sure all else is ok, you could wait until time to repot to cut them out. But that is just my 2cents There are phal experts here who know better than I.

[Donald]

The low humidity in Arizona shouldn't pose any great problems with using moss. You'll probably find yourself watering it twice a week. Just don't pack tightly. That's the key.

[Ornella]

Sure... I am going to re-pot it to the best of my ability.... Thank you all for your help!
Also... I am going to beg it on bended knee and make a voo-doo dance.... in the hope it will start blooming....

[Windy]

Are you sure those surface roots are dead? I have a couple of phals and when I water them, the roots turn green (they're also planted in moss).