Need Phal care help...Bad roots..

[Ornella]

Hi everyone! I have this Phal for almost 2 years and need some advice. It looks like all old roots above the moss are bad/dead. It has a new aerial root. Should I wait until spring with re-potting? Should I just cut those bad roots off? What is the best way to go? I'm still hoping to see a flower spike/flowers this winter. What is your advice on potting media? I live in a climate with very low humidity (really low, sometimes we are down to 5%).

[Ranchnanny]

What is the Phal. potted in? From the photo I see moss is it just on top or is the Phal. potted in it? If so that may be part of your problem. You should maybe repot in new bark medium and cut any dead roots off.

Good Luck
Sheridan

[Zoi2]

I agree with Sheridan. You need to check your roots.
Joann

[Ornella]

Ranchnanny -
I assume it has been potted in moss. I "dug" a little and all I can see is moss. I know Orchids can be grown in different media.. I am not sure that I am ready for complicated ones like S/H. Why is bark better than moss?

[Ranchnanny]

Ornella moss retains to much moisture for Phals.. A Phal. bark mix allows the roots to breath as it dries out where moss stays wet and rots the roots. Any orchid I purchase that is in moss I repot asap. In bark you can water once a week or so but in moss it takes much longer to dry out. How often do you water your Phal.

S/H is another medium to try. I have had great success with my Phals in s/h but I also have many in bark.

Check your roots it won't hurt the orchid this way you can remove any soft or mushy roots.

Sheridan

[Ornella]

Sheridan, I water my Phal only when it is absolutely dry... Every 3 weeks or so... And I water it pretty well... I mean a lots of water to make sure that media/roots are completely soaked. I figured that it likes this watering schedule because I know if Phal does not get enough water its leaves will become wrinkled and soft...

[Ranchnanny]

The problem with moss is it compacts and doesn't allow enough air flow to the roots. The roots need air that is why bark is good as it has pockets of air and doesn't compact. Have you taken the Phal. out of the pot to check the roots?

Sheridan

[Ornella]

Sheridan and others who can help... I am pretty sure my Phal has good roots inside the pot, because it is doing well - healthy leaves/new aerial root. I am just worried about dead roots above the moss.. Recently I moved Phal to brighter place and hope to get a flower spike... I do not want to take moss/roots out of the pot and disturb them before I have decided on a planting media. Does it matter when to re-pot it? Fall or Spring?
Also I did have one Phal planted in a bark ( I got it in Safeway) and it did not survived....I am still not sure what should I use as a planting media considering my DRY-DRY climate....I would really appreciate everyones advice!
Ornella

[Ranchnanny]

Repotting should take place when there is active root growth but I repot mine whenever. It won't hurt to pull the orchid out of the moss to check the roots I do it all the time especially newly purchased. I don't fuss over my orchids I repot anytime even when they are blooming. Haven't lost one yet.

Happy Thanksgiving
Sheridan

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by Ornella

Sheridan and others who can help... I am pretty sure my Phal has good roots inside the pot, because it is doing well - healthy leaves/new aerial root. I am just worried about dead roots above the moss.. Recently I moved Phal to brighter place and hope to get a flower spike... I do not want to take moss/roots out of the pot and disturb them before I have decided on a planting media. Does it matter when to re-pot it? Fall or Spring?
Also I did have one Phal planted in a bark ( I got it in Safeway) and it did not survived....I am still not sure what should I use as a planting media considering my DRY-DRY climate....I would really appreciate everyones advice!
Ornella

I highly recommend you follow everyone's advice about checking the roots. It's best not to assume things.

You can repot anytime really. But depending on the situation people will tell you different things.

1. If your potting medium is rotting or going bad. Almost everyone will tell you to repot immediately regardless of time or growth.

2. If your Phal is growing roots heavily, (usually around spring is when it starts), this is the best time because if you mess up, it's growing season and that'll cover your mistakes of breaking too many roots or what have you.

3. If your Phal is recently purchased and if it's growing completely in Sphagnum moss, some people will say it's okay to continue growing this way.

Others will advise you not to grow in full moss (I'm in this school).

A better alternative to moss is growing semi-hydroponically (aka SH). A member who goes by the screen name Pilot showed some pics of his Phal grown using SH. His Phal from what I recall was pretty impressive, and so was his brief description of his plant's culture.

I recommend you check out the SH section.

I'm not well versed in SH so I will leave it up to the people who do it to plug away. A member named Ray can help in this department as well. He owns a store called First Rays (www.firstrays.com).