Roots hanging on by a thread!

[Singingcrow]

Hi there,

I have a Phal NoID that had root rot, and it was doing fine, even showing the beginnings of new a new root. However, this past week, I noticed all the healthy roots started disconnecting from the phal, and are now only hanging on by a tenth ot the roots' girths. It is mounted and the leaves suggest all is well.

Can someone please tell me what's happening?

Thanks!

[Erce]

they broke.
The thin line IS the root - thé other are the thing it use to absorb water.

[Blueszz]

Hello Singingcrow, a picture would be very helpful to diagnose the problem. This could be caused by rot from the velamen, the actual root (inner string) still could be functional. Don't remove these roots as long as they have good velamen, even when parts of the root miss velamen.
If the roots start to disconnect from the plant close to the stem, you might have an infection on that part of the plant, that is why I ask you to upload at least a detail picture from the part were the plant shows the problems.
When roots break, often only the velamen cracks, but doesn't expose the entire inner string.

Nicole

[Singingcrow]

Hi!

Thank you for responding so quickly. Unfortunately, I haven't had access to a camera that can take a clear picture that closely, and then I got caught up in the Christmas thing....

So, I don't have a picture, but, yes, the roots were disconnecting at the base, and it is the true root hanging on. I don't think the roots broke, as they looked like they were naturally letting go and pulling away. So I took your advice (and now I know what velamen is) and took a better look at it and found there was still some fungus right between the root velamen and the crown. I think the cinnamon did the trick, because it's been over a week now and it doesn't look as dark at the root base. Unfortunately in doing all this I dropped it and broke a leaf! But it's still going! For an orchid, this one is soooo forgiving! I remounted it and gave it some fresh moss, and it seems more content somehow, like it's breathing better.

If I come across a better camera sometime near in the future, I'll post a photo.

Thanks again!