Phalaenopsis in healing after root rot; tips, thoughts, advice?

[pharaoness]

My Phalaenopsis recently suffered from root rot and looked like it wouldn't make it. I posted a thread about it here and followed advice from many of you. Now I am hopeful that it will make it, so I thank you for that!

I'd like to show you all the progress of my Phalaenopsis and see what your opinion about its current state is. Any suggestions, thoughts, tips, advice, ideas, all feedback is welcomed and appreciated.

I've attached a picture that shows the roots before I potted it, the orchid a few days after I repotted it, and a close-up of the medium I potted the orchid in (sphagnum and fir-bark mix).

So I've repotted my orchid to a well-drained pot that is smaller in circumference and tall (to accommodate the roots being at the bottom tip of the stem).

As you can see, I've made sure that there is more bark than moss this time. I've also put the styrofoam "peanuts" at the bottom (which I covered with medium before potting the orchid, of course).

The leaves seem stiffer, and the remaining spike dried so I ended up removing it entirely. I previously put cinnamon on the areas I cut away to prevent drying (I repotted once just before this time but was told to use a smaller pot), so I just gently rinsed them this time.

I wish I used the peroxide treatment or the cinnamon/alcohol mix on the roots as fungucide, but I found out about it after I already potted it up. Is it possible to apply these without removing much medium, or no? I'd still like to treat the roots with a fungucide, but dont want to stress the orchid by removing it from the medium again.

Anyhow, I had a bag over it till today, I felt it needed air, did I do the right thing?

Please give me all your thoughts, ideas, tips, advice, concerns, anything, I welcome and appreciate all your input.

Thank you all so much for your time and kindness!

[Izzie]

Instead of unpotting it to treat with fungicide- you could do a quick soak in a clorox solution. (1oz (tbsp) of liquid bleach to a gallon of water).

As long as the leaves seem to be really perking up, you can go without the bag if you want. Personally, I'd leave it until it gets some roots started just to help it along- the humidity helps.
Put it in a shady location- this way it will focus more on growing roots than leaves, and provide it a little more warmth than usual if you can. Dark, humid, and warm really boost root growth- should see some in a few weeks.

[pharaoness]

Thank you so much for your help.

Here's my issue... if I wanted to do this, I wouldn't need a gallon (that's WAY too much).

Am I actually supposed to dip the pot into this solution, or do I water it??

For a soak, 1L of water makes sense, so about 1/3 to 1/4 tbsp of liquid bleach (I don't have clorox, but I have bleach, probably chlorinated), right?

If it's just to pour on like watering, I'd only need 1 cup of water (but that doesn't make much sense, so I guess the measurements won't be necessary, lol).

How long do I soak it for, and how long do I rinse it (if I should)?

Then I suppose I put the bag on, warm place, shade, right?

Thank you, you've been so helpful through all this!

[Royal]

I wouldn't soak it in bleach, just keep the medium on the dry side. I know it sounds weird, but trust me. Humidity does help, but allowing the medium to dry a bit more between watering will help start new roots. It also alows damaged or cut roots to heal.

[Zoi2]

I agree with Royal ....skip the bleach and allow the medium to dry a bit before watering.
Joann

[pharaoness]

That sounds like the right thing to do (since it has suffered from root rot from overwatering), I just wish I had applied something fungicidal to it before potting it up...

So you think it should be fine then? What else do you think I should do?

Thanks!

[Zoi2]

It should be fine, just let it grow.
When the roots start really growing, water when they turn silvery white, if they're green they don't need water.
Joann

[Izzie]

Some good replies- they're right. I just suggested the bleach since you seemed so set on treating.

For the future, as far as how to soak/rinse- I've never heard an exact answer. I've heard of people having success with just a rinse, dunk, etc.

Now just be patient, it can take a while for new roots to appear.