Phals roots rotting

[CTB]

Why isn't your landlord making repairs? Are you well, how is your own health? This doesn't sound like a good place, is it time to move? It sounds like you need to think of yourself, never mind a few plants.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by CTB

Why isn't your landlord making repairs? Are you well, how is your own health? This doesn't sound like a good place, is it time to move? It sounds like you need to think of yourself, never mind a few plants.

I'd have to agree.

But I think Jennifleur is right too, I think you do need a little electronic hug from the OB.

[BobInBonita]

Hugs and sympathy. It sounds like a terribly frustrating situation.

Having come from a low humidity state during winter (Minnesota) I have to say your landlord REALLY needs to address his issue before there is structural damage done. There has to be a source for all this humidity. It could be something dangerous like improper ventilation from a gas fired heater or dryer, both of which can also lead to carbon monoxide issues. Talk to him sooner rather than later.

Back to your orchids. You mentioned they were in sphag for several years and recently repotted to bark. That can be a significant shift in conditions for the orchid. I have seen significant root loss with that kind of moisture change. It May be an unfortunate but necessary shift from wet conditions to more healthy conditions. To me the important thing is whether they start to grow new roots adapted to the new medium. Do you see any sign of budding or growth (without disturbing them too much at this point?

I agree with the King that your humidity levels (47%) should be fine for the orchids, but aren't for the house. In Minnesota, even with humidification, our house would get significant condensation on the windows if the indoor humidity got above 30%. My phals did fine even with the lower humidity, but required more frequent watering. I grew in bark so it was really difficult to keep them hydrated. I would soak in the sink twice a week.

I have trouble growing in sphag myself, but if your landlord gets the humidity down, it really might be the best way for you, just because of the rapid drying and especially since you grew them in sphag for several years successfully. I wish I had tried it back in Minnesota, but now in Florida it is the kiss of death for me.

[silken]

A hug is definitely in order here.

Reading thru this thread, my concern for your health is dominating my thoughts. I live in Canada and am a home owner, so I don't have a clue what you have for renting ombudsmen or whatever. There should be some authority there to go to bat for you against a bad landlord. No-one should have to live in a home where the ceiling is dripping. Both convenience and healthwise it is not good. The de-humidifier is just a band-aid to the whole thing. Is it possible to look into moving? Molds can be very dangerous to human health and if your plants keep getting them, it is a sign that they are present in the home I would think.

As for the orchids. I have read on this board, that making a drastic change in growing media (ex all moss to all bark) can be very hard on the plant. Physan should help but if the molds continue to be present in the air, then it will likely come back.

Please check out your resources for defunk landlords and what to do about the structural problem (whatever it is) to your home. Then when you don't have to deal with that anymore and can use your time and energy to deal with the orchid problem. And it might resolve itself when the home situation is resolved

Good luck to you and keep us posted. I truly sympathsize.