Phals roots rotting - Orchid Board

ardera · #1 12-31-2010, 01:18 AM

I have 3 phals that weren't looking good, so I unpotted them. Most of the roots have rotted and had mold on two of them, and the third looked ok. I've had them for quite a while, and hadn't made any changes to my watering regime. I blame the high humidity in my apartment. I think I am the only person, in the state of Colorado, that has to run a DEhumidifier!!! With it running, my humidity is between 40-47%. I was having problems with mold, when I decided to get it.

So I have cut off the bad roots, soaked in Physan then repotted one in a clay pot and actually potted the other straight into one of those orchid pots, with the holes all over, instead of the plastic pots they were in. Here I thought my problems were gonna go away when I solved my humidity problem. The strange thing is I had recently repotted them into bark, because they were in sphag.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #2 12-31-2010, 01:34 AM

I need to get a few details ironed out.

1. You've had these 3 Phals for quite a while.

Have you asked about these before?

How long have you had these for, do you recall?

2. What was the humidity prior to lowering the humidity?

3. What is the suspected cause of the higher humidiy?

4. Why would you want to lower the humidity to around the high 40's%?

Such a low humidity has the potential to cause even more problems, such as roots shriveling, and bud blast (should they have had buds).

5. Were the plants planted in moss when the problems happened?

6. What are the temperatures of the growing area, currently?

Day temps?

Night temps?

7. Were they in clear or opaque plastic pots?

Clay pots not only keeps things in the root zone drier than plastic pots, but they also keep things cooler.

8. How large were the pots in comparison to the root mass prior to the incident?

Any pics of the before and after for these 3?

ardera · #3 12-31-2010, 01:38 AM

It's just been a really upsetting winter for me. Before the dehumidifier the ceiling was raining on me, condensation on the ceiling dripping in the living room bedroom and closet even thought I kept wiping the ceiling every day. Then dealing with mold on the ceiling and around all my windows, mold growing on the medium of anything not in bark. Try to take care of that and repot everything that had any old medium, and I still have problems with my babies.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #4 12-31-2010, 01:42 AM

The problem is with the leaky ceiling.

You gotta get that fixed if you can.

It's not the humidity per se. It's the humidity, cool air, and the air circulation being lower than it is outdoors.

I think that this probably has nothing to do with your cultural regime, but rather it is a problem exacerbated by an issue with your home needing to be tended to. I bet if you fixed the ceiling, the problems will eventually subside.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #5 12-31-2010, 01:44 AM

Me telling you to fix the ceiling is easier said than done, considering I have no idea what your situation is like.

However, all I'm offering is insight.

Of course, I'm also assuming you're living in a house rather than an apartment.

If you're living in an apartment, then I don't know what to say.

ardera · #6 12-31-2010, 02:15 AM

Yeah, I rent. The dehumidifier has helped with the ceiling, which isn't leaking per se, I think it is poorly insulated. The condensation keeps appearing in the exact same pattern every time. I also have about 4 fans running at all times too, to try to keep the air circulating.

It is just really disappointing that no matter how well I try to take care of my babies, I keep having to take desperate measures to try to keep them healthy. That and having to keep cleaning mold on the chids AND my ceilings and window frames...

ardera · #7 12-31-2010, 02:21 AM

Sorry, just feeling a little moody tonight, after my discovery...

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #8 12-31-2010, 02:21 AM

Wow...

This is a tough case. I don't know how to advise you because I just don't know your living situation enough to say anything constructive.

Right now all you'd be doing is plugging holes in a leaky bucket with your fingers, if I told you to make adjustments to your growing regimen.

About the only thing I come back to is to figure out a way to get the ceiling fixed or move.

There's not much I can offer you in actual growing advice right now. Sorry.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #9 12-31-2010, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardera

Sorry, just feeling a little moody tonight, after my discovery...

I'd be moody too, and not just because of the discovery.

A drippy ceiling, mold, potentially ruined clothes, having to restructure how I grow my orchids based on this disaster, etc. I'd hate life too.

Jennyfleur · #10 12-31-2010, 06:10 AM

Oh My! I know that this is not very constructive but I think a big OB Hug for ardera is called for!

I don't suppose it's possible for you to mount the chids? I don't have personal experience in that area but with humidity like that (and assuming that the temps are right) it might be an option...