Phalaenopsis... WTF?!?!

[Ducky87]

I went to re-pot my Phal the other day and as I got it out of the pot... there was a HUGE chunk of Moss in the middle with just a little bit of bark around it. also, because it was staying so wet I had to cut half the roots off. I know when you re-pot it your supposed to firm down the bark and roots so it's pretty stable, but the only thing keeping the plant in the pot is the stakes that the flower spikes are clipped too due to there only being about 3-4 healthy roots left... Any suggestions to help with keeping my phal alive??

[Paul Mc]

You might try soaking the roots and bottom of the base in a water and rooting solution for 30 minutes to an hour every weekend until you start seeing root nodes developing. I'd also give it some dynagro protect to help with the environmental stress/change. Also, keep it somewhere a bit warm and humid to help promote root growth.

[Connie Star]

I just repotted a phal in similar condition. It had stopped flowering, I had cut the spike back, and there is swelling of a node on the spike so I was shocked to see the condition of the roots in the tight ball of sphag. I think it will survive with enough TLC.

[Ducky87]

it is somewhere warm, I need to get a humidity tray though! to keep that humidity up as I do forget to mist it every morning. thanks for the reply!

[Paul Mc]

A word on misting. It doesn't raise the RH that
much, nor for very long. Also, if water gets in the leaves it may cause crown rot.

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[silken]

Low light and a high humidity area might help until it recovers. Just about every phal I have ever brought home from a grocery store or big box store has had the big ball of moss in the centre. As soon as it comes home, you should un-pot it and check, even if it appears to be potted in something else. I wouldn't even wait for them to finish blooming as that could take months and then the damage is done.

I have been nursing one that my sister brought me at Christmas looking for help. It was nearly dead. Finally now, the basal keiki has 3 or 4 new roots an inch or more long and the main plant that had one limp leaf left is growing a keiki out the crown! Oh well, the new keiki can just become the main plant I guess. I had to mist the plant every day just to get some moisture to it and finally it is holding its own. I also added K-L-N rooting hormone to the water when I watered it. Some would toss it but it was rewarding to nurse it back. Good luck with yours. With close attention, it will likely be fine.