Need Phalaenopsis help please...

[silken]

The pictures are almost too small to see much detail. If the pots just fit the roots, they are the correct size. Phals don't get additional growths usually like many other orchids, so don't often have to be moved to larger pots. So if you cut off any rotten or dried up roots and there are still some left, it should do OK. If you have some rooting hormone, you could add some of that to the water when you water. do not water them until they are nearly completely dry.

[silken]

Forgot to say, welcome to Orchidboard! from what I can see the plants look fairly healthy and it was good you re-potted them as they often come with a tight mass of wet sphagnum moss in the root ball that encourages root rot. I always check my new purchases. Enjoy the blooms.

[ambykay]

Thanks I'm very excited about my new babies and I hope they do well.

[shadytrake]

I can't give you any advice about your medium as I use semi/hydro exclusively for my phals but they look good.

I would like to interject a point about the wet root issue. According to a couple of speakers at our OS mtgs, it's not the overwater necessarily using moss and bark mediums, it's the fungus spores that are present.

For example, there is a member on this board who grows her orchids in water vases and the roots are always wet. The difference is that she changes the water and flushes.

There are tons of threads about medium and care for phals and we encourage lots of open discussion. Have fun! Good growing!

[ambykay]

So I'm afraid the new pots are too large. Should I move them back to the smaller pots w/o the plastic holders or leave them where they are?

Also should I pull the second plant out again and finish trimming off the dead looking roots? I was afraid to cut too much because I didn't want to end up cutting off its only living roots too.

Thanks for the advice guys

[silken]

I really can't tell for sure from the photos about the pot size. They should only be large enough to hold the roots and not lots of rootless space. Otherwise the media doesn't dry out fast enough in between watering. If they are close to the correct size, I think I would leave them.

If you did leave dead mushy roots, they should be cut off. They will just harbor bacteria and contribute to more root rot. Cut all of the dried or mushy roots off to healthy root. You can put a dab of cinnamon or sulfur powder on the cut ends which helps dry and help the tip and prevent infection. don't use the cinnamon too liberally as it can have a desiccating effect. Sometimes when a heathy root is cut or damaged, it just keeps growing or branches out, so don't worry. The dead stuff is not going to do any good, so it needs to be gone.

I put thin bamboo kebab skewers in a lot of my pots to help me know when its time to water. Pull it out and if the end is wet, it's too soon. with Phals, you can water them just before they are bone dry. Good luck with them.

[quiltergal]

If they were mine I would repot into fresh fir bark without the peat moss. The peat fills in all the nice holes around the bark cutting off airflow to the roots. Without air the roots suffocate and die. Make sure you soak the bark at least overnight, 24 hours is better. You'll need to change the water a few times. Soaking gets rid of any salts or other grungies, and also softens up the bark so it can hold a bit more water.

As Silken has already mentioned they should go into a pot that the roots will fit into snugly.

[shadytrake]

I agree with the above and I would dunk the roots in a mixture of physan for good measure. It's a fungicide.

[ambykay]

Silken, thanks so much for the advice about checking the new purchases. My mini phal (my first) I had left alone, but the moss hasn't dried out from being watered over a week ago. So, I pulled it out and sure enough it was just a tight ball of wet so I untangled everything and removed the dead roots. Also on the big white phal everything was dead but two little roots. I dipped him in rooting hormone and planted him in a little plastic drink cup. (I cut holes in the bottom so it would drain. I think I repotted him 4 or 5 times trying to figure out how to support his big spike and blooms but he seems ok for now. I hope he makes it.

Again thanks for the warm welcome and all the advice. Now if I can just quit buying the plants I might be ok

[silken]

ambykay, you're addicted now! Have fun