Phals have a crusty tartar layer on roots

[NewBloom]

Several of my NOID phals have developed an oatmeal or golden crust over parts of the roots. This has been going on a while. it's on areas that are not covered by the medium. Has anyone experienced this?

I've been wracking my brains trying to pin point the cause. I've wondered if it can be a reaction to DynaGro's Pro-Tekt because if the undiluted product falls on a surface, it leaves a white residue. I stopped using it for a while. Still, my other types of orchids don't exhibit the crusty formation on roots and they are grown in the same area and fed the same fertilizer.

Btw, several of the phals have bloomed and put out new leaves.

[Zoi2]

It kind of sounds like fertilizer salt build up. Can you post a picture?
Joann

[NewBloom]

I will take pictures tomorrow and post them.

Is it possible for fertilizer to build up on some plants and not others?

[Zoi2]

Yes, but I'm not real sure why it happens to some and not all.
Joann

[NewBloom]

Okay, here are the photos of the phal mystery. The second photo is the beginnings of a new root and half of it is has the crusty tartar.

Now I do water with plain tap water about once a week. Admittedly, I haven't always done this from the very beginning of having the plants.

I'm never sure if we're meant to flush the plant with distilled/purified water or if regular water does the job. The water here is hard so I wonder if it doesn't flush out the fertilizer salts sufficiently. Or maybe I need to let the water pour through for a longer amount of time?

Thanks in advance.

[RobS]

Definatly looks like salt build up to me. Salt build up can be caused by the salts in the irrigation water you use. I'd definatly advise to use rain water if you can destilled should be a good alternative.

[NewBloom]

If it's buildup then I now know what to do. I'll try flushing with distilled water and collect rain water when the rainy season begins.

Dank je wel, Rob.

[RobS]

graag gedaan