Help with roots

[melcat]

I've had this phal for about 4 weeks (my very first orchid!) I bought it on sale because it had finished a spike and the other was small at the time. I had mealy bugs already and now it's looking like root rot. I saw the first bug on the very tip of the spike! D: The mealy bugs are gone thanks to q-tips and rubbing alcohol and I haven't seen any for a week and a half now and I inspect every few days.

The other day I noticed the old spike was starting to turn brown, so today I cut it off and dusted it with cinnamon. Then I noticed the roots - there seems to be some mold growing on some and brown is starting to appear on roots that were nice and healthy 2 weeks ago. I've only watered the thing three times since I've had it and it was looking like it was doing better than it had when I bought it (everything seemed to be drooping at the time).

I figured I needed to repot it in bark and I will be doing so. I'm just not sure which roots are salvageable and which need to go under the knife. The very obvious ones will be cut but the one that have brown patches, what do I do about those? Will they spring back or just die? Also, I really don't want to loose the spike. I've never seen the plant in bloom and it has two buds already.

Photo 1 - orchid
Photo 2 - one side shows brown patches
Photo 3 - other side shows brown patches and brown roots
photo 4 - close up of dead roots/mold
photo 5 - spike close up

Don't cut the roots that are firm to the touch even if they have brown patches, they are still ok. Only cut the mushy ones and those that are obviously dried out and dead.

[Ray]

Considering the plant is starting to form buds, I'd do not trimming whatsoever, but wait until it is sone blooming.

As Orchideya said, those are mostly good roots, so should support the plant fine.

[johnblagg]

your falling into the OMG its sick trap ....calm down and water a bit less they do better with a little dry that they do with too much ....water it really good once a week instead of when you think it is dry,its realy hard to judge sometimes in bark . when you do let it drain good after.

Watering is a skill we all have to learn over with orchids when we first start

[tucker85]

I agree, the plant doesn't look too bad to me. I would let it bloom. Good luck.