Phalaenopsis root rot while forming a new spike.

[Feerie]

Hi all. I am new on this site, so please bear with me.
I have a Phalaenopsis that is making a new spike and I see that the roots is starting to rot. I got it about 10 months ago and it is basicly planted in just sphagnum moss.
I realy want it to bloom.
What should I do?
Please help.

[RosieC]

Welcome to Orchid Board

If you think the roots are rotting I would get it out the medium and take a look. There is a possibility that it could cause the buds to fail, however root rot is more likely to make that happen and it's best to save the plant... so take a look at the roots.

If they are rotting (mushy or hollow) then cut away the rotting ones and see what you have left. Pot into the smallest pot you can get the good (firm) roots back into. They try watering with luke warm water to encourage root growth.

Also take a look at this link. It's a long thread but has some really good information about keeping phals alive. http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ends-here.html

Post pictures of the roots once you look at them and folks should be able to give more advice based on what you have left.

Again remember the key is to concentrate on saving the plant rather than the flowers. If the plant starts suffering because of bad roots then the buds/flowers will soon drop anyway, so keeping the plant healthy is the main thing.

Good Luck

[Feerie]

Hi
Thanks for the reply. I will have a look at the tread. Thanks.

I did take it out of the pot and it looks like there is still a few good roots.
I was wondering if I should not get a root booster to spray them with just to give it a kick start.

I tried not to disturb or shake it to much while replanting it. I cut of all the rotted roots. Then I watered it with lukewarm water. I also placed it in a smaller pot. I just forgot to take a photo after I cut the roots.

[jai_star]

There isn't much of a root system for a Phal that size and it has to support a blooming spike. It must have been overwatered in the past and the roots became waterlogged. However your Phal can be saved it will take a few months to adjust and put out new roots. Watch out for signs of bud drop on the spike as there may not be enough nutrients getting to the plant. If thats the case make a judgement to cut the spike.

[james mickelso]

These roots look to be ok but needing some help. First of all, don't water it any more. Nada. Nyet. No more. Cut off the flower spike. Yes that's what I said. Flowering takes a lot out of an orchid. If you don't want to cut it off I understand. But I think unless you have a near perfect environment, you will lose the flowers anyway. I see some nice new roots growing, some medium aged roots slowly suffering and turning dark, and some mooshy useless roots. Cut off the mooshy roots and dab on some powdered cinnamon on the cut ends. If you are going to keep the flower spike, pot this in bark. Just bark. Put a good strong stake in the pot to stabilize the plant. It must not move around in the pot. Next, put it somewhere that has some air movement. A breeze. Not a stiff wind but a gentle breeze. This will keep the media and roots dry until you mist them. Most phals in nature flower during the dry season when their pollinators have turned into flying bugs. And that is when they heal injuries. Put it somewhere that is warm. Around 70-80 degrees. Phals grow in warm humid environments and grow best there. The most important thing is to let that mess of roots dry out. When you mist the plant be sure to mist the undersides of the leaves. That is where they will take up the most moisture. In a month or two, you will see the young new roots start to elongate and then you can repot it. Let us know how it is doing. Good growing.

[james mickelso]

Also leave the leaves on. Don't cut them off. They are where the plants starch and water reserves are stored. As the plant uses these energy reserves up the leaves will start to turn yellow and fall off when those reserves are gone. Let the plant do it's thing.

[RosieC]

The roots don't look enough to me for the size of the plant, and I agree with others that it has rotted.

I'm not sure I agree with James about not watering it, you need to pot it into clean fresh bark and be careful to let it dry well between watering, but I would water it well, draining thoroughly each time you water, but make sure the medium and roots at the bottom of the pot are dry before watering again, and make sure the pot is only just big enough for the roots so that it does dry well all the way through.

That's what I would do anyway.

James, using your method you don't say when she should start watering again because obviously it can't be left dry forever Personally I wouldn't do it that way but I just wondered when you would start watering again with that method.

[james mickelso]

If you mist it daily that should be enough to keep it going. From what I saw in the pics there are new roots peeking out of the side and once they start to elongate then it can be potted. You just don't want to pot it and put it back into the condition it was in to get rot going to begin with. Not talking about dehydrating the plant. Semi hydro would be better than potting it in mix until the new roots start to grow. Those leaves are not like leaves on say an oak or maple. They are where the plant stores it's food and water reserves.

[Feerie]

Thanks for your help all. I did cut of the rotted roots and I planted it in just tree bark. It is looking a bit better.
Holding thumbs.
Just one more question, I got some root booster that I can spray the plant with every second day for two weeks. What do you think? Could it be good or bad?