Base of phal going mouldy! What can I do!

[supersheep]

I'm not having much luck with my orchids! I only bought this phal about 2 months ago and it's already starting to die on me! I'm really hoping I can save it and any help/suggestions would be much appreciated!

It had loads of lovely flowers when I bought it, but after about a month, they all shrivelled up in a matter of days and most fell off. I got a bit worried, so I repotted it with some fresh bark orchid compost. I noticed there were a good few rotten roots, so I cut these away before I repotted.

I've been very, very careful about watering it - some times it's been nearly 2 weeks before I watered it again. I've been checking the roots through the clear pot and waiting until they've gone a silvery/pale colour. And I've left it to drain after watering it.

It's been in a clear plastic pot, inside a ceramic pot, which has stones at the bottom so the orchid is never sitting in water. It lost all it's flowers a few days ago, so I cut off the flower spike above the second node up. The room its in stays around room temperature and is probably quite low in humidity, as we have the central heating on a lot at the moment. It's near a north east facing window.

Anyway, today I checked the roots, like I do every day, and they were starting to go a bit pale. But it felt very wobbly in the pot, which I thought was strange. So I moved some of the bark out of the way and saw the base of the stem was going all mouldy and looking very withered. I tipped out all the bark and saw some of the roots have gone mushy and a bit moudly now too!

I've attached some pictures and the rotting basically starts from just below the base of the bottom leaf. The leaves themselves look fine - there's 4 nice green leaves.

Now I'm wondering what I can do to save it! It has very pretty flowers, so I'm wanting to try.

I'm worried about repotting it again incase it starts rotting again and I really don't know what might have caused it. As I said, I've been very careful about watering it.

I have read hydrogen peroxide can be used for mould, but all I could get in the shops is 6% hydrogen peroxide - would this be ok and how would I use it?

Any help would be very much appreciated! Thank you!

[Kala]

I am such a nooby on this, so wait for other awnsers too please.
But rotting roots isn't too good...

I have a Brassia who did the same as yours. Mine let bulb after bulb go (one was really rotting away), and I'm now left with 1 bulb. I cut away all the rotten roots. It formed a keiki and this little guy is now producing roots. I now cut all the rotten roots away from the motherplant, which were all of them...

I've read that in these cases you can water and furtilize the plants on the leaves. I'm trying to grow this guy on fernroot, so I placed the new roots close to the fernroot and I spray them every day, also on the leaves.

Yesterday I saw two little things are forming. No idea if these are bulbs or spikes, but we'll see!

I'll keep my fingers crossed and hopefully it will grow.

[Cym Ladye]

Two questions:

1) Is it black in the crown, ie where the leaves attach to the stem looking from the top into the center?
2) Is the stem below the leaves soft as well as the roots?

If yes to one or both of those question, sad to say you are fighting a losing battle to save your plant, probably from crown rot. My suggestion i to buy a new one and start over.

CL

[supersheep]

Looking down into the crown, where all the leaves join, it seems fine.

The bit below the leaves is not soft, but it's where it was a bit mouldy and now it looks very withered. I'm not sure how well you can see it in the picture.

[Wild Orchid]

Originally Posted by supersheep

Looking down into the crown, where all the leaves join, it seems fine.

The bit below the leaves is not soft, but it's where it was a bit mouldy and now it looks very withered. I'm not sure how well you can see it in the picture.

Hello again,
I feel your sadness.
I'm only guessing that some moisture still managed to stay on the base and caused bacteria growth. It often happens before you even bring the Phal home, no matter how pretty and healthy the blooms look.

So in a future, I'd suggest to use Physan 20 and soak the roots and the base before repotting, and I'd repot every single Phal right after bringing it home without waiting for the trouble. In most cases, the medium is already compromised and only contributes to the root rot.

For now, you could try to soak the base and the roots for 15 min or so in Physan 20 and then scrab off as much of black tissue of the base as you can. It's not garanteed that the plant would survive .. but we can try.
Physan 20 Orchids

If you don't have Physan 20 on hand, rubbing alcohol 70% from the drugstore would do as well. Apply it generously to the blackened area till it stops bubbling.

Then let the plant dry a bit and you would need to repot it into a much smaller container with lots of air circulation, and mist the roots area very lightly only when they are almost dry - for a month or so.

I'd also avoid placing the pot inside the ceramic container as humidity here is not an issue, rather the opposite.

Sorry again to hear about your Phal but believe me, we've all lost a few before we got a hang of it.

Best of wishes!
Lilia

[supersheep]

Thanks rlilia

I'll try what you've suggested. Fingers crossed my orchid will survive!

And I definitely will repot all new orchids asap after I buy them!

[The Orchid Kid]

rlilia has some superb advice there. Let us know how it goes and good luck.

I am only recently into Orchids, but I have lost 2 (going on 3) plants, due to lack of knowledge really. The positive side is that however many books and forums you read the best way of learning (that you never forget), comes when you experience first hand an orchid problem. If you keep it alive it is a bonus, otherwise chalk it down to a harsh but memorable horticulture lesson!

I am now a firm believer in repotting orchids not got from a reputable orchid nursery ASAP. That way you can inspect the roots, clean it up and you know it is going into good quality medium.

Good luck supersheep!

[supersheep]

@The Orchid Kid - Thanks! I'm definitely learning a lot with all these orchid problems I'm having.

And yes, I've definitely learnt now to ALWAYS repot store bought orchids asap!

Not that I plan on buying anymore orchids now or anything...

[Leafmite]

Yeah...one orchid usually begets more orchids. I have to grow my orchids in red lava rock or mounted as my roots tend to suffer in bark or moss. And, to be honest, I never liked pulling bits of bark off the roots. I don't have the patience!

[supersheep]

Oh dear! More bad news for this poor orchid! I haven't had chance to repot it just yet, but I checked the roots today and the rest of them have gone mouldy now too. So it hasn't got any roots left now!

Does anyone know what I can do with it now?