What is this on my orchid?

[butterfly_muse]

Morning, guys! I posted this on the Phal Abuse Ends Here forum last night, but I thought it might be better to start a new thread, so you can ignore the post there. I don't know how to delete it or I would (can you do that? If so, how?).

Anyway, can anyone tell me what this is on my phal's roots? Fiance caught me eyeballing an orchid when we were out the other day and surprised me last night. =) The plant looks very healthy, leaves roots and all. But there is some white fuzz on the bark and I am not sure if underneath the bark is fine bark or some kind of potting mix, I can't tell.

The roots have this weird scaled look on them and they are fuzzy. I am not sure if this is just because the plant is probably a clone hybrid or if it's because the aerial roots are dry or if it's something else? I have attached pictures. It looks like many of the roots up top closer to the surface as well as the bark have white fuzz. The fuzz on the exposed roots is green and a little bit of white. If I look through the pot there might be some white fuzz on the roots.

This orchid is in bloom, it's got about 13 flowers on it so I don't really want to repot it if I don't have to. Can anyone tell me what this is and how to fix it? Thanks!

[SlipperGirl]

The stuff on the roots is fine I have a orchid that had that it didn't do anything to the orchid I dont know whats on the bark, sorry

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by mothorchidgirl

The stuff on the roots is fine I have a orchid that had that it didn't do anything to the orchid I dont know whats on the bark, sorry

I was thinking it might be the roots, but you know what they say about assuming. So I figured it best to double check.

[Gail]

Could it be salt build-up? I can't detect the fuzz in your photos, but the color on the bark looks like it.

Since you don't want to repot right now, it wouldn't hurt to flush the pot well.

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by Gail

Could it be salt build-up? I can't detect the fuzz in your photos, but the color on the bark looks like it.

Since you don't want to repot right now, it wouldn't hurt to flush the pot well.

I don't know, I just got the plant. It's a Just Add Ice orchid, I don't know if that means anything (like, are they notorious for overfertilizing?)...How would I go about flushing the pot? The poor roots look pretty crammed in there, but I know phals tend to like that. Should I just run water through it? I guess that would give me an idea of its drainage situation, yeah?

[Gail]

Yes, just run lots of water through the pot. If you use rain/snow water, it would be even better. You probably know not to add ice.

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by Gail

Yes, just run lots of water through the pot. If you use rain/snow water, it would be even better. You probably know not to add ice.

Yes, I do. XD I sat down last week and read the whole thread of Phal Abuse Ends Here. I learned a lot. I wish I could stop asking questions! Lol! I have a water filter on my sink, no rain or snow water, unfortunately, so the filtered water will have to do. Thank you!

[cbuchman]

The orchids looks good to me. I agree with flushing ti with lots of water to eliminate any excess fertilizer. Just make sure that your filter isn't a water softening device (do you add salts to it?). If it is then, best not to use it as the salts can be toxic.

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by cbuchman

The orchids looks good to me. I agree with flushing ti with lots of water to eliminate any excess fertilizer. Just make sure that your filter isn't a water softening device (do you add salts to it?). If it is then, best not to use it as the salts can be toxic.

No, not softening. We're on city water which is why we have it. =)

[cbuchman]

Sounds good then.