Going Bonkers: Trouble with re-potting and root rot: Please Advise

[SHag42]

Hey everyone. I seem to be having one issue that i can not seem to overcome. Please help me to figure out what I am doing wrong.
The story goes like this. I buy a new plant, it has some root rot. I cut off the bad roots soak it in a fungicide, Let it air dry for 24 hours then plant in potting mix that has soaked over night, wait 2 weeks to water, water thoroughly with a little seaweed, let drain, 2 weeks later I have to unpot again because the roots have rotted. Trim roots, soak in fungicide repot in a even smaller pot, 3 or 4 weeks later new roots and the plant starts a slow recovery.
these are all phal. orchids.

Now a little history of my growing conditions and the potting medium that I use.

I live in North Fl. in a very shaded area the plants receive about 1 hour morning sun and about 2 hours evening sun. No quite enough light because the leaves are a little dark. No where to move them though and they seem to love it once they get started and grow new roots. The humidity is very high most of the time. 55 to 60 daytime and 60 to 85 night. They sit on a covered concrete patio up on bakers racks to keep the air circulating under them. They have decent air flow and my healthy 4" pots need watered about every 5 days.
They are all in clear plastic slotted pots that just fit the roots. The potting mix I am using is fir bark, sponge rock, lava rock and leca.

I don't understand what is going on it is driving me nuts, it is like I have to do it twice to get it right and that is hard on the plants and me. I would love to figure out what is going on.

[kindrag23]

Gosh this is tough...is there absolutely no where else to put them? Maybe bacterial not fungal. Side question do you have these quarantined? Just 2 be safe?

How old or fresh is the medium?
Air flow/circulation?

[SHag42]

Originally Posted by kindrag23

Gosh this is tough...is there absolutely no where else to put them? Maybe bacterial not fungal. Side question do you have these quarantined? Just 2 be safe?

How old or fresh is the medium?
Air flow/circulation?

Only other choice is to bring them in and put them under lights. Tried that for a short period of time when we had god awful rain and they did not seem to like it. They are much happier outside. In another month the leaves will start falling and they will get more light, And I am looking for a new place so top priority on the list is big windows with good light.
Yes I keep them separate. But it happens to almost any new one that I buy. I always use new fresh medium, new pots, a new razor blade for each plant and wear a fresh pair of gloves for each plant. I also wash my table down with beach after each. I figure I have to be doing something wrong because like I said once they get new roots they start growing great. And so far have not had one die this year. Just look pathetic for a while.

I don't know maybe it is the light or maybe the potting medium not being right.

[kindrag23]

I am not sure sounds like you are on the right track...do you get your plants from local vendors or order online?

Maybe its the fungicide maybe it is to strong. What type is it.

[SHag42]

Originally Posted by kindrag23

I am not sure sounds like you are on the right track...do you get your plants from local vendors or order online?

Maybe its the fungicide maybe it is to strong. What type is it.

Most of them have came from big box stores or grocery stores. I have some new ones i ordered online but am leery about repotting them till I get this figured out.

I sometimes use physan 20 other times organacide plant doctor always at the recommended strength. I have also not use either just peroxide and still had the same results.

---------- Post added at 10:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:47 PM ----------

Originally Posted by shushu45

Kindrag23 might be right about the fungicide. Also how old is the fungicide??

How long are u letting the bleach on the table after spraying it??
Is it 100 present bleach or a 1:10 dilution?? Meaning 1 part bleach 9 parts water.

I use a fairly strong solution at least 1:10 if not higher. But do not let it sit anytime. I also put down a fresh newspaper for each plant and throw away the whole thing, then wipe down with bleach.
Good point, I will start letting the bleach sit for 10 min or more each time/

Thanks for that useful piece of advice.

---------- Post added at 11:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:51 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Wild Orchid

There are as many different opinions on how to grow Phals as there are growers, so here's what works for me.

I used to have similar issues that is roots dying rapidly after repotting.

I started doing a couple of things: when buying a Phal, I look for healthy, fat, silver colored roots poking through the media before I commit to buying one.

Between two evils, I prefer a dehydrated plant to the one that's been sitting in a wet moss. Dehydated Phals can be soaked and recover quickly. Those that sat in the wet moss usually end up rotting.

Within last two years I have also learned by trial and error that most old roots, no matter how healthy they are hate new environment.
So ....after I bring a new Phal home, I unpot and let it dry for at least 24 hrs. Then I attach it BARE FEET to the plastic pot and spray it once or twice a day for at least a month. No media!

If the roots are healthy and dry quickly, over a time I add a handful of coir or bark over the roots, so I don't have to mist as often.

Only after a month when the new roots start growing and old ones are no longer dying, it gets repotted.

I deep water new Phal only once in a while but mainly spray the roots and underside of the leaves with a seaweed solution.

I used to lose every other new Phal that I'd bring home, now it hardly ever happens.

This is just my personal practice. I hope its helpful somewhat.

Great thanks for that info. I will try this with the new ones I just bought. They both have decent looking roots. They are 2 mini phals that were together in one pot that were planted plug and all then more moss stuffed in around them. Like you said They had healthy roots poking up and little rot when I got them cleaned up. I soaked them for a bit in physan 20 and they are now drying out. Tomorrow I will do as you say and put them in the pot with no media and see how that goes. It does seem like an adjustment issue with them. Few good Roots, no roots, fine new roots. I do have one question. one of them has a few roots that are green but flat, is that something to worry about they are firm?

[Wild Orchid]

Originally Posted by SHag42

I do have one question. one of them has a few roots that are green but flat, is that something to worry about they are firm?

Not an expert but I don't think the shape matters. As someone on the forum said - where's green, there's life, and where's life there's hope.

Good luck!

[SHag42]

Thanks Wild orchid, just wasn't sure about that one. So i will leave those roots be.

---------- Post added at 11:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:12 PM ----------

I did read a care sheet a few days ago from a nursery i found online but I can't find it now. that said you should always repot an orchid in what in came in and if you wished to change it to a new media it should be done slowly over a few years. I believe what it said was if the orchid was grown in moss and you wanted to switch to bark with the first repotting you should only add about 1/4 bark to 3/4 moss, the next year go to 1/2 bark and 1/2 moss etc. This was talking about phals not sure if it applied to all orchids. has anyone else read on heard of this?

[Edward Brookes]

I cannot see that you are doing anything wrong at all, & so I feel that you are getting plants that are already declining. The shops are not remotely interested in cultivation of Phalaenopsis, only in selling a product. Always be cautious in the use of chemicals, as you seem to be now. perhaps you could try leaving one new purchase as it was when you bought it, but keep it in your good environment, with routine care as you maintain, & wait for it to become active BEFORE transplanting into new media. Just a suggestion.

[WhiteRabbit]

Are you potting into a pot just big enough for the root mass?

[shushu45]

Kindrag23 might be right about the fungicide. Also how old is the fungicide??

How long are u letting the bleach on the table after spraying it??
Is it 100 present bleach or a 1:10 dilution?? Meaning 1 part bleach 9 parts water.