Are these Phalaenopsis roots healthy? HELP!

[james mickelso]

Cinnamon is an astringent. It cauterizes or seals the wound. It is great when put on the cut end of a root. But it is best left on the end of the root and the root kept dry for a day. Before cutting the roots, water them well, and then cut them. That way the plant has been watered and it can be left to dry for up to a week. Phal roots are covered with a spongy material called velamen and this can be kept dry for quite a while without harming the plant. Phal roots are also storage vessels for the plant. They are where water and nutrients are stored by the plant. Same with the leaves. the phal has no pseudobulb with which to store energy. When cutting roots, make the cut and then allow the plant a day or two to heal the wound. Then place in a medium bark or other media. Moss is fine as long as it is placed around the roots sparsely. Very loosely so that lots of air can get to the root. Phals like to be watered and then left to dry. My friend has lots of my phals in her bathroom and on her kitchen sink and she waters them once every 10-14 days. They are growing ok. Your plant is dying from drowning. Your saucer is cutting off air circulation to the roots from the bottom. The media is too dense. Good advice all around here.

[My Green Pets]

Show us a picture of what's going on so far

[RawanAS]

Thank you for your encouragement Bethmarie! I really hope I don't kill it...
I have another question, during the time I leave it out of the pot, do it keep using fertilizer? If so how frequent?

[My Green Pets]

First priority should be on getting those cut roots dry and sealed. Then next time you water it, you can mix up a weak solution of fertilizer and dunk it for a few minutes. Keep it light though.

Here's a photo for you. A wild phalaenopsis hanging on a tree getting ready to bloom. Just to drive home the fact that these guys are tough cookies.

[RawanAS]

Here's a picture of the roots I took after soaking them in water this morning, what do you think CambriaWhat?
I forgot to mention that I found actual pieces of sponges stuck under the roots, I'm not sure if that was a good thing to find.
Again, thank you everybody for the great advices!

[kindrag23]

Yuck sponge! Lol, looks like you got some very nice roots!

[kindrag23]

I dont like sponge because I have found where I live it holds to much moisture in the middle of the root system and can encourage rot (hot and super dry where I live) thats why I like the packing peanuts. They dont break down. And make sure that the main root system still get air. And not impacted.

---------- Post added at 10:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:19 PM ----------

When they (other ob members) speak of weak fert. They mean .25 the recommended dose per gallon. Over fertilizing can cause root and leaf burn. Example. My paphiopedilum was getting to much nitrogen from my 2 fertilizers and then the leaves started showing signs of the excess and burning on the ends and up the leaves.

[My Green Pets]

They look ok but I am super picky, lol, I would like to see a very well-lit picture of the roots BEFORE soaking so that we can assess how dry they are getting each day (might be good to let them go without water for 2-3 days), and well-lit because in this pic it seems that the roots are black right where they come out of the plant but it could just be shadow.

The sponge is a normal potting material used by some commercial greenhouses. Retains water, doesn't rot...but yeah I don't know how great it is in the long run.

I applaud your efforts, this plant is lucky to be in the hands of such a concerned owner!