How bad warrants sphag n' bag?

[Skycat]

I'm kind of worried about one of my Phals. I had tried potting this one in a mix of sphagnum and styrofoam because I thought that would make the mix light enough while also making it easier for me to not dehydrate it.

But I've noticed the leaves becoming limp and thin, and the flowers wilting (but not drying up). Signs of a dehydrated plant. The roots I could see at the top and sides of the pot, there were some dead ones (some dehydrated, some rotten) and some live ones.

I've unpotted it and found a bunch more dead roots, so I cut those off. Now it looks like this



Nowhere near as bad as what I always see recommended for sphag n' bag. Is it still enough to pot normally (as long as I make sure the remaining roots are more snug in the pot)? I want to put it in bark because I realized that my healthiest Phal, which I've had for almost the same amount of time as this one, happens to be the one that's in pure bark, but I don't know when I'll be able to get some fresh bark. I do still have some sphagnum, though.

Also I'm confused by that one root with the black in the middle. That spot feels dead, so... do I cut it off even though the rest of the root past that point is firm and green?

(Also I cut off the flower spikes just to be safe, and also they were annoying me anyway.)

[WhiteRabbit]

I would only try sphag and bag for completely rootless (or nearly so, like only one or two small nubs) Phals.
What sphag and bag does, is keep high humidity around the plant when there are no roots for the plant to take up water with, and hopefully keep the plant alive until there are some roots - but you can also end up with mold, or possibly rot.

I don't think your's is really bad - I think it will be fine.

That one root you are asking about - don't cut it off,

[Skycat]

Good, thanks.

I still had some old bark lying around, so I potted it in that for now. But I still need to get a new bag of bark sometime anyway.

[Optimist]

I would just cut that black root off. Put it in bark as you say. People here say plastic pots, but I prefer terra cotta orchid pots with additonal holes.

Repotting is about getting wood chips that are breaking down into compost, basically away from the roots. I've seen sow bugs, centipedes, millipedes come out of pots when repotting. Those are critters who are attracted to rotting wood. That environment is toxic to orchids. An orchid is only as happy as its roots. If you can get root culture dwn, you unlock the door to caring for most orchids.

[RosieC]

I agree. Sphag n Bag is for rootless phals. If there are any roots then it's best potted up.