Need help w/ phalaenopsis! mold? scales? bad roots?

[Jenn4a]

I got a new phalaenopsis on (sale) Black Friday that doesn't look too healthy.
Since it was on sale, I decided to get it, and then do research.
Got it from HOME DEPOT

What I noticed:
White fuzz on bark and leaves.
Gray or black fuzz in medium.
Funny smell.
Roots don't look healthy? *the top ones*

* I haven't watered it, the phal just came this way (moist pot)
* I don't want to repot it unless I have to, One of the flowers is beginning to open. (so relatively healthy?)
There's quite a few blooms right now. Also, the smallest buds have shriveled up. I think it is because it was cold outside the day I got it.
* Phal is by a North window with adjustable blinds.
I don't have any east windows.

I have:
BETTER-GRO orchid plus 20-14-13 food
BETTER-GRO special orchid mix medium
BETTER-GRO orchid moss

I am waiting for these -will be here on Friday:
Hydrofarm PSPTA20 Physan 20
miracle-gro orchid food mist.
clear orchid slotted pots. 5"


Any advice on when to repot, or anything on helping this phal survive is welcome! I am new and not sure if my phal is healthy per se.
THANK YOU!

-Sorry for so many photos.

[jmmehler]

Actually, the roots look pretty darn good, except for the top ones. The white mealy bugs are a real pain to get rid of. Whatever you do to exterminate the bugs, just keep doing it every few days for at least a couple of months. Poisons seem to only kill the insects, not the eggs, or larvae. You might also try using Bayer Complete (a systemic) once a month for a few months. Good luck.

[Leafmite]

Keep it away from your other orchids...far away...until you get rid of those mealy bugs. I think we all have had to deal with mealy bugs/scale at least once. I battled the problem a few times. :|
The orchid looks really healthy, actually, so, congratulations. I was expecting something so much worse. Whew!
Good luck!

[Jenn4a]

Hey, thanks jmmehler!

So the white areas are mealy bugs and not scale?

Will the Physan 20 help with the bugs and the mold?
-I don't know if the pictures are very clear, but throughout the top of the medium there is this black/ gray fuzz everywhere. Almost looks like spider webs, but fuzz.

The orchid came double potted and I didn't realize it, so today I took off the second pot white. It didn't have holes for the original clear pot to drain!
Initially I could only see the top roots and was pretty worried, but I felt better after seeing the bottom ones today.

Should I do anything for the roots on the top? Some of them look moldy.

Thanks again! Sorry for more questions

---------- Post added at 09:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:29 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Leafmite

Keep it away from your other orchids...far away...until you get rid of those mealy bugs. I think we all have had to deal with mealy bugs/scale at least once. I battled the problem a few times. :|
The orchid looks really healthy, actually, so, congratulations. I was expecting something so much worse. Whew!
Good luck!

Thanks!
Fortunately, or unfortunately I have only one orchid, so I don't have to worry about other ones.

Is there anything I should do specifically or get?

[Leafmite]

The roots on the top are just dry.
I cannot really see what the white things are to confirm mealy bug/scale. If they are mealy or scale, they will scratch off with your fingernail and feel rather sticky/gooey (gross).
One orchid. That is how it all starts. Before you know it, you have seventy and wonder how that happened.
If you haven't read it, there is a good sticky 'the phal abuse ends here'. I don't have the link but it is nice because it has quite a bit of good information. But, the basic rules to phals is:
1) don't get water in the crown (the top between the leaves). I think most of us have had first hand experience with crown rot in an orchid.
2) don't leave the orchids roots sit in water. Most of us have experience with rotting out the roots, too.
3) Never let it get colder then 50'F. It prefers to be above seventy but will tolerate 65'F for the winter.
4) Bright, indirect light. In the winter here in the north, the light isn't very bright so you don't have to worry about too much light in a window.
5) move it into brighter light gradually.
6) watering is a little tricky. I will let someone else give you that advice. I have to grow my phals in little clay balls and basket pots or I rot out the roots. Others, though, seem to do very well in the set up yours is in.

---------- Post added at 10:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:08 PM ----------

About the fuzz, it might indicate you need new medium. I don't use bark or moss so I never have this problem.
And do feel free to ask questions. Someone out there should have an answer....

[wintergirl]

I water my phals when the roots inside the clear pot are silver or whitish. When in doubt wait one more day. Phals like to dry out between watering. When I water I place my phal (that is in the clear pot) inside a larger pot or container and fill the clear pot from the sides with luke warm water. I fill all the way to the top so the plant is sitting in water but not the crown or the core is in water. I usually leave it sit in water for about 15 min then I take pot out and let it drain before I put back on shelf. Dry off any water on leaves or in crown. Many times it can be 10 days before they need water again. I like to leave my phals out of the decorative pot and just in the plastic pot so the roots can be seen and get light. This is how I do it, and has worked for me.

[WaltB]

Hi Jenn4a,

For what i can see it truly doesnt look to bad. In fact, the plant above the medium just looks great!

As already said here the top roots are a bit shriveled and dried out and i think it might had a bit too much light in the past due to the red leafpoint on one of the pics.

That might explain the shriveled top roots.

The white stuff on top is kinda hard to see but my guess is dried up water leaving it's residue of calcium etc...

Personally I won't hassle it too much with all the stuff you bought. My guess is that the medium is to fine, holding too much water wich explains the smell.

I would just repot with some larger bark, gently cleaning up the roots with slightly warm water first and let nature do his thing

[lotis146]

Mealy bugs look like little cotton fuzz. Once you've seem them they're hard to forget. Google them and that should help you judge what you have because I can't really see what those white spots you're dealing with are. Google scale while you're at it too. I've learned it doesn't hurt to familiarize yourself with what common pests look like.

I've had mold A LOT on the top of the medium and it....irks me to say the least. I've been told to pour hydrogen peroxide over it. I let it sit for 15 minutes or so then rinsed so to speak (though I'm not sure that's the way to go). I can't say it made a noticeable difference in my case but it helped. Another thing to do is provide air circulation, like a small fan. It may be this was watered too much with not enough air circulation so mold formed. The bottom roots look sweet, the buds blasting not so much. Keep an eye on it. Using Physan at this point may not be necessary but that depends on what you've really got going on.

keep us posted.

[Jenn4a]

All this new stuff is kind of overwhelming

There is a smell of mold, moss, and algae.
My plan is to let the pot air out since it is still pretty moist inside. I really don't want to repot just yet as the Phal is still blooming and most of the roots look healthy. Unless I am told I really need to ASAP.
Nearly all of the roots inside the medium are green; there's a few that look like that have algae, white stuff, or some black on it.

I do think some of the white stuff on the bark is salt residue, but I included a pic of the gray/white spider web looking fuzz, and the white fuzzy thing.
There's also a photo of the stem/crown area with white particles stuck in it.

Other than the spots, the possible mold, dried top roots, and possible parasites, I think the orchid is healthy.
I included pics of the whole orchid and some new growth?

Also, are these brown ovalish areas something to be concerned about?
Included a picture of front and back.


Fuzz and web


Same leaf with two dark soft spots.


are the dark spots on the bottom side problematic?





incase the photos don't work: https://www.flickr.com/photos/222877...7649194477819/

THANKS EVERYONE I really appreciate everything!

[Leafmite]

The medium is probably broken down. What you could do is gently remove part of the bark (with your fingers or tweezers) and leave the orchid in the pot. That would give the roots more air and likely get rid of the mold problem. I have done this before when necessary.

---------- Post added at 08:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:56 PM ----------

Concerning the dark marks and spots, if they don't change after a few days, they are probably not going to be a problem.