Phal with root rot - what to do?

[lkat]

Hey everyone

Need some advice on this phal. It hasn’t been doing so well so I took it out of the container this morning to see what the roots looked like. About 99% of the roots were rotten and I ended up cutting a lot of them off. It only has a few stubs now and some air roots. This is my first experience with root rot so I’m not really sure where to go from here. I’m at work right now and I just left it sitting in the container without media as I wanted to let the remaining root structure dry out before potting it. I had it potted in a bark mixture and was watering every 5 days as I had repotted it from spaghnum moss and wasn't sure how it would adjust to dryer bark. Guess every 5 days was too much :s

What should I do with it now in terms of watering, media, fertilizer, etc?

[bil]

Personally I would pot it in coarse fir bark, no moss, and give it a couple of sprays a day, with an eye to moistening the rooting areas without letting it stay wet enough to rot. I'd also give it kelp treatment.

[RandomGemini]

I think you have done everything you can do and are doing what you should be. Allow it to dry out for a week or so, and then I would pot it up in whatever medium you want it to grow in. It might not bloom for a year or two, but as long as you see new root and leaf growth, you're on the right track.

[silken]

I agree with above comments.

Using a kebab skewer left in the pot is a great way to avoid root rot. Pull it out to see if it is damp or wet when you think its time to water. If it is hold off on the watering until it is dry or just barely damp. Place it back into the same spot (so you don't stab multiple roots) and leave it till next time. Avoid over potting as it will take too long to dry out. Use a pot with good drainage and air holes. Some kelp (seaweed) would help promote new root growth.