Phalenopsis full bloom but dehydrated leaves

[meldog]

Hello Everyone! (freshman post)
I bought my second phalenopsis about one year ago, having overwatered & killed my first one. Envirnoment: This one lives in our small bathroom—it fogs up with every shower, has a somewhat eastern exposure in Madrid (sunny, dry), and typically gets good morning sun. Usually it shows decent condensation in the pot after a shower.

Last year it went thru a cycle, sent up a new spike, and even new leaves! Started re-budding in January and as of now has approximately 16 blooms over 3 spikes.

I just noticed the top leaves shriveling and not so green, so yesterday I soaked the whole pot—avoiding leaves, crown-- in water for 10 minutes. Within 12 hours the top leaves had perked up. The majority of roots greened up considerably.

Today, the roots are less green, the top of the medium (bark) seems dry, but there is very good condensation in the pot. One of the blossoms has shriveled and come off.

Questions:
Shriveled leaves says that the roots aren’t bringing enough water,but must I repot with 16 blooms on? How do you know when air roots are rotten, since they’re always gray anyway? If the initial part of a root is bright green but the rest is gray, do you snip just the gray part and put a little cinnamon on the wound? Since I soaked the pot yesterday, can I do so again since roots look less green?

I have all that I need to repot, I just hate to do it before all the blossoms fall off on their own.

Thanks so much for any wise words!

[dbarron]

One) I think you might have overwatered with showers perhaps ? Because Phals don't normally become dry that fast. Or perhaps you let it dessicate to the point the roots died? (the symptoms would be the same...roots gone)
Two) Aerial roots that are alive are green, especially if wet.

I'd say repot, but if whatever watering condition isn't corrected, you'll have no success.

You may want to humidity tent the plant to help it have turgor to root into the new media again.

[meldog]

Dbarron--
1--I should clarify, I've never watered the orchid, only the steam in the bathroom hydrates the orchid. I do open the bathroom door so that the room dries out. There was still alot of plump looking green roots after I plunged and soaked the orchid, so I don't think ALL the roots are dead.

2--So the gray aerial roots are a loss. bummer.

Your advice is to re-pot then. What about saving the green portion of a root and only snipping the gray part?

[dangerouseddy]

well if you've never watered it then it may take some time recover.

ive bought some orchids that had not been watered for a while and had wrinkled leaves, when watered it dried out rather quickly I assume from the roots transporting the water to the leaves.

you could water it a bit more frequently if the roots are silvery.

you could search the forum for the skewer method of checking if the plant needs watering.

id only cut off roots that are mushy, if they are firm id leave them.

[dbarron]

Well, no where in the world does an orchid never get rainfall, what sort of conditions were you trying to duplicate ? Yes, water it occassionally.
Your media should be in good shape if it's never been watered...no reason it should have rotted (thus shouldn't need repotting)...it would seem to me.

[silken]

I agree, if it has never been watered, it is just dying of thirst. Even orchids in the wild get frequently rained on. Depending what media you have, watering it once a week to every two weeks would likely work. The skewer method is great for preventing root rot. Just insert a thin bamboo kebab skewer into the center of the media quite far down. Leave it there and then pull it out to check how wet or dry it is before watering. It will tell you when to water. If it is wet, wait. If it is bone dry, you waited a bit to long. Just damp or close to dry is usually about right and then water the plant well. Put the skewer in the same place always so you don't stab multiple roots.

If the roots are not hollow or soft and mushy leave them. Even if they are grey,. They are likely severely dehydrated and may recover.