Sick Phalaenopsis continual root rotting and now shriveling? Please help!

[Helene]

Regarding holes in the pot. Its really a pain in the ass making them. I bought a cheap soldering iron for about 10$, and make holes. But: the roots will find those holes, and it will be a pain in the ass repotting. I like them though, and its so easy making holes with the soldering iron. Just dont burn yourself.


Sometimes when roots gets damaged during repot, they can be like that. And sometimes they just dont get adapted to the new mix. I only repot if I feel its getting worse, or I dont like the mix afterall. Your mix have some white things, it might be nothing or it can be something not good. You can consider repotting again. I use pretty big pots because the roots grow so fast, but I still can water this every day if I want to without plant being too wet. This bark dries fast. Depends on the media and your environment.

Once it settles and you get a hang of watering, it will hopefully start to grow pretty fast (lol, not that orchids are very fast growers…)


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[Cassey]

Hello Everyone!

Thank you so much for all the encouragement and advice!! In my area the only stupid bark mix I could find was the miracle grow orchid bark mix and that has the urea nitrogen fertilizer in it. I have special orchid fertilizer on the way and just ordered new bark and a new plastic pot that already had slits in it to repot as soon as it gets here! Its due to arrive around the 22nd. Anyway I am really not sure what the white specks are and I'm seriously hoping its not insects!!! I think it may be part of the media. When I 'repotted' this guy about 3 weeks ago or so I rinsed the media with hydrogen peroxide instead of replacing it because there was nothing readily available here at this time of the year. I only did that because I saw several rotten roots and I was worried about leaving him like that too long. Anyway after doing that it appears there were little pieces of moss or something coming apart.

I did notice today I see a new root tip growing in part of the pot so that has me SUPER excited!!! I promise I will update this thread as soon as I repot with pics of the roots etc.

Helene,

Your orchid's roots are so beautiful! lol There are so many healthy looking ones! I can only hope mine will be that healthy someday!

Thanks again for all your help and encouragement!!!

[rbarata]

One more thing I haven't mentioned before... it seems the rotten piece of root is near one of the pot holes... maybe it gets dry faster and died.
Just a thought...
And maybe those white things are pieces of fertilizer.

[Cassey]

rbarata,

Sorry I forgot to answer your previous question. It was after I had watered it that I had taken that picture. Now that I think about it, I was worried one of the roots was damaged so it may have cracked or been scratched or bent or something repotting is so hard and dangerous. Would u suggest I 'trim' that root so the infection doesn't spread?

[bil]

Special fertiliser for orchids? Welll, Ray does K lite, but most other 'special orchid fertilisers' are a way of extracting money from your pockets. I bought some when I started, but for the amount it cost me for a couple of kilos, I can buy a 25 kilo sack..
Seriously, if you are in a club, or can join one, suggest buying in bulk from an agricultural supplier. It's well worth the trouble.
I really HATE seeing those roots so cramped in there. Come repotting, they are going to tear and break. Hell, it's bad enough with big pots. Plus, any hole in the side is an invitation for the roots to poke out, and then they will snap off come repot time.
My advice with any mix is, sieve it with a fine sieve and throw away anything that goes thru. With Phals and any thick root epiphyte, I would always pot up in coarse bark with no fine stuff to block the holes. OK, you have to water it more often (mine get three times a week, but at least I can't over water them.

[Cactuseed]

i think your orchid looks fine. beware of becoming an orchid hypochondriac and listening to other hypochondriacs on this board. sadly there is bad info on these boards, sometimes you just have to figure out what works in your environment.

[bil]

Originally Posted by Cactuseed

i think your orchid looks fine. beware of becoming an orchid hypochondriac and listening to other hypochondriacs on this board. sadly there is bad info on these boards, sometimes you just have to figure out what works in your environment.

It's true to say that you have to work out what works in your environment, but there are certain things that are true for every environment, such as suffocating roots is a Bad Thing, fertiliser should be weak and frequent etc etc.

You are right, there are some very silly things said. Trouble is, they have been repeated so often they have become perceived wisdom.

[Cassey]

Ok Guys,

I have NO idea how this happened but I got my repotting supplies today and fertilizer. So I began unpotting my little phal and a lady bug was on the roots!!! I have no idea how it even got in there. This is an indoor phal. I don't know if he would've been eating the roots or not but he was in there. I was really freaked out. I would've uploaded pics but it is giving me an error :/ I ended up damaging the only growing root tip I saw trying to repot this poor guy in new bark. very sad. The phal still does have a few areal roots and shorter new roots as well. I also saw a nub I'm sure was going to be a root as well so hopefully I can let him sit and grow now.

As far as fertilizer, It's not per say, special, but urea free orchid food

I have a question if anyone knows or could help! If a root is damaged towards the end, is it ok to cut the damaged portion? Would the root be able to grow again or at least not go bad further up?

Also, I am sure I'd have the tendency to be an orchid hypochondriac so I am definitely trying to relax and let the poor thing grow. I just wish I was more educated when I first got the poor thing!!


I appreciate all of your help and advice!

[rbarata]

I have a question if anyone knows or could help! If a root is damaged towards the end, is it ok to cut the damaged portion? Would the root be able to grow again or at least not go bad further up?

Don't do nothing. Most probably the root will grow again.

[Salixx]

Lady bugs start seeking out warm places this time of year, I presume to over-winter in. My last apartment had hundreds of lady bugs by late November.

As far as bugs in my plants go, I would LOVE lady bugs, most are carnivorous and eat things that would eat our plants. There are, as always, a few exceptions to the rule so you can try to ID the beetle if you're really worried, but I wouldn't be, especially if you only had one.