Healthy vs Unhealthy Roots?

[reebs_225]

I'm brand new to this forum & a newbie orchid owner. I need help determining if my phalaenopsis orchids aerial roots / root system are healthy... They were both given to me as gifts 3 months ago. One has lost all of it's blooms & the other has lost about half, from what I've read this is normal. I water them thoroughly weekly with either distilled or rain water & allow them to drain. They are both planted in bark & are producing new leaves. They are kept inside my Florida home with temperatures at 74 during the day & 70 at night. I've included photos (first 2 are of one plant & the second 2 are of the other plant). The aerial roots are turning brown, but are not mushy. Some of the roots in the pot have the same appearance. Any advice would be helpful! Thank you in advance!!

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

They are probably OK. Bark lasts about two years before breaking down into mush and needing to be replaced. There's a good chance yours are approaching this point.

If you have a shady patio, Phals do great outdoors in Florida during warm weather, better than inside with air conditioning. They're warm growing shade plants. Of course you have to watch for things eating them.

There is an excellent sticky thread here that explains all about growing Phals. From the left yellow menu select Forums, then Beginners. Near the top look for The Phal abuse stops here.

[Sharon's Sheepdogs]

I mist the aerial roots until they turn green to keep them hydrated but am careful not to let water run down and sit in the crown of the phal which will cause rot. If water does run down into the crown, I place the phal on its side for a period of time to allow it to drain.

If you want to trigger a second blooming, you can cut the stem off above one of the live nodes. If you do not want to trigger a rebloom, cut the stem closer to the crown. Phals can be repotted anytime but you may want to do so after they've bloomed so you don't damage the flowers while doing so.

Good luck!

[Kingianum]

Hi, I had the same issue with my Phals where one aerial root turning yellow and the other stopped growing. So re-potted it with some orchid mix from a hardware store, and put it on the dining table where it gets a lot of air flow. The yellowing root is probably too late for saving, but the other root has started growing again. Hope this helps.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Be aware that in some cases, "roots turning brown" can be a result of tannin stains from the wood chips the plant is being grown in. if so, it is not cause for worry. If not, then maybe reduce watering just a little bit.

Since I cannot see the discolored roots in question too clearly, that's what I can say for now.