Phalaen is Ailin' Opsis

[myrrh & frankincense]

Here are photos of the Ailin' Phalaen.

FYI I have only seen roaches twice in over 2 years here, kinda doubt it's roaches.

Been watering it (drenching it) every 5 days faithfully. Haven't given it a steam bath yet - should I?

If you have any suggestions on how to avoid a slow painful death, I'm all ears.

Note that the large black holes on the leaves were there when I got it. It's the lighter holes that are new. And note that there is some yellow creepin in on one of the leaves.

I took out some of the bark and there appears to be some root rot...? Maybe I am overwatering??

Thanks,
D

[whygreenberg]

Hey there, D...The roots actually don't necessarily look like they're rotting. The brown color could just be that they are old and roots will take on some brown coloring from bark. If you feel the roots, are they soft and mushy? If they are, they yes, it's rot. But if they are firm, they are just old. Some purple from sun is an ok thing, but it looks to me like maybe some of the discoloring of leaves could be due to too much sun. It doesn't, however, look like a lost cause. Let's see what some other people think.

[RosieC]

The red colouring under the leaves looks to me like it could be too much sun. Phals don't like too much sun and some are more sensitive to it than others. Some Phals have reder leaves anyway (often those with darker flowers) but that looks reder than mine which has very dark flowers and red tints on the leaves.

The roots near the top look OK, although I can't tell about the lower ones. Check for any roots which are mushy and remove them. Any which are firm should be left, any which are hollow can probably also be removed.

It does not look like they have been rotting as such, I would guess your problem is more likely to be too much light.

[mehitabel]

I think you may have a nasty combination of rotten roots underneath and good roots above too dry.

The roots above the medium look okay, but a bit dry to me. The roots below the medium may be another matter.

I would depot it, and get a good look at all the roots. Put it in a bowl of water and soak the roots for 15 minutes or so, then look. After a good soak, you can easily tell good roots from poor ones.

I suspect there is a long lower stem with no roots or rotten roots on it, with some good roots above (the good roots will green up after the soak). If you have a long useless lower stem like this, cut it off with a new razor blade or sterilized cutting tool. *You cut it so you can get your plant into a smaller, shallower pot.* In the smaller pot, chances of wet roots at bottom, dry roots at top are reduced.

Dip the cut stem in rooting hormone powder, and repot it into a smaller, shallower pot. Potting into bark, be sure the soak new bark for a few hours before using.

For just the good roots I can see, your pot is way too big. Use a pot that just fits the good roots.

How much to water: every X days usually doesn't work. You have to adjust the water to the conditions and the medium. Heft the pot-- if it feels light, needs water. If it feels heavy, wait a day.

When you water, especially when the bark is new, take it to the sink and pour plenty of water thru. Set it aside and re-water in 15". Water until the pot feels *heavy*.

A few shreds of sphagnum moss over the top of the bark helps the top of the bark (where new roots will form) to stay nicely moist, but not wet. I also find tucking a few shreds of shagnum against the stem above the bark helps new roots form.

The leaves: don't worry about the brown spots unless they are *soft*. Soft spots have to be cut out. Hard spots are ugly, but nothing to worry about. The leaf on the extreme right, the bottom leaf that's starting to discolor, looks to me as if it is starting to die.

[myrrh & frankincense]

thank you everyone.

i am taking it out of direct sunlight and will see how it does. the roots that look bad are not soft and mushy, they are hard, dry and wrinkly. so i guess it's not overwatering.

d