Trouble with Doritonaeopsis

[cneos]

To confirm my suggestion that Tindo's plant had damaged or no roots, his post says plant has new leaves (a good sign if each new leaf is bigger than the one before it) and big fat AERIAL roots. If a potted orchid isn't getting what it needs from its potted roots, it sends out aerial roots to survive. Phalaenopsis can be grown as mounted plants; but whether you choose mounted or potted, it's still a good idea to see what's happening inside the pot to insure the plant's well-being.

[justatypn]

Originally Posted by cneos

If a potted orchid isn't getting what it needs from its potted roots, it sends out aerial roots to survive.

I find that interesting, I was at the understanding that ariel roots were reaching for what's missing meaning air circulation and or moisture, humidity and was not aware that it could also mean root deficiency. But now in question....is this not the norm for phals to stretch there legs a bit or when my phals are reaching does it mean a problem hidden under the medium (only if the plant is showing signs of stress)??? I feel confusion comin' on

[Tindomul]

Well this plant has gone through alot since I got it. A few months ago it got assaulted by mites. It lost two leaves, and is now attempting to recover in S/H potting. The label says Dtps. Sogo Toshiba, not Toshi or Toshibaone. Don't know where that Toshibaone came from, sorry.
So I don't know if it will bloom again this year. It doesn't look like it will

[cneos]

Sorry for the confusion about roots. Having aerial roots doesn't necessarily mean a problem underneath; it could just be that the plant is outgrowing its container.

Unfortunately, over the years I've bought many perfectly healthy looking flowering orchids, especially phals (in opaque plastic or clay pots) with roots creeping all over the top of the medium that have mushy, damaged or no roots inside.

Besides repotting every new plant, I repot my phals every 12 to 18 months using sphagnum or bark or a combination. I use clear plastic pots so I can monitor the roots inside the pot as well as those that grow outside of the pot. This technique works well for me most of the time ...

[gands]

Just a thought.........is it possible the plant has been exposed to some type of fumes ? (heating, cooking, etc.) We have had similar effects on Phals. from that sort of thing.

[cneos]

Expanding on Gands thought, heating with forced hot air dries things out; a plant that's too close to the heat register gets drafts that can be harmful; fumes from food that we cook (or overcook) are unlikely to cause a problem. If faulty heating or cooking equipment, or carbon monoxide was the problem, we humans would be suffering along with the orchids.
If these plants were mine, I'd be looking at its roots - without healthy roots, you might as well give up.

[Tindomul]

It was later found that the plant was being ravaged by mites. I separated it from the others and treated it with neem oil and soap. The mites have been gone for months now, and I have began a misting regiment of twice daily to keep humidity up a little. Humidity, so I have heard, is a mites worst enemy. I also repoted the plant into s/h, and is now recovering. Hopefully some day it will bloom again. THanks!!!

[Tindomul]

Yes, I am little behind the times, and just now read that chapter E. A. Christenson's Phalaenopsis a Monograph where he places all Doritis in the genus Phalaenopsis subgenus Phalaenopsis subsection Esmeralda. So all Doritis and Dtps hybrids are in fact Phalaenopsis. Thanks Gin!