Phal Root Problems

[Cerey]

Hi everyone,

I have two phalaenopsis who I've recently noticed are having some trouble with their roots. The tips of the majority of the roots are turning black, and some have just dried up and turned grayish, while some have what looks like dry gray spots on otherwise healthy green roots.
They are both in sphagnum moss mixed with hydroton, with a layer of hydroton at the bottom of the pots. They are on a heat mat. I let the moss get more on the dry side before I water. I bought both plants about 2 months ago. I had cleaned the media and replaced it with the new moss/hydroton media. One of the phals currently has two spikes and is forming buds. The plants have not grown new roots or leaves since I bought them.
What are your thoughts on this? Could it be root rot? Not enough oxygen to the roots? Staying wet too long?
I have a bag of hydroton so I can attempt semi-hydro as soon as new roots start to grow, but for now the plants are just there. Is there any way to promote the growths of new roots? I have a bottle of superthrive but I'm holding off on that since one of the plants is in spike.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

May be too wet.

[tucker85]

Your medium and watering routine sounds pretty good. The gray spots on green roots is normal. I'm not sure what the black tips may mean. Sometimes root tips get dark for no apparent reason. I usually wait until the roots turn white before I water. A picture would help.

[Cerey]

Here are the pictures. The first few show the roots turning a crusty white, and the last two show the roots turning black.

I considered the possibility that they are too wet, however I don't water too often. I live up north where its colder, so maybe that has something to do with it? Maybe bark is the better medium for me

[Wynn Dee13]

Originally Posted by Cerey

Here are the pictures. The first few show the roots turning a crusty white, and the last two show the roots turning black.

I considered the possibility that they are too wet, however I don't water too often. I live up north where its colder, so maybe that has something to do with it? Maybe bark is the better medium for me

The first pics roots look fine to me. The second pic looks like the far right brownish root is rotting. The white stuff on the stem of the Phalaenopsis looks like it could be salt build up. Did you clean the hydroton well? It can have a lot of salt build up in it. That could also cause black root tips. The salt burns the new green root tips. Also what kind of water do you use? Is it softened water? You also could be keeping it too wet, but I don't know. I find that KLN root hormone works well. I use it on all my newley repotted orchids. I also use a little when ever I fertilize. That is all I got right now, hopefully some others will chime in. Good luck!

[Cerey]

Originally Posted by Wynn Dee13

The first pics roots look fine to me. The second pic looks like the far right brownish root is rotting. The white stuff on the stem of the Phalaenopsis looks like it could be salt build up. Did you clean the hydroton well? It can have a lot of salt build up in it. That could also cause black root tips. The salt burns the new green root tips. Also what kind of water do you use? Is it softened water? You also could be keeping it too wet, but I don't know. I find that KLN root hormone works well. I use it on all my newley repotted orchids. I also use a little when ever I fertilize. That is all I got right now, hopefully some others will chime in. Good luck!

Thanks! I use tap water. I let it sit out overnight before I use it. I've been collecting rain water so once its time to water again I will be using that.

[Wynn Dee13]

I also use tap water and so far I haven't had any problems. I think it depends on where you live. We have our own well and it's pretty good water. City water is usually softened and orchids don't like it. I wish I had access to reverse osmosis water! Sometimes I buy distilled water at the grocery store for my more sensitive plants. I hope the rain water helps!

[tucker85]

Your roots look pretty good to me. I would let the medium dry out almost completely, where the roots in the pot look white, before watering. One trick I use to keep aerial roots healthy while the medium is drying is to occasionally mist the aerial roots just a little, to give them some moisture. A little plastic hand spray bottle is very cheap.

Those roots look better than many of those on my phals. I grow phals in moss too and as Tucker85 suggested let it dry absolutely crispy before watering again.

At one point in time during winter I had black tips on vandas roots. It happened rapidly on those that were standing on the windowsill. I decided - it happened because of too cold environment near the glass when it is -25 outside.
I moved them away from the window and they resumed growing tips again pretty soon (in a couple weeks).

[Cerey]

Originally Posted by orchideya

Those roots look better than many of those on my phals. I grow phals in moss too and as Tucker85 suggested let it dry absolutely crispy before watering again.

At one point in time during winter I had black tips on vandas roots. It happened rapidly on those that were standing on the windowsill. I decided - it happened because of too cold environment near the glass when it is -25 outside.
I moved them away from the window and they resumed growing tips again pretty soon (in a couple weeks).

Hm, that could be a cause. I have them near the window since that's where they get the brightest light.