bought my first one

[SnowFalcon]

I'm pretty sure this is a mini phal and I know someone who works a floral shop. He says orchids come back all the time.

Just to be sure yes or no?

[SlipperGirl]

Yep that's a phal

[Brazilin]

Its a Phal hybrid.

[Optimist]

If you know the company that sold it to the florist, (the florist could tell you) go to their website. If it is a dealer, you may be able to match up the plants. I just bought a NOID phal and I now know what the name is because I went to their web site.

[SnowFalcon]

I got it at home hardware and it looked like the others that were labeled as Phals but didn't give the name of the hybrid and the company is Just Add Ice, yeah like I'm going to add an ice cube to a tropical plant, there's a killer idea. (insert sarcasm here)

I looked at the roots and I noticed a couple that looked like root rot. Is it okay to transplant while it's in bloom or should I wait?

[RandomGemini]

Rotted roots are brown in color and mushy to the touch. I've repotted phals while in bloom, but have found that the just add ice minis, don't like to be repotted while they're blooming.

That said... if you suspect that there is rot in there, then repotting now is the best solution for it. It may drop all of its blooms when you repot, but the plant will be alive to bloom again next year and that's the important thing.

[SnowFalcon]

hmmm maybe it's just dried out roots? They were white and broke at the slightest contact but they weren't mushy..

[RandomGemini]

Hrm... Did it look like this?



Or more like this?



Or possibly like this?



First one is just a white root. Phal roots are capable of photosynthesis, so most are green, but white roots can also be healthy. It just means that root didn't get a lot of light.

Second pic is an aerial root. They tend to turn silvery faster than the roots in the pot and can be brittle because they are dry.

Third pic, those brownish roots you see are dead, but not rotted. I have not reported this mini Phal yet. I have a pic of actual root rot somewhere, I'll find it and post it here.

[SnowFalcon]

most the roots are green, one has brown on top of the root but it's firm not mushy.

One was brittle and dry.

One has a two small brown spots on it.

Most are green

[RandomGemini]

Doesn't sound like rot to me, but it's hard to tell without a photo. Take a pic and post it to the forum so we can see and tell you for sure.