Phalaenopsis Has Black Roots

[Marivic]

Hello,
I'm new to growing orchids and I recently got a phalaenopsis that was already in bad condition. The plant had limp leaves, and the back of the leaves have a purplish hue to them. I cut the flower stem and repotted it, about 3 weeks ago. I also started soaking the roots in water during the day since the leaves still have not improved. I noticed that the center roots feel healthy but they are black while all the other roots look normal. Does anyone know if this is some sort of ailment or if this guy still has a fighting chance?

[SouthPark]

That does look like it has a good chance to keep growing nicely.

Just provide suitable growing temperature and temperature range, suitable light levels and lighting duration, and gentle-air movement (either natural gentle air-movement or artificial air movement - gentle), and use media and watering methods that avoids starving the roots of oxygen (aka drowning of roots). And also - if possible - for home growing, try to keep leaves and stem dry to cut down on chances of unwanted fungal/bacterial activity.

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I thought that was great how you unpotted to check on the conditions - and also great how you provided photographed and explained the situation.

[estación seca]

I think the roots are mostly fine. Severely wrinkled Phal leaves often stay that way, but new leaves should grow normally. Pot it up in the medium of your choice, and it should do well.

[aliceinwl]

That black area in the center is pretty normal. As the plant’s age new growth tends to occur higher on the stem and old growth on the lower part of the stem often dies. The old parts of the stem gradually die too. This eventually results in a woody protrusion at the bottom of the plant without living tissue. This is what I’m seeing with yours. It looks to have decent roots and I think it’ll do fine potted up.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Marivic

I also started soaking the roots in water during the day since the leaves still have not improved. I noticed that the center roots feel healthy but they are black while all the other roots look normal.

There certainly is an ailment of some sort if the leaves are currently limp, and if those two new roots (assuming new short roots) are black and mushy.

At the moment, your orchid generally still has lots of good living roots. So that is a good sign.

Purple hue of leaves no problem. As for soaking roots in water ------ won't be necessary here. Just pot the orchid in a reasonably airy-enough media (eg. pre-soaked bark without orchid that is later drained to a damp state, followed by potting orchid into it). Then keep the bark damp/lightly moist ------ which could be done by just watering normally ----- but use a pot that allows the water to drain out very fast and quickly from the media (and from the inside of the pot).

"Moist air AROUND the roots" (not moist roots) is probably the target to aim for. But obviously, in order to get moist air around roots, it generally requires watering of the media ----- so one way of watering is to water the bulk of the media toward the sides of the pot (and also put some - but less water closer to the orchid - and in some cases (if there's enough media in a pot) - many orchids can grow just fine by watering the media toward the outside of the pot - alone.

Remember to also provide nice gentle air-movement to plant and media, and provide nice growing temperatures and lighting levels.

[Marivic]

Thank you for all your responses. I will pot him up and hope for the best