Rotting Roots on a Phalaenopsis

[alison]

Hi there,

I am hoping to be able to send thanks out into the universe when the reply comes that will save my orchids life...

I have recently purchased a phalaenopsis potted in moss. I repotted it in something that was prettier with the "ok" from someone at a flower show. This prettier medium was balls of some substance that holds water for up to 2 months. I potted it a pot with no drainage (I know you all know where this is going).

Within a week (yes, short period of time which leads me to believe it may have been sick before I got it), I noticed that the leaf closest to the roots was turning yellow. I new it was to wet so I removed it from the pot immediately to inspect the roots. I saw that half of the roots were brown or still green but with black spots and some were even squishy and hollowing.

I googled this problem as orchid root rot and came across instructions to cut off the diseased roots and repot. So I followed the instructions and all looked well. Two buds started to open and even a bud that had started to dry out (or saturate I suppose) began to open as well. Then a couple of days ago we were discussing how the buds had opened to a certain point and then stopped. Then this morning I noticed some "fur" growing like a web from the potting medium (schultz orchid medium) to the root. I pulled the plant out and saw that half of the remaining roots have begun to rot too! So I just cut the rotted ones off before registering here.

The plant still looks great with a huge stem of beautiful flowers (I'll try to post a pic) but I barely have any roots left. I have mixed the Schultz medium with some dried out moss that I kept so as to have some moisture but not too much but I don't know what else to do.

How do I re-establish the roots without rotting the remaining few? HELP!