URGENT!Pest?Rotten roots, my phal has barely root left!:( IM NEW IN THE FORUM!HELP!

[lumi]

Dear all:
Its the first time i post in the forum. I am new to orchids and I love them. My boyfriend gave me 4 of them. i will describe whats going on with them(pics attached)
The yellow phal: i knew something was not quite right with it as the roots from the outside of the pot looked brown an dry so i decided to have a look and for my surprise i would say that 90% of the roots were all dry!and also in the bark there was green 'stuff'. It was sold like that and after 1 week i decided to have a look at the roots. So what i did yesterday night was to take out all the bark, and wash the plant under running water and inspect, cut all the dead roots(the ones i thought were dead, brown, with a hole inside them) and i was so sad as there are so little left!
Some of them look greenish, withish(the pic i posted), others look yellowish(is that normal?, in the pic they look more green...they are actually quite yellow), and there are black bits)should i cut more roots? what should i do with the black bits, i cut the roots as close as i could from the main root, is it ok if i leave a bit of dead root?
Now, i just have composite for orchids and i don't like it as i think the plant cant breath so i decided to leave the orchid without any media(i have already ordered some hydroton but it will take a couple of days to arrive).
So basically the phal has stayed overnight with no media and today i just soaked it in warm water and im planing to take it out in 30 min..and do this 3 times a day until the hydroton arrives.
How do i know if it has any diseases?, if it has, how do i treat them as i guess i cant repot in hydroton until the plant is healthy or under treatment?
I am posting some pics..
is it ok what im doing?
Amazingly the phal has sooo many flowers and buds!so i hope she doesnt die!also i have noticed that a thick root is growing(2 cm lenght)on very close to the leaves..so that gives me hope!
The 2 Two other orchids in pink ceramic pots, were given 1 month ago, in a plastic pot with holes(there are the other 2 pics with pink pots..i just took pic of the pot and composite/bark)the roots look dry to me, plus the purple phal dried out, fault of my kitten but also i think of the media)
They are in composite and bark, any short term solution for those?as i think all are drying due to the composite and because i had the brilliant idea of taking them out of their plastic pots and placing in ceramic pots without holes(i was meant to place the plastic pot inside the ceramic so its easy to water..but i didnt know!). i water them and drain them upside down for a while to make sure no water is left. This 2 orchids suffered an attack from my kitten so they don't have flowers.
I was thinking, and read in other forums, having an orchid in a glass vase, i will keep the plastic pot inside and put hydroton so everytime i want to water them i just take the plastic pot outside. I have taken a picture, moreless thats my idea, of course it will have some decoration on the vase to hide the plastic pot but nothing that will disturb the roots to breath plus as i said i will be taking the orchid out to water it. Its the only way i can keep it in my living room out of reach of my kitten paws!i just did yesterday, the roots look green and healthy.
Hope you can help me to safe my phal! I feel quite frustrated as from 4, just 1 i could say its healthy!the white one with pink center that i have just placed in a glass vase, 2 victims of my kitten and one with a disease(with hope to live!).
Also, are Vandas easier to look after?i prefer to have them in glass vases and i read that Vanda's live without any media with roots exposed in a tube glass vase?is that correct?
also does anyone knows a place in London where i could go and buy orchid products from an expert?as here i just have homebase and they sell orchids but they dont have all the products
Regards
Lumi
ps:couldnt post pictures...i dont know why

[CTB]

Unless your roots are in a clear pot they are rarely going to be green, (Light makes them green)usually they are white, or yellow. Dead roots are flat, and brown. I don't see much problem with the roots in these pics. I don't know weather this is before or after pics. If you are going to plant in hydroton, be prepared they take lots of water, and tend to dry out quick.. Bark chip is best to help retain some mositure. Try putting them in clear pots so you can see the roots, then you can pot that pot in a fancy pot if you desire. You don't want to get your leaves wet, so don't think all this soaking is good either. Good Luck. If a root is firm, no matter what the color give it a chance. It is best to research and get your answers before you start cutting away, the orchid will go into shock, sulk for awhile, and disease can set in. I think you will get better results if you can ask one or two questions at a time. Take it slow, no panic buttons. We have all lost a few, and we keep learning every day..By the way, Welcome to the Orchid Board.

[lumi]

Hi Carol!thanks!i know, i wrote a lot but i was desesperate!
The pictures are after I cut the bad roots, and yes they were all brown, flat, dry...i left all the strong ones, green/yellow ones as i read that before..
Thanks so much for your reply!I hope it survives! i took it out of the water already but its not with any media as its being delivered to my house.
Yes, clear pots...need to buy some from the shop today.
regards
lumi

[tucker85]

Orchids need good air movement. Unfortunately the tall vase won't allow any air movement so I think that's a problem. I have a couple of phals that have done well in hydroton but I've also had some do poorly. Since hydroton dries so quickly you want it to be in a plastic pot or glazed ceramic to hold a little moisture. You always need a drainage hole in the pot also. I think that goes for all plants not just orchids. Good luck.

[The Orchid Boy]

I once had a phal with bad root rot and it had one root left. I repotted it in straight spagnum moss and it recovered quickly and when I put it outside in summer it grew roots and leaves like crazy.
About vandas: I have read that they like to be in baskets with no medium and water daily. They need lots of heat and direct sunlight to bloom. They are best left for people with greenhouses or that live in the tropics. They will only bloom with high heat, humidity, and lots of light. Vandas are a little harder to care for and not for beginners.