Maybe not crown rot??

[musicts]

So, any of you that read my last thread know I assumed my Phalaenopsis had crown rot. However, after removing a dead leaf I noticed that there was a "spiderweb" like material full of what looked like little, light pink eggs attached to it underneath? I didn't see anything else on the plant, no bugs or anything that looks alive. What is this?? Help I don't want to loose my plant!!

[musicts]

Oh and to add to this, I removed the leaf put it in the garbage and put out the trash.

[Paul Mc]

Pictures would be most helpful in identification scenarios, otherwise we are left to our best guesses.

[musicts]

Ok, here are some pics... in a complete panic, I've had orchids now for almost 2 years and I've never had any problems, don't want to loose this plant!

[Paul Mc]

My first question is what did you pot it in? Are all the leaves that yellow mottled color? If not and it is only the bottom few leaves then this may be normal. With age, the lower leaves are shed for more youthful leaves. I did not read your old thread so not sure what else is going on, but these are my first thoughts. Not sure what laid the eggs, but I'd use a cinnamon water and soap mix to make sure they are gone.

[musicts]

It's in bark, but the bark is REALLY wet. I didn't completely repot it, because it seems stressed already, but I took off all the stuff I could without disrupting the roots. Some of the roots look yellowish, but they're also really really wet. There are a couple spots on the bigger leaves too, though they aren't too bad yet, and they aren't wilting by any stretch. How much cinnamon?

[Paul Mc]

Actually, it's cinnamon extract, about 1 teaspoon to 2 cups water and 10 drops dish soap, liquid.

Yellow roots are not good. They may be on their way out as well. Are you using fine cut bark or about medium sized chunks? You really need to let the bark dry out. If its waterlogged, that's a sign it's deteriorated too much and is breaking down.

[musicts]

So should I disrupt the plant and try to replace all of it? All the roots aren't yellow, just some at the ends.

[Paul Mc]

Phals do really well with environmental stresses and repotting. However, that's a fine line when other issues may be involved. Yes, it would do better in a drier and faster drying environment, but the roots have acclimated to the wetter, it's just it may be beyond the point they can handle now. Therefore, if you repot to a much drier medium it may shock it a bit further and you will need to water more frequently until it gets accustomed to the drier environment. It's always a tough decision and there are no true right or wrong answers here. If you have not, id put a fan on it to help the medium dry out a bit faster in the meanwhile.

[Paul Mc]

If the other leaves have the start of yellowing, I'd suspect too much moisture, but I'd default to other more experienced growers on that.