Orchid with hole in spike and other problems.

[Jema17]

Hi guys/gals. I'm new to the forums so bear with me. I was given an orchid as a gift not knowing what it was other than a phalaenopsis. I've had a little experience growing orchids (years ago). I gave up orchids because of school, and my friend was so intent on cheering me up she bought me an orchid. My first orchid in years. I was so excited I didn't think about why my phalaenopsis was blue... Later, once I was alone with my thoughts did the orchid's coloring start to puzzle me. I looked up this orchid's origins to realize I have a 'blue mistake' on my hands. Well, the orchid is healthy for the most part some over watering that it came with. This is not what is bugging me.

First problems: I noticed some little blackish bug running around the roots as I was checking them. I couldn't get a pic of the little devil, but I narrowed it do to a potential thrips issue.I have never dealt with thrips before, so I lurked on this forum to find out what I should do. I did the water/soap/oil mixture treatment and thought that was that. None of the bugs have shown up again that I can see. I thought I got the problem before it became a Problem. I also noticed some of the phals aerial roots had cracks and I put cinnamon powder on the cracks. The cracks healed, bugs gone, and the over watering is under control. This was three days ago.

Now: I woke up today to bring my 'blue mistake' phal inside from the solarium and found a hole in the stem. As far as I know it wasn't there the day before, but I could be wrong. I put cinnamon powder/water paste on it immediately and started to check the plant again for other issues. There are new cracks on different aerial roots and some of the roots are dying back again. I think the roots are still suffering from the over watering. Now, the flower petals also have indentations on the backs of them, but I think that is from age.

I'm not sure what to do. I feel a little out of my league since I've only just got back into orchids again, but even then my knowledge was still beginner level.

Do I cut the stem? Do I wait and see? Re-repot the soil because of the soap/oil treatment I had given?

[vmax3000]

Hi Jema17,
My first inclination would be to check the "soil" (medium) the plant is in. Is it in bark? Does it smell earthy or dank? This would indicate the medium has begun to break down and the plant could drown or desiccate (depending on watering habits). Repotting time!! If it's in a soft moss, what color is it and how does it smell (I'm a media sniffer)? With the moss, if it smells "clean" or pleasant, and it's a light, sandy color, it's good. If not, time to repot... The hole you describe might be from a snail/slug who could be residing quite nicely down in the media below. They feed at night and orchid spikes and roots are like the best salad bar in town to them. I try to hunt them out and smash them...gives me a simple pleasure.
Just my suggestions, mind you. Take them for what they are worth
Good luck

[Jema17]

Hey Vmaxx,
Thank you for the reply I really appreciate it. The potting mixture is bark with a little moss on top. The mixture is dry on top with a little moisture at the bottom of the pot. The media smells like dry bark and sand. The media that is moist at the bottom doesn't smell dank, but that healthy wet bark smell.

As for the possible slug/snail, I don't know. I soaked the orchid up to just below the base of its leaves in soapy water when I was dealing with the thrips. So if there was snails/slugs the soapy water should have killed any snails/slugs. I checked for a slime trail and didn't find one.

Either way I'll take the plant out of the mix and check the media in case I missed something.

I've posted images of the hole as attachments.
Thank you again Vmaxx

[Magnus A]

Hi and welcome!

The hole you found is most probably the ink injection hole, expecially as it has residue of blue ink around it.

For your creature in the substrate I can´t give any advice a I can´t identify them on your description.

/Magnus

[Daethen]

I agree that the hole in the spike is from the injection of blue dye they did. Did you repot it after you got it? If not, you may want to. I had one that was in "bark" until I repotted and found that there was a center plug of PACKED moss in the roots. All the roots in the middle were gone.

[Jema17]

Hi Magnus
Thank you for replying . Injection hole... Blue mistake indeed for damaging a perfectly good plant in this fashion just for a little color.

I expect I will have to be careful because the orchid's spike is exposed like this? Is there a way to cover this hole up without it affecting the plant or just leave it and keep an eye on the orchid?

As for my mystery creature, I haven't seen the little devil or signs of his relatives since the soap water soak (but I'll be watching for him just in case mwhahahah). Sorry I couldn't have gotten a picture of him. It was like looking at a little sliver of pencil lead moving really fast along the roots.

Thank you again for the response Magnus.

[Jema17]

Hi Daethen ,
I removed some of the media around the roots when I got it. But, the media lacked decay so I left the phal, and I had no other media to replace it with then. The area I live in unfortunately sells orchids, but doesn't cater to orchid growers (orchid pots, decent media, etc). I just got some supplies in today and will be potting the phal in fresh media. Should I wait (since the mystery creature isn't showing) till the phal is done spiking, or go ahead and repot?
Normally, I know I would repot without hesitation, but with the hole I don't know how I should handle this phal.

Thank you again Daethen for your response

[Daethen]

If you have already treated the hole with cinnamon, I think you should be safe to repot. There could be critter eggs that you treatment didn't catch. Also, I wouldn't put any cinnamon on the roots unless you have to trim some root ends and then just dust the ends. It could dry them up.