phalaenopsis with grey roots

[haley thomas]

im new to orchids and i love them!
but i wasnt sure exactaly if i am caring for them preoperly. ive searched the web and asked around and i still am not confident. if someone could point me in the right direction that would be highly appreciated.

[Ordphien]

Phals roots should be silvery grey in colour when dry, and green when wet.

Care is pretty simple. Light airy well drained potting medium. I like medium grade bark.
A pot with very good drainage.
A bright spot, not direct sun but pretty darn bright.
My phals get dappled light all day.
Water when the medium gets close to dry.
I water by submerging my orchid pots up to the top of the pot in a container of water for 20 minutes once or twice a week.
The skewer method is useful.
Stick a wooden skewer through the center of the pot and leave it. When it's slightly damp and cool to the touch water again.
I fertilize with a balanced 20-20-20 urea free orchid fertiliser at 1/4 strength every other watering.


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[haley thomas]

okay thank you. also, my tiny one is due to bud, will it on its own or should i give it some help some how?
im using a budding fertilizer but im impatient and theres not new stalk growing

[jrodpad]

There's a great thread in the beginner forum called "the phal abuse ends here" - or someone of similar import. It's super long but it's packed with great information and if you have the fortitude to read it through, I guaranty that all of your questions will be answered. Grey roots aren't great, but its hard to see exactly what is going on in that photo. I would give the roots a squeeze, and if they are soft and mushy or papery and hollow, they are no good. A healthy phal root should feel firm and solid, it shouldn't yield to the touch. If it's mushy or hollow, you should flame sterilize a set of scissors and trim the rotted roots away and repot in fresh medium. Try to get all the rotted tissue. A rinse with physan 20 or brown listerene before potting up again wouldn't hurt either. It helps to kill the bacteria that cause the rot.

Good luck!

-J

[Ordphien]

Originally Posted by haley thomas

okay thank you. also, my tiny one is due to bud, will it on its own or should i give it some help some how?
im using a budding fertilizer but im impatient and theres not new stalk growing

I personally think that a blooming fertiliser rally doesn't do much to boost blooms with phals.
It's triggered more by daylight changes and temperature changes.
If it doesn't happen this year it will next year as long as it's in good health.

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