Mushy Roots on Phal in SH

[villdyr]

Hello,

I have had orchids (phals and one dendrobium) in SH for years now, and they've been basically immune to every problem but mites and scale. The scale is long gone, but the mites are still there, so I've been spraying with rubbing alcohol. I moved awhile back and for nearly a year, the orchids have been in a window with bright, screened light. I tend to neglect my orchids, because SH is so awesome, but recently I decided to schedule weekly flushing/watering/fertilizing so I wouldn't forget, and spray them with alcohol more often to get rid of the mites, which were getting bad. I had used this watering schedule before (without so much rubbing alcohol), but in a different, warmer house. The plants won't fit into my new sink, so I have to put them into the bathtub and use the shower spray wand to water them, which means water gets on/in every part of the plants and might sit there.

Anyway, at least two of my orchids now have mushy roots, right next to the plant, above the potting medium. There are probably issues belowdecks, too, as the water level is higher than usual and those roots probably aren't prepared for it(?).

Do you have any advice for how to treat and prevent this?? Everything I've found about mushy roots is for people using traditional potting medium. I have Physan and KLN if I need them. After watering, would it be okay to use the blow-dryer on them, on cool?

I've had my orchids so long...I can't stand the thought of their dying because I was trying to treat them better. Thank you so much for any help!

[Ray]

"Compare and contrast" the new and old growing conditions.

You mentioned the new conditions are cooler. Are they drier too? Sounds like evaporative cooling has chilled the root system, or your feeding/watering/alcoholing regimen has overwhelmed them.

I feed and water about every other day this time of year, but using pure water and VERY low levels of fertilizer - maybe 30 ppm N. How does your regimen compare?