White patches on phal roots - fungus or ...?

[JFeathersmith]

This is a grocery store phal I've had about 6 months that I'd like to repot into a bark mix, but it has these odd white patches on some of its roots, and I don't want to repot it before figuring out what this is and treating it (if necessary). They aren't fuzzy, like all the images of fungus on phal roots I've found so far online, so I'm not sure what it is or what to do about it. I've seen them multiple places on the roots, but the only good photos I've got of the moment are in one spot. (Plus gratuitous flower image because it's pretty.)

If it is a problem, how should I treat it?

I've wanted to get it out of the sphagnum for a while, but it's been steadily blooming and blooming . . . but now it started developing new growing tips on several roots, so I feel some urgency to get a move on this.

I'm having trouble getting any images attached in any way, but I got them into one of "My Orchids" showcases, "Phal - chartreuse flowers."

[Ray]

There is a layer of dead, white-to-silver cells on the surface of orchid roots, called "velamen." It quickly absorbs and holds water and nutrients so the plant can absorb them over a period of time after watering.

It's perfectly normal.

[JFeathersmith]

Oh, right . . . I'm just not used to seeing it dried out in patchy spots like this. That's a relief, thanks!