What to do if roots are rotten?
 

Hi my name is Linda and I am very new to the orchid world but recently became interested in them, so today I joined this forum, as I seem to be struggling!
I had an orchid in lava rock to try and prevent the roots from having problems because it had actually gotten snow mold while potted in a previous medium. So I switched it to lava rock per someone's suggestion. But now I am realizing the roots are rotting so I am going to try and eventually convert it to the water method! Right now I have it bagged with a small amount of water in the bottom of a glass vase with some rocks at the bottom for structural support. I don't have any sphag moss though. Do you think I will still be able to save it? Should I add anything else to the inside of the vase or the water? Should I keep the bag around it all the time or ever let it air out? I really appreciate any help or suggestions!!! I will try to attach a picture of it in its current situation too! Thanks so much!

If some mold was growing..... I normally just spray with a fungicide. We have in our area products like mancozeb and yates anti-rot. Then just put the plants in dry new lava rock and allow the roots to dry for a day or so....allowing the treatment to work a bit. I grow all my catts in lava rock. Just water normally after that.... making sure the pot is an excellent draining one... lots of holes in the bottom for very good drainage. Put the orchid in shade .... with medium filtered light and very good air circulation. I also use root promoting gel.... called ezi-root gel..... which might be sold where you are... but maybe similar products available.

The roots look okay. You can soak it daily until you’re ready to repot. If it’s just dead roots rotting, I let nature take its course. If the tissue is dead it’s going to decay.

You may also want to remove the bag to improve air circulation. You should be able to keep the plant hydrated enough with a daily soak. You may be creating opportunities for infections to take hold by keeping it continuously wet without air circulation.

A certain amount of root death is to be expected when switching growing methods. Older, damaged, or unhealthy roots often die on me when I go from moss to bark for example. Phals are slow so whenever you make a change there’s going to be a long adjustment period.

Thanks for your response. I soaked it and a lot of rotten material came off of the roots. I set it up a little differently - in wet lava rocks but a little bit elevated, and a plastic bag with some airflow to help keep the humidity. I attached a couple pictures of what it looks like now. Thanks!!

Thanks for your response. I soaked it and a lot of rotten material came off of the roots. I set it up a little differently - in wet lava rocks but a little bit elevated, and a plastic bag with some airflow to help keep the humidity. I attached a couple pictures. Thanks!!

Just be careful with this bag trick, as it's possible that what we think we're doing (keeping humidity high) with the bag to benefit it ..... could actually do the opposite. Enough air flow often means 'moving air' .... such as air moving passing (at least lightly) over the plants leaves and moving across the top of the media (eg. lava rock media) and even moving through the gaps in the media.

I would also be careful about the new set up. Roots need airflow, and a plastic bag sealed around the pot may lead to further problems, like mold. The reason bagging is used (on the leafy part of the plant) is to reduce evaporation and keep the plant from wilting to the point of no return while waiting for new rot growth.

From your original photo it seems that you keep the plant on a windowsill? If so, make sure it doesn't get any direct sun, as that will make the temperature in the bag rise fast.

Good luck saving your plant

I don't know where you are in the USA, but if it's warm where you are, not bone dry (desert), and I you have access to shade outdoors, wrap a wire around the base of the bare root plant, and hang it somewhere shady (light but no sun) where you can reach to water it.

Over the summer, the plant should overcome any fungus problems, grow roots, then you can pot however you want.

Bare roots are totally not a problem for epiphytic orchids (yours is epiphytic; grows on trees).