Partial root rot on Phalaenopsis after repotting
 

Hi Everyone!

I am an Orchid beginner (I have a collection of 6) and new to the Orchid Board forum. So happy that there is a community like this so thanks in advance to you all.

I am worried, because I have a spectacular Phalaenopsis that I received about 3 weeks ago and it's not doing so well.

When I just received it, I realized it was potted with rocks only at the bottom and then A LOT of only sphagnum moss in the top half of the pot. The first time I watered it, I noticed how saturated and compact the moss was and it made me worry about root rot.

So I repotted it in a mixture of sphagnum moss, bark and small rocks. While repotting I noticed that there were quite a few roots already rotting. I cut them away and hoped for the best for the remaining roots.

Now this week the orchid took a big fall! It lost 2 leaves and took a serious hit to the stem, which became mushy. When it fell, the potting media fell out and I saw more rotting roots! It seems as if they are just dying off one by one!

I sprayed the mushy part of the stem with H2O2 3%, dried it and applied cinnamon to the open wounds. The roots that are now left confuse me because ALL of them are plump and firm in parts and rotten and mushy in parts. For eg. Rotten at the top, healthy from about a half an inch down to the end of the root. Or healthy for 3 inches, rotten for half an inch and then healthy to the end.

Does this mean that the healthy portions of roots are actually absorbing anything? Or anything from the rotten part to the end is useless? It has healthy aerial roots but I don't want to have to cut the potted roots all off and the leaves are showing signs of dehydration.

Please let me know your thoughts! Thanks so much!

Hi: welcome:

The structure of the roots is made up of roots that grow from the roots and the mothers could be rotten and the children in perfect condition. As you have it, it seems to be fine (maybe a bit more medium is missing), I wouldn't touch anything else, nor apply more products that can dry or damage the roots.

Now, what could happen is that the plant goes into shock (not only for the accident, but for the repot), and to survive it has an adverse reaction such as; bloom more or taking out a new leaf. When it feels "stable" again, it will grow new roots.

hi welcome to the OB.
Great phal, shame you dropped it. I'm not entirey sure but it seems to be some kind of complex hybrid. The leaves looks like it has been crossed with more than just a phalaenopsis. Not that that is too important.

Your roots look really good. I can't see any concerning parts anywhere. Could it be that you are not too familiar with roots yet? You say they are squishy but I seriously doubt that.
When we say squishy we mean like a wet fish like if you squeeze it brown juices start oozing out.

Yours look in good condition. Once you have bad roots you'll know the difference.

Sometimes roots get covered in algae or they can even get affected by fungus or they can get stained from degrading spagnum moss and turn yellow, sometimes they turn brown. Usually they are still functional and although I didn't used to believe it a root can still stay functional if it loses its velamen (the thick spongy part) - the velamen does project the root though so without the velamen it does eventually die.

Anyway I can't see anything wrong with this one.

Welcome to the Orchid Board, Phalden. You have landed at the right place for great advice. Like you, I am new to orchids so cannot provide advice; but these fine folks here on OB know EVERYTHING!!

Happy growing! ROBB

Thank you all! I will keep an eye on it