Going Bonkers: Trouble with re-potting and root rot: Please Advise
 

Hey everyone. I seem to be having one issue that i can not seem to overcome. Please help me to figure out what I am doing wrong.
The story goes like this. I buy a new plant, it has some root rot. I cut off the bad roots soak it in a fungicide, Let it air dry for 24 hours then plant in potting mix that has soaked over night, wait 2 weeks to water, water thoroughly with a little seaweed, let drain, 2 weeks later I have to unpot again because the roots have rotted. Trim roots, soak in fungicide repot in a even smaller pot, 3 or 4 weeks later new roots and the plant starts a slow recovery.
these are all phal. orchids.

Now a little history of my growing conditions and the potting medium that I use.

I live in North Fl. in a very shaded area the plants receive about 1 hour morning sun and about 2 hours evening sun. No quite enough light because the leaves are a little dark. No where to move them though and they seem to love it once they get started and grow new roots. The humidity is very high most of the time. 55 to 60 daytime and 60 to 85 night. They sit on a covered concrete patio up on bakers racks to keep the air circulating under them. They have decent air flow and my healthy 4" pots need watered about every 5 days.
They are all in clear plastic slotted pots that just fit the roots. The potting mix I am using is fir bark, sponge rock, lava rock and leca.

I don't understand what is going on it is driving me nuts, it is like I have to do it twice to get it right and that is hard on the plants and me. I would love to figure out what is going on.

Gosh this is tough...is there absolutely no where else to put them? Maybe bacterial not fungal. Side question do you have these quarantined? Just 2 be safe?

How old or fresh is the medium?
Air flow/circulation?

Only other choice is to bring them in and put them under lights. Tried that for a short period of time when we had god awful rain and they did not seem to like it. They are much happier outside. In another month the leaves will start falling and they will get more light, And I am looking for a new place so top priority on the list is big windows with good light.
Yes I keep them separate. But it happens to almost any new one that I buy. I always use new fresh medium, new pots, a new razor blade for each plant and wear a fresh pair of gloves for each plant. I also wash my table down with beach after each. I figure I have to be doing something wrong because like I said once they get new roots they start growing great. And so far have not had one die this year. Just look pathetic for a while.

I don't know maybe it is the light or maybe the potting medium not being right.

I am not sure sounds like you are on the right track...do you get your plants from local vendors or order online?

Maybe its the fungicide maybe it is to strong. What type is it.

Are you potting into a pot just big enough for the root mass?

Kindrag23 might be right about the fungicide. Also how old is the fungicide??

How long are u letting the bleach on the table after spraying it??
Is it 100 present bleach or a 1:10 dilution?? Meaning 1 part bleach 9 parts water.

^ good thought about bleach I had not thought of that.

Thanks. ^_^

I thought of the bleach because in the lab we use a 1:10 bleach solution to clean our counter tops and work stations and let it set for 20 mins before wiping them off. That killed everything, bacteria, fungi, and whatever else is present on the counters. Except endospores. But that is a whole other kettle of fish there.

There are as many different opinions on how to grow Phals as there are growers, so here's what works for me.

I used to have similar issues that is roots dying rapidly after repotting.

I started doing a couple of things: when buying a Phal, I look for healthy, fat, silver colored roots poking through the media before I commit to buying one.

Between two evils, I prefer a dehydrated plant to the one that's been sitting in a wet moss. Dehydated Phals can be soaked and recover quickly. Those that sat in a wet moss usually end up rotting.

Within last two years I have also learned by trial and error that most old roots, no matter how healthy they are hate new environment.
So ....after I bring a new Phal home, I unpot and let it dry for at least 24 hrs. Then I attach it BARE FEET to the plastic pot and spray it once or twice a day for at least a month. No media!

If the roots are healthy and dry quickly, over a time I add a handful of coir or bark over the roots, so I don't have to mist as often.

Only after a month when the new roots start growing and old ones are no longer dying, it gets repotted.

I deep water new Phal only once in a while but mainly spray the roots and underside of the leaves with a seaweed solution.

I used to lose every other new Phal that I'd bring home, now it hardly ever happens.

This is just my personal practice. I hope its helpful somewhat.

Most of them have came from big box stores or grocery stores. I have some new ones i ordered online but am leery about repotting them till I get this figured out.

I sometimes use physan 20 other times organacide plant doctor always at the recommended strength. I have also not use either just peroxide and still had the same results.

---------- Post added at 10:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:47 PM ----------

I use a fairly strong solution at least 1:10 if not higher. But do not let it sit anytime. I also put down a fresh newspaper for each plant and throw away the whole thing, then wipe down with bleach.
Good point, I will start letting the bleach sit for 10 min or more each time/

Thanks for that useful piece of advice.

---------- Post added at 11:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:51 PM ----------

Great thanks for that info. I will try this with the new ones I just bought. They both have decent looking roots. They are 2 mini phals that were together in one pot that were planted plug and all then more moss stuffed in around them. Like you said They had healthy roots poking up and little rot when I got them cleaned up. I soaked them for a bit in physan 20 and they are now drying out. Tomorrow I will do as you say and put them in the pot with no media and see how that goes. It does seem like an adjustment issue with them. Few good Roots, no roots, fine new roots. I do have one question. one of them has a few roots that are green but flat, is that something to worry about they are firm?