Smelly phal roots

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

The roots shouldn't smell like anything but plant. You may be smelling the odor of the metabolites of the bacteria breaking down the potting media that has lingered on the roots.

Once conditions no longer favor the bacteria, their numbers will die back. When their population decreases to where they are not in the majority anymore, the smell might go away on its own.

I do not recommend using hydrogen peroxide, particularly for roots. Hydrogen peroxide is a rather strong oxidizer while it is active and it tends to damage cell membranes when it comes into contact with cells. It will not discriminate what cells it kills.

If you were wondering why the flowers blasted out prematurely, it was most likely the application of hydrogen peroxide to the roots that did it. Any kind of significant root damage, will usually cause flowers to drop prematurely. It is possible to repot a Phal while it is still in bloom and not lose flowers. Once roots get stressed out/significantly damaged, the flowers drop.