Phal. (Sedirea) japonica. Roots drying

[Mikehound]

So I recently got this Sedirea japonica that I just unpotted and I noticed that a lot of the root tips are dried. I also have the phal. Little one (japonica x parishii) and it was growing new roots nicely and suddenly the tips dried and then the rest of the root went crispy. Is there a trick to keep the roots healthy while they’re growing? I think the hybrid ones dried up when I watered them but I’m not sure since it was getting the same care as always. I have around 40-60% humidity
Would you advise to mount it at this stage? This is how it arrived from transport.

[Roberta]

First, Welcome!

Your humidity sounds good. What are your temperatures? A mounted plant needs daily watering, in a pot you can go a few days. But both of these can do really well mounted - I grow Sedirea (Phalaenopsis) japonica mounted, and Vandopirea (Phalaeonposis) Little One in a basket with loose medium. Both tolerate a wide range of temperatures. (I grow them quite cool - outdide - in the winter and they do fine, they would be even happier warmer)

[Mikehound]

Originally Posted by Roberta

First, Welcome!

Your humidity sounds good. What are your temperatures? A mounted plant needs daily watering, in a pot you can go a few days. But both of these can do really well mounted - I grow Sedirea (Phalaenopsis) japonica mounted, and Vandopirea (Phalaeonposis) Little One in a basket with loose medium. Both tolerate a wide range of temperatures. (I grow them quite cool - outdide - in the winter and they do fine, they would be even happier warmer)

Thanks for the welcome!
My temperatures range from 11° to 28° C (51°-82°)
Also do you water when it becomes dried or just before it gets dried? I’ve read that this is a very sensitive species and don’t wanna lose it!

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Mikehound

Thanks for the welcome!
My temperatures range from 11° to 28° C (51°-82°)
Also do you water when it becomes dried or just before it gets dried? I’ve read that this is a very sensitive species and don’t wanna lose it!

Temperature range is fine. They both can go colder... mine may experience some winter nights 4-5 deg C (Low 40's F), I think that the warmer days (usually 16-20 deg C, ocasionally warmer) lets them get through the cold. The other parent of Little One is Hygrochilus parishii (Phal. hygrochila) which also grows under those conditions. I don't find them fussy at all. If mounted, , imposible to overwater because they dry out in a few hours. In fact I would consider all three to be rather forgiving. They mayu be classified as "Phalaenopsis" but that's not how they grow.

[Mikehound]

Thanks for the info and advice! I decided to pot it in a clay pot hoping to keep it a bit cooler, with sphagnum, sponge rock and some bark on top. One last question! What kind of care do you give it during the winter?

[isurus79]

Those root tips could have aborted because they were wiggling in the pot, which damages the tender tips. How were the plants secured in the pot?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Mikehound

Thanks for the info and advice! I decided to pot it in a clay pot hoping to keep it a bit cooler, with sphagnum, sponge rock and some bark on top. One last question! What kind of care do you give it during the winter?

I grow them outside (I do live in a fairly unique temperate climate, coastal southern California). I water everything a little less frequently in winter since they don't dry out as fast, bout otherwise they get the same care all year around. Not much... water daily most of the year, maybe every 2-3 days when it's cold. They get rained on if nature chooses to be so kind. Fertilizer, about every 2 weeks, dilute and occasionally forgotten. So, pretty much the same care as everything else, quite basic.