Looking for Help with my Phalaenopsis Orchid

[Mellyt]

Hi all.

I’m fairly new to orchids and new to this group! Please excuse me if I’ve posted this thread in the wrong place. I’m very excited to join and start learning from all that are more experienced than me!

I’ve been researching and watching YouTube videos to figure out what is going on and what I can do to heal my Phalaenopsis. I received this as a gift back in February. I only realized it was drowning and suffocating after I started researching on how to care for them. I’ve been working diligently to try and get it back to healthy! I thought I was out of the woods as soon as a new leaf started growing in, but I recently found that several roots that were poking out have now shriveled. Please help! I’m open to any and all advice. I’ve attached some photos but I can provide more!

For potting, it’s in a transparent container with several drainage holes on the bottom and sides. The potting mix is one I purchased from Lowe’s that says it’s specifically for orchids. It’s a bark and small rocks? mix, and I throw on top some moss to keep the top more moisturize as the potting mix within the pop dries out (this makes sense to me?).

Thank you all in advance!!

[Cym Ladye]

Read the last sticky at the head of the Beginner Forum on "The Phal Abuse Ends Here". Lots of answers to lots of questions.

[aliceinwl]

I think you can probably omit the top dressing of moss. If you can see the roots through the pot, when they look silverish (like in your last photo) it’s time to water. You want the roots to almost dry between waterings. Otherwise, keep it in bright diffuse light (no direct sun) and keep it warm, and it should be happy.

Your mix sounds like it’s probably good. In the wild Phalaenopsis grow on trees without any media and their roots need to breathe. Keeping them in pots is for our convenience. To make it work they need a media that allows a lot of air into the root zone.

If you’re perusing YouTube, be careful of home remedies. Things like dousing the roots with hydrogen peroxide can do a lot more harm than good.

Good luck with your plant!

[Mellyt]

Thank you! After two watering, the shriveled up roots haven’t healed so I think I’ll be removing them after the medium dries out, and I’ll take out the moss to see if it helps!

As far as home remedies, I haven’t gone too extreme but thank you for the tip.

[rbarata]

...I recently found that several roots that were poking out have now shriveled.

That's normal under low humdity. When you water, wet those roots too until they're green. You plant has a great root system and the whole plant look good. Don't worry about the shrivelled roots. In time you'll see that a lot more and will stop to care.

...the shriveled up roots haven’t healed so I think I’ll be removing them after the medium dries out

By removing them do you mean cut them? If so, don't do it. They are roots and are not dead, just thirsty.

[fishmom]

Echoing rbarata about the roots. The active part of the root is the core, which is inside the outer part, which on your plant looks brownish-green. Don't worry about the color; any hint of green when you water shows that the outer part (the velamin) is absorbing water. Then the water can be taken up by the core root and used by the plant. Even if the velamin is destroyed, the core retains some ability to take up water. Don't cut anything that is still firmly attached to the plant!