Mushy roots??

[greenpassion]

What is the cause of roots going bad? I just found a short mushy root on an otherwise healthy (I hope) phal. Should I pull the plant out of it's pot, clean off the bark mix and look at the rest of the roots? Does this dissruption hurt the plant?

[tucker85]

Mushy roots are usually caused by overwatering. Can you see other healthy roots? Is the medium breaking down and holding more water? Can air get to the roots? Phals tolerate repotting very well. If you're worried about the condition of the roots go ahead and repot into some fresh medium. Cut off any mushy dead roots and replant into the smallest pot that you can get the root system into. Large pots retain moisture too long and have dead zones in the pot. Phals do well when root bound in smaller pots. Good luck.

[ezil]

Mushy roots are bad news. It means that you're dealing with rot. Do un-pot the plant and check the medium. If the medium is broken down, it will hold too much water and impede aeration. Remove all roots that are mushy and repot the plant in fresh medium. Do not use any of the old medium. Re-evaluate your watering habits as well: orchids (except for a very few) do not like to have their roots in water for long: in nature they dry quickly. If you have a few good roots left, you should be fine. If not, it becomes a different ball game. Let us know how things work out for you.

[cythaenopsis]

Great advice.

I went through the same thing. I fell into the newbie syndrome of over-watering the plant. That's the first thing you have to get the hang of when starting to grow orchids--knowing how much to water them and how often. The good thing is that phals are one of the most resilient of the orchid species. Don't be afraid to trim off dead/dying roots. They're good about growing new ones in due time.

[greenpassion]

Thank you all for your responses. I realize after reading these that I have them in pots too large for them as well. U will follow your advise and learn to relax...

[silken]

If you place a bamboo kebab skewer into the centre of your pots and leave it there, you can monitor when it is time to water. Pull the skewer out and if it is barely damp or dry, it is time to water. If its wet, wait another day or two and check again. They are inexpensive and have saved many of my orchids from being over-watered.

[greenpassion]

Yes! Leaving the bamboo skewer in feels better to me than always poking around with it. I happen to have some, and that's my new plan. Thanks Silken.

[silken]

If you leave the skewer in it will be a better indicator of how the media is rather than just putting it in at watering time. You can always shove it back into the same hole without poking roots.

[tucker85]

I like the skewer idea, especially leaving it in place like that. I like to let the medium dry out completely once or twice a month. When I do this I mist the aerial roots in the morning with a little hand sprayer to insure the plant has some moisture.

[greenpassion]

I too mist the aerial roots. I wasn't sure if that was ok to do, but if Tucker does it, it must be.