Root Rot - Can phal still survive??

[jessegranger]

Okay, so I got this phal from Whole Foods in February and it had ten beautiful flowers on its bloom stalk. After it had finished blooming, I ordered supplies from rePotme.com and proceeded to repot my phal. I noticed that there was root rot and so I cut the affected roots off and placed the orchid in an air pot with spagnum moss. The bottom leaf began to yellow and after 10 days without water the moss was still wet. I removed the orchid and noticed more rot. So I cut that off too. Attached are the pictures from the most recent cut. My question is, will my orchid still survive?? I replanted in bark this time after letting the roots dry out. Any more suggestions??? I'm lost here.

[Wild Orchid]

In my experience, when a certain Phal is prone to rot, it roots need to dry completely. This is more important than providing moisture or watering.
Again, this is only what I do, but I don't use sphag.

I'd place an affected Phal or new Phal in an empty pot bare feet and let roots be exposed to the air and dry out, then spray roots and undersides of the leaves very lightly. Phals really don't need media, we pot them so that they can be anchored and keep some moisture around so that we can get along with our lives.

To solve the anchoring problem, I drill a couple of holes in a plastic pot and attach the Phal to the wall with soft wire or gardening ties. Sometimes I attach it to a plastic fork and then to the wall. Doing that takes care of securing the Phal in the pot and prevents wobbling, which is important.

I would then spray the Phal roots regularly as discussed, taking care of not getting them too wet or too dry. If everything goes well, in a month or so, the rot gets cleared and new roots start growing. Then I could add some more bark to just lightly cover the roots and keep some moisture in a pot. Then I can spray every other day instead every day.

You still have some roots left, that's good.

This is just my 2 but yes, you do have hope. Phals survive even without roots but then it's a loooooong process. Better have SOME roots than none!

Good luck!
WO

[silken]

I saw your initial post about this one and I'm surprised the moss stayed so wet in the net pot you used! Yes, your Phal can survive. I hate to say but in my opinion, it is now potted in too large a pot. Usually most orchids do well when potted in a pot that fits the roots, not the leaves. They like to be under potted and that helps prevent root rot. That way the media can get good and wet, drain and then dry quickly. I would suggest a small clear pot with very good drainage and air holes. Let the media get dry before watering. then water it real well, drain well and let dry again before watering.

I find using kelp(seaweed) or a rooting hormone such as SuperThrive or K-L-N really helps when they are in trouble. Add it to your watering solution.

I hope that helps and yes, this orchid can survive if you are careful not to over water and let the roots rot.

I will add, the reason I like clear pots is so you can see what is going on with the roots (green means they are still wet, silver means they are dry). Also in nature these plants grow attached to trees and their roots get sunlight and photosynthesize. Mine always seem happier in the clear pots. When they are in bloom, I set them into an ornamental pot for show.

[jessegranger]

Originally Posted by silken

I saw your initial post about this one and I'm surprised the moss stayed so wet in the net pot you used! Yes, your Phal can survive. I hate to say but in my opinion, it is now potted in too large a pot. Usually most orchids do well when potted in a pot that fits the roots, not the leaves. They like to be under potted and that helps prevent root rot. That way the media can get good and wet, drain and then dry quickly. I would suggest a small clear pot with very good drainage and air holes. Let the media get dry before watering. then water it real well, drain well and let dry again before watering.

I find using kelp(seaweed) or a rooting hormone such as SuperThrive or K-L-N really helps when they are in trouble. Add it to your watering solution.

I hope that helps and yes, this orchid can survive if you are careful not to over water and let the roots rot.

I will add, the reason I like clear pots is so you can see what is going on with the roots (green means they are still wet, silver means they are dry). Also in nature these plants grow attached to trees and their roots get sunlight and photosynthesize. Mine always seem happier in the clear pots. When they are in bloom, I set them into an ornamental pot for show.

I am using the same air pot as in the other post. I do not have any smaller pots It is clear and getting plenty of airflow with a very loose bark pack. Where did you buy the kelp/seaweed? How did you apply it?

[silken]

Kelp can usually be found at hydroponic stores. Just use as directed by mixing in with your water when you feed and water.

Your roots may have rotted partly because the pot was too large initially. A large pot takes longer to dry out thru the center and bottom of the media than a small pot which is why it helps prevent root rot.

[SlipperGirl]

Yes there is still a lot of hope, I have a phal that had no roots and was loosing its leaves, its now growing five roots and three leaves

[RosieC]

I've had ones saved with worse roots, so yes there is still hope. I agree with a comment above that the new pot looks way too big for the amount of root you have.

My method would be to pot it up in the smallest pot you can fit the roots into. An old food container with holes made in it can be good if you don't have a small enough pot. You can use a larger cache pot outside it to keep it from overbalancing if the leaves are a lot bigger than the roots, it's just the pot with the medium should be as small as possible for the roots you have.

Choice of medium is up to you, I've done this with both bark and lecca, but if you like moss then just make sure it will dry quickly.

I find recovery works best if you can let it dry very quickly, then water often (but after it's fully dry). The aim at first is probably for it to dry in one or two days and water on a similar frequency.

[Cintirella]

Long time ago ( my very first Orchid Phal ) had Root Rot, and even tho the crown was practically gone, the 2 spikes and roots were green and strong. I never knew if she would have made it. My hubby not knowing threw it away thinking she was done. I wanted to continue caring for her as I know sometimes it gives you Keikis out of the condition they are in ( survival mode ) My mistake was watering on a humid day- they used to be outside shade, and headed out to the beach without checking on them at the end of that day. but I learned my lesson.

[MrsH530]

Originally Posted by Wild Orchid

In my experience, when a certain Phal is prone to rot, it roots need to dry completely. This is more important than providing moisture or watering.
Again, this is only what I do, but I don't use sphag.

I'd place an affected Phal or new Phal in an empty pot bare feet and let roots be exposed to the air and dry out, then spray roots and undersides of the leaves very lightly. Phals really don't need media, we pot them so that they can be anchored and keep some moisture around so that we can get along with our lives.

To solve the anchoring problem, I drill a couple of holes in a plastic pot and attach the Phal to the wall with soft wire or gardening ties. Sometimes I attach it to a plastic fork and then to the wall. Doing that takes care of securing the Phal in the pot and prevents wobbling, which is important.

I would then spray the Phal roots regularly as discussed, taking care of not getting them too wet or too dry. If everything goes well, in a month or so, the rot gets cleared and new roots start growing. Then I could add some more bark to just lightly cover the roots and keep some moisture in a pot. Then I can spray every other day instead every day.

You still have some roots left, that's good.

This is just my 2 but yes, you do have hope. Phals survive even without roots but then it's a loooooong process. Better have SOME roots than none!

Good luck!
WO

Thank you for posting this! I'm having a similar problem with root rot. Lost 2 leaves and about to lose the third. I followed your advice about pulling it out of the media and mounting it to something. Can you tell me if I did it right? If not, what else would you suggest? (see pictures)

Thanks for any advice!

[Semtia]

Hi MrsH530

I was wondering how your orchid is doing? Did keeping the roots exsposed help the roots grow better?

I hope it worked out!!!

Sem