My Poor Orchid is dying!

[cherrygirlprime]

I have a Phalaenopsis given to me as a gift. I am a office and it is low lighting in here. Its leaves are still green and it was blooming. the blooms have died off and did have buds and they too are now gone. I have went according to watering, not leaving in standing water. I did turn it over and found and under potted and found that several of the roots are rotted and I don't know if they can be saved at this point but several are still bright and thick but there are several sections in these that are dark black and thinning in parts. Is there anything I can do save this poor plant? I see now that the stalk is starting to change colors though the rest of the plant seems healthy at first glance.

[Paul Mc]

My first question would be is it planted in moss or a chunky bark mix? Second, is it exposed to any drafts from a vent?

It's not uncommon when we get a new orchid and move it around, for the current blooms and the buds to die, especially if it moves in and out of cold temperatures.

If the leaves look good this far, then you might have a chance. Since the roots are rotted, I would repot it immediately in a good Phalaenopsis orchid mix and cut off the dead and rotting roots with a sterilized cutter. What it is planted in makes a difference as to what sort of mix you would use. If in moss, the roots are accustomed to a more moist environment and moving straight to a pure bark chunk mix would be a shock. It would need to grow new roots to acclimate to the new medium.

Can you provide pics for us?


Paul McMahon
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[cherrygirlprime]

yes I will provide pictures of her. I will be bringing her home from the office so that I can start working on her here at home over the next two days. She is at the time in a pot with moss and is a custom to be in watered every 5 to 7 days evenly. She also does have those places like I said that does have rot on her roots. Where would one go about getting not only the orchid mix fertilizer, sterile clippers, and new moss for me to repost her? I would love to do it today or tonight so she can begin healing.

[Mingny]

Oh my goodness no wonder she is dying, she is being overwatered! My orchids in moss only get watering every 3 weeks or so... moss holds onto A LOT of water my dear. You should be able to get the items above at Walmart or Rona/Home depot etc.

[WhiteRabbit]

Of course, climate / weather and pot size affects how often it will need water. In the mostly dry climate here, I couldn't go three weeks without watering, even in sphag moss.

Search the board and internet for skewer method - very helpful in determining when to water.

Lowe's, Home Depot, retail nurseries, some hardware chains carry orchid bark or bark mix, fertilizer, small plant pruners.

[james mickelso]

Don't worry about fertilizing right now. Later this spring when she has healed you can start fertilizing. Getting this phal out of whatever media it is in and repotting into a more sterile mix with good air flow is all that is needed right now. Good light and warmth is also good for her.

[greenfinger]

I have a rescue phal that I'm in the process of re-rooting as well. Before I reported it in fresh mix I put rooting hormone on the base below the leaves. You can find rooting hormone at most places that sell plant supplies. Before I water I check the potting mix with my finger. I put my finger into the mix carefully below the surface. Hope this helps. Good luck.

[cherrygirlprime]

Okay I went and got a couple of things to help re pot her. Ibhave pictures of her roots...its bad but I hope she can turn around. I have pruning snips to cut the infected roots if need be, isopropyl to sanitize after each snip to keep the infection down, and miracle-gro potting mix for orchids. I hope it helps her some. I am such a noob at this. I feel hopeless. All of her roots, all of them, were rotten. The only thing healthy looking was her leaves so I am so unsure now that she's been repotted without the infected roots. All she has is her leaves and her base root is the best way to describe it. I am having a hard time posting the before pictures.

[james mickelso]

This is in fairly good shape. Those roots are good enough that given some good care they will sprout new root tips. But keeping it just barely damp will be difficult because you will want to water it when you think it is drying out. Let it dry out a little. Phals hold their reserves of water and food in their roots and leaves. Staying too wet was the problem that led to it's current conditions. Phals grow on tree trunks and limbs and dry out all the time. Let this one heal and it will do very well.

[greenfinger]

When you are repotting, don't pack the orchid mix too tightly around the surviving roots. They like air as well as water. When you water, do so during the day because the cooler night temperatures may encourage mole or mildew growth. If you splash any water on the plant, blot it with a tissue as excess water on the crown may encourage rot. Hope this helps.