Need help desperately - Orchid Board

LadyCM · #1 03-07-2011, 10:37 PM

This phalenopsis was given to me by a dearest friend before he passed so it's a big responsibility. He didn't know much about orchids and planted it in a huge clay pot-no ventilation-. He used broken glass to fill part of the pot and the rest with dirt. Believe it or not, the plant grew, has about 3 other plants from the bottom and right now about 9 spikes. Problem: the roots are dying, the dirt smells bad and some leaves have gotten black spots. With so many spikes I don't know what to do. With so many plants growing there is no ventilation inside, there are about 6" from border to soil. I use a flashlight to take the roots pic, the white is a reflection.

Becca · #2 03-08-2011, 12:11 AM

Hi and welcome to the OB! My recommendation would be to buy a good quality phal orchid mix, I personally like the mixes that repotme.com sells, and get your phal out of it's current pot and potting medium. You can use a clay or a clear plastic pot, they both have good qualities. The clay pot will allow your potting soil and roots to breath, a clear pot will not but you will be able to see the roots and will be able to tell when it is time to water. Depending on the pot size will also depend on what is best to use. Repotme.com sells good plastic pots that you can look at as well. They are a bit pricey but they have good quality materials and great customer service. Also don't get to big of a pot for your orchid....it should be just a tad bit bigger then it's root system after you clean it up and cut off the bad roots with sterilized cutting tools. Hopefully others will fill in whatever I have missed here.

silken · #3 03-08-2011, 12:47 AM

That looks like it was a robust Phal! and Becca pretty well covered it for potting tips. There do appear to be some healthy looking roots showing in the 2nd photo, so it will likely be fine once it is re-potted.

Call_Me_Bob · #4 03-08-2011, 01:03 AM

I think they pretty much covered it. In the third pic j think I see two spikes. You can cut off the old spikes, but I would leave the new ones and the ones with flowers on.

You can call me Bob

LadyCM · #5 03-08-2011, 01:08 AM

My doubt is - it has 9 spikes to bloom, not only from the mother plant but from the others by the side and underneath. To take those plants out of that huge pot is going to be a mess and will disturb the blooms. When I repot I put the pot in water for a while so that the roots separate but I can't do that with this huge thing. So you don't think it has a disease?

silken · #6 03-08-2011, 01:15 AM

It doesn't look diseased. When you mention other plants, are they seperate plants or are they basal keikis? Basal keikis are new plants that grow from the stem of the mother plant and are attached. If that is the case, you could cut them apart, or just leave them be and have a specimen phal! How lucky to have 9 spikes! Some phals seem to be more prone to producing basal keikis than other ones, but it is not a disease. You just get more bang for your buck

LadyCM · #7 03-08-2011, 01:15 AM

By the way, all the spikes are new but the one with flowers which started to bloom again.

LadyCM · #8 03-08-2011, 01:25 AM

They all are basal keikis. From the mother and from the grown keikis.

silken · #9 03-08-2011, 01:43 AM

Re-potting an orchid while in bloom is always a risk that the you lose the flowers. However, if the roots are in need of re-potting, it's better to risk the blooms for the sake of the whole plant. If you do decide to cut away some or all of the keikis, make sure they have a healthy root system of their own. Dust the cut on mother and keiki with cinnamon, or use hydrogen peroxide to help seal and protect the cut.

Lana · #10 03-08-2011, 01:44 PM

Wow! what an impressive phal! I would repot the entire thing, without separating the keikis. It's not often you can see such a monster, and a pretty healty-looking one, too! Of course, roots is the most important thing, and it looks like your plant developed quite a few aerial roots to help itself.