Where should I cut this orchid? (Stem rot i think?)
 

So I spent a lot of money with a large orchid seller. However they just arrived packed in rotten moss and I have to chop off a bunch of roots.
Do I use peroxide or anything? I saw some debate over it.
Also where exactly should I cut this orchid to ensure it survives?? :(
I cannot imagine how this person stays in business. I would never send anyone anything like this.

Album — Postimages

Take pictures and contact the seller. If they arrived like that he should make it right.

Not this seller. I didn’t realize before I purchased from him but he will block anyone who contacts him about his rotten plants. :(
There are threads about him in this group, but I didn’t realize that when I made the order.

I think I saw this plant on reddit. I posted on there, but I don't remember what I said.

I don't see anything that needs to be cut or treated. And I see some excellent new roots. Just pot it up in fresh medium. If it has the fresh air that good medium provides, the plant will take care of healing itself. I don't see any significant rot. (A few black spots is no big deal). Before you pot it, rinse well under running water. That is all the "cleaning" that it needs. So don't cut, don't use peroxide, just give it a healthier environment and it will be OK. Anything else you do will likely do more harm than good. So don't cut and don't treat, just repot.

I suggest medium bark (good quality, such as Orchiata) rather than sphagnum. It is much easier, then, to not overwater - the bark will not absorb too much water, will provide lots of air space to give the "humid air" that the plant wants. Watering in sphagnum is a lot trickier - too much water and it stays too wet and airless, but if it dries out it's hard to re-wet. So, bark and well-drained pots should do the trick.

Do not start out doing a big removal of roots. It's very hard to tell if the root is completely dead. Rinse them in running water and run your fingers along/through the roots. If the outside part comes off, fine, but the wiry thread inside may still be alive and able to take up water. If it is dead, it will deteriorate of it's own accord.


You can see that on a couple of roots there is a green section beyond the white. That part is certainly alive. The dark part on the "stem" of the roots may just be discoloration due to the medium. If it is still firm, I would repot and give it good care and some time.


Do not use peroxide on the roots, it can further damage them. Likewise with cinnamon, which will desicate a root. Let them dry out a bit, then do your repotting with the medium of your choice. Be sure to provide plenty of air around the roots, and give them a soak in Kelpak if you have it. They should start to regrow with a better growing condition.

The best roots are the ones with the green tips (both the new ones and the branches). Be careful not to touch those root tips and handle with care, they are easily damaged. Be gentle and the plant will reward you.

Thank you guys! I’m going to stop using peroxide altogether. I used it on a Cattleya last time and I hope I didn’t harm that one! 😩
I checked before I put it on these though. So I skipped that and just have them drying out a little and will pot it in bark later.
I took off everything that seemed dead and I may have taken off a couple good ones before I saw this. :( Hopefully I didn’t damage them or traumatize them too bad…

---------- Post added at 10:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:33 PM ----------

You did, and I have them drying out in my kitchen! I’ve got all 6 laying out and drying, bark should arrive soon with my new pots (I realized I ran out of both).
I have my fingers crossed that I didn’t get too enthusiastic and mess them up!

I recommend not to cut off roots because I don't think people can reliably tell what is dead and what is alive.

I agree the roots look OK. I would just repot. Phal. roots only stay bright white with green tips for a while, then they look like this. An older segment of root can be black but newer portions of the root can be fine. The water conductive tissue is the fine thread running down the middle of the root.

From what I can see, follow the advice given by all of us, then take a deep breath and sit back and relax. Your plants will be just fine. I agree with fish about getting some Kelpak and using it.