Root rot, hoping for tips on replanting and nursing back to health
 

Hello!

My name is Kelsey, I'm brand new here and also new to the orchid world.

I was gifted an orchid about 9 months ago. It bloomed for a few months and then the flowers fell off and it has been growing aerial roots since.

I don't know very much about them but today wanted to look into how I can take care of it, so I've been watching some videos and reading some information, which led me to trimming the spike, trimming the dead roots (basically everything but the aerial roots) and then repotting it.

I'd love to know the best way to go about repotting my plant, what kind of orchid it is, and maybe just some general tips that have worked for you.

It has been sitting in lukewarm water for about 7 minutes to loosen up the aerial roots (a tip I learned elsewhere. I hope that's the right thing to do)

I apologize for the picture quality as my toddler son is asleep and there isn't much lighting.

Thanks so much!!! :waving

I am on my phone, will update with the pictures. Switching to computer now.

I should also note that there were not holes in the bottom of the original planter that the plant came in.

A photo will certainly help (the forum may not let you upload one until you have posted 5 times, others can advise better that I can) I am guessing for the description that it is a Phalaenopsis. Softening up the aerial roots is good. When you repot, you don't need to get all of them into the pot (some may just be pointing the wrong way, and are happy being aerial) If it was in sphagnum moss (very likely) it is also likely that the roots in the pot are mostly rather dead. If mushy, trim them. If the outside of the root is mushy but the "string" in the middlie is firmly attached, you can leave that part without harm, will help to hold the plant firmly when you repot. I suggest small-to-medium bark for the long term. It can go back into the same pot if it fits and is well drained. If not well drained, get a pot that is... If you can get some of the new roots into the pot when you repot, that's good - best to have at least some that can grab the extra moisture. But Phalaenopsis are basically air plants - so the roots outside the pot are normal, just harder to keep hydrated. With fresh media, it will probably grow some new roots down into it.

---------- Post added at 01:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:21 PM ----------

Ooooh... forget what I said about the same pot. You definitely need one that has good drainage (and no doubt lack of drainage caused roots in the pot to rot) . Once repotted, when you water it, let water run through the pot... that pulls air into the root zone.

Thank you so much for your advice!!! :)

Your plant is a Phalaenopsis, most likely a hybrid. They are wonderful plants!

The roots show obvious signs of overwatering, and you did the right thing by cutting off the dead tissue. Hopefully, when you repotted you used large-chunk bark so the roots will get good drainage. Also, the more open (as in slotted) your pot, the better it both drains and also breathes air for the roots.

Welcome to the forum and to orchid growing! Now that I can see the photos, for sure you're doing the right thing repotting! Since there isn't much to hold the plant, tying it to a stake to hold it stable in the new pot until it grows some roots is necessary. I do see one new root that is pointing downward that can go into the bark, the rest let them go where they will... clearly they were trying to run away form the soggy mess! When you water, you can get those upward pointing roots wet and that will help keep it going until it roots down into the bark

Thank you so much for the advice! I have repotted into a planter with a hole and used wet bark for the bottom portion and then topped with wet sphagnum peat moss.

I would suggest removing the sphagnum, and using bark for the whole operation. You want to create a humid, not soggy, environment around the roots. It wants a wet-dry cycle. In nature, these grow hanging from trees with their roots exposed to the breezes. (How well drained is the side of a tree? How much moving air on the side of a tree?) In their native environment (the Philippines and surrounding islands) they get high humidity and it rains pretty much every day, so they get more moisture than we can give them in our homes, but it's really airy moisture. Sphagnum works well for the commercial growers under controlled conditions, but it is much too easy to overwater with it, and if it dries out it's hard to re-wet. So bark is much more forgiving.

Welcome Kelsey! Two of our best experts already have gave you great advice! Enjoy your new orchid adventure!

Roberta - Thank you for letting me know. Will remove the sphagnum!

Dollythehun - Thank you!!