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Phal root root :(

16 years ago

My phal has root rot, I suppose I should have taken action sooner but I waited until the leaves became wrinkled and droopy. It now only has two out of about 7 leaves that are still healthy looking, although one of those two is in the first stages of becoming wrinkled. I cut off the rotted roots, used a fungicide and repotted it in clean medium. It also had an old spike rebranching itself from a node, but I cut it off due to the energy it used :( It just killed me...It also has a NEW spike which is about 8 inches long...I've been watching it for about a month and I do NOT want to cut it...Cutting the old spike was hard enough. Think my baby will be ok? It was my very first orchid and a gift from my boyfriend so it's very sentimental...

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Comments (6)

organic_kermit
16 years ago
Honestly doesn't sound good. Cutting the spike will help the plant, but you may want to just enjoy the blooms before the plant dies. Chalk it up to a learning experience.
BTW, it really cracks me up that everyone states "please help as I don't want to kill this plant." None of us want to kill them, obviously, we are here aren't we.
sand_tiger86
Original Author
16 years ago
I blame Home Depot. It was potted in nasty, moldy sphag which retained far too much water. I had to wait until I got paid to give it a proper repotting with the necessary tools. I forgot to mention, though, it does have about 5 new roots growing, and a couple that seemed dead are making new green growths. So, I don't know...I suppose I'll see?
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I would pull it out of the pot and check the roots for rot. I have about nine Phalaenopsis and two have wilted in the past even when flowering. The problem in both cases was rotten roots. I cut the whole plant stem just above the rotten roots, pull off the wrinkled leaves, dip it into an old bottle of "Roots" and plant it in coarse fir bark. One is recovering nicely but it has taken a year. It had essentially no roots left, just nubbins on the stem. A fairly new one just got the same treatment. I am no orchid expert but that is what works for me. I probably tend to over water my plants. For the price I paid, I could have thrown them out but I hate to throw out a plant. This post was edited by BoulderGrower on Sun, Oct 5, 14 at 18:42
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Sorry for not posting these pictures sooner - I had login difficulties and then I got swamped with work. Anyway, here's some mobile pictures (excuse the poor quality) and as one can see the aerial roots are starting to shrivel on the one phal and then on the other phal they are completely dried and shriveled up to the point of, I'm afraid to hear, of no return. I water them quite frequently - every few days - give or take - depending on whether I think they need it or not and also dependent on weather/light/temperature of the day. What am I doing wrong? Thanks so much!
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Can I save this phal? Lost its leaves :'( nice roots though...
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I've just brought some Phals inside after summering them in a glass-house, one looked the same as yours and I was going to toss it.....but it has a tiny new growth so it will not go in the dust bin. Flowers are the object of the exercise and experiments are good, so you should treat yourself while waiting to see if the patient recovers.
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Impulse-bought another sad phal (BAD roots)
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Comments (4)
I'm not an expert by any means but have been addicted to orchids for years. I do agree I think the plant and roots look reasonable. If you are talking about tiny white dots almost like dashes.... Some of my phals have that.... I think it just normal variation.... The lighter bits of roots are probably where it didn't get exposed to light and are normal as well.... Only black and squishy are a problem. If firm to the touch it's still good. I would just repot it and try to water carefully until it seems to recover. Since its spring your end it should start to pick up and have some new growth. I don't think you need spag and bag. Thats only for plants that have next to no roots or none! Good luck. Lillian
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mehitabel
16 years ago
If it has new roots forming, it should do okay. I would leave the new spike.

Good luck. Whatever happens, you'll learn a lot from this incident.
claritamaria
16 years ago
I've brought many HD phals back from the dead. Cut the spikes. Uses way too much energy for a sick plant. cut off the dead roots with a sterile knife and use peroxide. Spag and bag it (see faq) and put it in some good light. I don't recommend cinamon. It will take months to recover but they are tough plants. A hospital phal that I took in in November is in spike

Clara
sbinf
16 years ago
I can say assuredly I am glad I live in Georgia. It's nearly impossible to overwater a plant that's outside every day here. I pretty much agree with everyone here. I never much liked sphagging and bagging. I will place the orchid in a clay pot and cover any roots with sphagnum until there is enough growth to pot it normally. This is of course just a preference though, your mileage may vary.
Phals are surprisingly resilient. I had one that lost every leaf but somehow managed to maintain roots and is now sprouting new leaves next to the old, dead crown. Fear not. In the end, we're bound to lose a plant or two along the way. It's all part of the learning curve.
Good luck!
howard_a
16 years ago
"I blame Home Depot. It was potted in nasty, moldy sphag which retained far too much water..." Home Depot merely retailed the plant which grew overseas in Thailand or some other South Asian wholesale operation. They potted the plant in the nasty, moldy sphag but a lot of fine orchids have grown in sphag and even the one currently under discussion at one time had seven leaves. Doesn't sound too shabby to me. Not trying to be argumentive just trying to focus or rather re-aim your anger S.T. The phal is picking up now because of the mid-summer light and heat but if nothing is done to maintain decent levels of light and heat through the winter it will backslide anew. Fatally this time since it will not have the reserves of size and vigor that it did this season.

H

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