Root rot - I think I'm losing this one
 

I have a phal with root rot. I've had this one for a while and it has
bloomed several times. It now has a new flower spike with three
branches and many buds. I noticed that the flowers that opened looked
somewhat deformed. Then a bud fell off. Shortly after that one of
the new flowers died. Now the leaves are starting to look a little
wrinkled.

I removed the plant from the pot and saw that at least 50% of the
roots were mushy. I cut off all the bad roots. I removed all of the
old medium. Washed the remaining roots and repotted it.

It's not looking too good, but it's kind of soon to tell.

My question: this is one of those phals that always wanted to lean
over the side of the pot. It leaned over so far that it looked like
it would fall out of the pot. I would try to straighten it but that
never worked. Any chance that my fooling around with it shocked the
roots?

I never water without sticking my fingers way down to the bottom. If
it feels moist I don't water. I can't figure out what happened to
this one. I'd hate to lose this one, but I certainly don't want my
other six plants to get infected. They are all growing new spikes.

What should I do?

Root rot - I think I'm losing this one
 

My recommendation is to cut off the spikes so the plant can use its energies
for recovery.

Wetness, by itself, does not cause root rot. There are many factors that
can - excessive mineral buildup or other poisoning, getting too cold, etc -
but the most common reason is suffocation. Trying to "train" the plant
upright is not likely to have contributed to the issue unless you did so
with such vigor that you broke the roots!

Orchids do most of their gas exchange through their roots. If the medium is
getting too compact due to water compression (with sphagnum) or just plain
old decomposition that happens with time, it can choke off the airflow
pathways and suffocate the plant. Then, if the medium is getting that
dense, when you water, you actually exacerbate the problem, as the droplets
are held in the tiny, remaining open channels by surface tension,
effectively closing them, too.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!


"Jane" wrote in message
...
I have a phal with root rot. I've had this one for a while and it has
bloomed several times. It now has a new flower spike with three
branches and many buds. I noticed that the flowers that opened looked
somewhat deformed. Then a bud fell off. Shortly after that one of
the new flowers died. Now the leaves are starting to look a little
wrinkled.

I removed the plant from the pot and saw that at least 50% of the
roots were mushy. I cut off all the bad roots. I removed all of the
old medium. Washed the remaining roots and repotted it.

It's not looking too good, but it's kind of soon to tell.

My question: this is one of those phals that always wanted to lean
over the side of the pot. It leaned over so far that it looked like
it would fall out of the pot. I would try to straighten it but that
never worked. Any chance that my fooling around with it shocked the
roots?

I never water without sticking my fingers way down to the bottom. If
it feels moist I don't water. I can't figure out what happened to
this one. I'd hate to lose this one, but I certainly don't want my
other six plants to get infected. They are all growing new spikes.

What should I do?

Root rot - I think I'm losing this one
 

On Jan 26, 3:03*pm, "Ray B" wrote:
My recommendation is to cut off the spikes so the plant can use its energies
for recovery.

Wetness, by itself, does not cause root rot. *There are many factors that
can - excessive mineral buildup or other poisoning, getting too cold, etc -
but the most common reason is suffocation. *Trying to "train" the plant
upright is not likely to have contributed to the issue unless you did so
with such vigor that you broke the roots!

Orchids do most of their gas exchange through their roots. *If the medium is
getting too compact due to water compression (with sphagnum) or just plain
old decomposition that happens with time, it can choke off the airflow
pathways and suffocate the plant. *Then, if the medium is getting that
dense, when you water, you actually exacerbate the problem, as the droplets
are held in the tiny, remaining open channels by surface tension,
effectively closing them, too.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids -www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!

"Jane" wrote in message

...

I have a phal with root rot. *I've had this one for a while and it has
bloomed several times. *It now has a new flower spike with three
branches and many buds. *I noticed that the flowers that opened looked
somewhat deformed. *Then a bud fell off. *Shortly after that one of
the new flowers died. *Now the leaves are starting to look a little
wrinkled.

I removed the plant from the pot and saw that at least 50% of the
roots were mushy. *I cut off all the bad roots. *I removed all of the
old medium. *Washed the remaining roots and repotted it.

It's not looking too good, but it's kind of soon to tell.

My question: *this is one of those phals that always wanted to lean
over the side of the pot. *It leaned over so far that it looked like
it would fall out of the pot. *I would try to straighten it but that
never worked. * Any chance that my fooling around with it shocked the
roots?

I never water without sticking my fingers way down to the bottom. *If
it feels moist I don't water. *I can't figure out what happened to
this one. *I'd hate to lose this one, but I certainly don't want my
other six plants to get infected. *They are all growing new spikes.

What should I do?

Cut the spike off. Boy, I HATE to do that. I've been waiting for
months for the blooms. However what you say makes lots of sense.
Thanks for the help.

BTW - is this a contagious condition? Do I need to move it?
Unfortunately I have not been able to find another spot in the house
where an orchid does well.

Root rot - I think I'm losing this one
 

Nope. it's not contagious.

The living tissue has to die, then it will rot.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!


"Jane" wrote in message
...
On Jan 26, 3:03 pm, "Ray B" wrote:
My recommendation is to cut off the spikes so the plant can use its
energies
for recovery.

Wetness, by itself, does not cause root rot. There are many factors that
can - excessive mineral buildup or other poisoning, getting too cold,
etc -
but the most common reason is suffocation. Trying to "train" the plant
upright is not likely to have contributed to the issue unless you did so
with such vigor that you broke the roots!

Orchids do most of their gas exchange through their roots. If the medium
is
getting too compact due to water compression (with sphagnum) or just plain
old decomposition that happens with time, it can choke off the airflow
pathways and suffocate the plant. Then, if the medium is getting that
dense, when you water, you actually exacerbate the problem, as the
droplets
are held in the tiny, remaining open channels by surface tension,
effectively closing them, too.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids -www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!

"Jane" wrote in message

...

I have a phal with root rot. I've had this one for a while and it has
bloomed several times. It now has a new flower spike with three
branches and many buds. I noticed that the flowers that opened looked
somewhat deformed. Then a bud fell off. Shortly after that one of
the new flowers died. Now the leaves are starting to look a little
wrinkled.

I removed the plant from the pot and saw that at least 50% of the
roots were mushy. I cut off all the bad roots. I removed all of the
old medium. Washed the remaining roots and repotted it.

It's not looking too good, but it's kind of soon to tell.

My question: this is one of those phals that always wanted to lean
over the side of the pot. It leaned over so far that it looked like
it would fall out of the pot. I would try to straighten it but that
never worked. Any chance that my fooling around with it shocked the
roots?

I never water without sticking my fingers way down to the bottom. If
it feels moist I don't water. I can't figure out what happened to
this one. I'd hate to lose this one, but I certainly don't want my
other six plants to get infected. They are all growing new spikes.

What should I do?

Cut the spike off. Boy, I HATE to do that. I've been waiting for
months for the blooms. However what you say makes lots of sense.
Thanks for the help.

BTW - is this a contagious condition? Do I need to move it?
Unfortunately I have not been able to find another spot in the house
where an orchid does well.

Root rot - I think I'm losing this one
 

On Jan 28, 12:17*pm, "Ray B" wrote:
Nope. *it's not contagious.

The living tissue has to die, then it will rot.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids -www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!

"Jane" wrote in message

...
On Jan 26, 3:03 pm, "Ray B" wrote:



My recommendation is to cut off the spikes so the plant can use its
energies
for recovery.

Wetness, by itself, does not cause root rot. There are many factors that
can - excessive mineral buildup or other poisoning, getting too cold,
etc -
but the most common reason is suffocation. Trying to "train" the plant
upright is not likely to have contributed to the issue unless you did so
with such vigor that you broke the roots!

Orchids do most of their gas exchange through their roots. If the medium
is
getting too compact due to water compression (with sphagnum) or just plain
old decomposition that happens with time, it can choke off the airflow
pathways and suffocate the plant. Then, if the medium is getting that
dense, when you water, you actually exacerbate the problem, as the
droplets
are held in the tiny, remaining open channels by surface tension,
effectively closing them, too.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids -www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!

"Jane" wrote in message

...

I have a phal with root rot. I've had this one for a while and it has
bloomed several times. It now has a new flower spike with three
branches and many buds. I noticed that the flowers that opened looked
somewhat deformed. Then a bud fell off. Shortly after that one of
the new flowers died. Now the leaves are starting to look a little
wrinkled.

I removed the plant from the pot and saw that at least 50% of the
roots were mushy. I cut off all the bad roots. I removed all of the
old medium. Washed the remaining roots and repotted it.

It's not looking too good, but it's kind of soon to tell.

My question: this is one of those phals that always wanted to lean
over the side of the pot. It leaned over so far that it looked like
it would fall out of the pot. I would try to straighten it but that
never worked. Any chance that my fooling around with it shocked the
roots?

I never water without sticking my fingers way down to the bottom. If
it feels moist I don't water. I can't figure out what happened to
this one. I'd hate to lose this one, but I certainly don't want my
other six plants to get infected. They are all growing new spikes.

What should I do?

Cut the spike off. *Boy, I HATE to do that. *I've been waiting for
months for the blooms. *However what you say makes lots of sense.
Thanks for the help.

BTW - is this a contagious condition? *Do I need to move it?
Unfortunately I have not been able to find another spot in the house
where an orchid does well.

Thanks Ray. I cut the flower spike off. Boy, that hurt. I only have
six plants and four are just starting to bloom, so at least I have
some flowers.