I just noticed this morning that my little phal equestris, potted in moss,
and currently in bloom has a strong moldy smell to it. I can see that at
least many of the roots have turned gray though a few still look healthy.
The leaves do not look any different. The blooms are slowly wilting one by
one but in the correct sequence and not perceptively faster than usual.

What should I do? Should I repot it immediately despite its being in bloom
and treat it with fungicide? Should all the roots that look gray be cut off
even if this does not leave all that many healthy ones. This is a very young
plant that was still a keiki less than a year ago. I have not bee
overwatering, it's not been standing in water, so I don't know how this
could have happened. Is this something that can wait till the weekend, or is
it a situation where every day counts? The moldy smell is pretty strong, I
think I may have half-noticed it before, but did not really register it and
take the mental leap of fungus in moss.

Thanks for your help,
Joanna

On Wed, 25 Feb 2004 13:34:14 GMT, "J Fortuna"
wrote:

I just noticed this morning that my little phal equestris, potted in moss,
and currently in bloom has a strong moldy smell to it. I can see that at
least many of the roots have turned gray though a few still look healthy.
The leaves do not look any different. The blooms are slowly wilting one by
one but in the correct sequence and not perceptively faster than usual.

What should I do? Should I repot it immediately despite its being in bloom
and treat it with fungicide? Should all the roots that look gray be cut off
even if this does not leave all that many healthy ones. This is a very young
plant that was still a keiki less than a year ago. I have not bee
overwatering, it's not been standing in water, so I don't know how this
could have happened. Is this something that can wait till the weekend, or is
it a situation where every day counts? The moldy smell is pretty strong, I
think I may have half-noticed it before, but did not really register it and
take the mental leap of fungus in moss.

Thanks for your help,
Joanna


I'd repot it. If you are gentle and repot in sphagnum, you can do it
with very little root disturbance. Phal roots are thick and fairly
tough. If the spike is nearing the end of it's blooming, you might
remove it but I don't really think that's necessary.

deg

On Wed, 25 Feb 2004 13:34:14 GMT, "J Fortuna"
wrote:

I just noticed this morning that my little phal equestris, potted in moss,
and currently in bloom has a strong moldy smell to it. I can see that at
least many of the roots have turned gray though a few still look healthy.
The leaves do not look any different. The blooms are slowly wilting one by
one but in the correct sequence and not perceptively faster than usual.

What should I do? Should I repot it immediately despite its being in bloom
and treat it with fungicide? Should all the roots that look gray be cut off
even if this does not leave all that many healthy ones. This is a very young
plant that was still a keiki less than a year ago. I have not bee
overwatering, it's not been standing in water, so I don't know how this
could have happened. Is this something that can wait till the weekend, or is
it a situation where every day counts? The moldy smell is pretty strong, I
think I may have half-noticed it before, but did not really register it and
take the mental leap of fungus in moss.

Thanks for your help,
Joanna


I'd repot it. If you are gentle and repot in sphagnum, you can do it
with very little root disturbance. Phal roots are thick and fairly
tough. If the spike is nearing the end of it's blooming, you might
remove it but I don't really think that's necessary.

deg

Hi, J.

Anytime you have a moldy smell or a strange smell in the soil, repot
immediately as decomposure is taking place. In as far as the roots, I
would take a pint bottle of water w/ 1/4 tsp of Physan 20 and spray the
plant and immediately rinsing it. Do not cut roots unless they are
dead.

.. . . Pam
Everything Orchid Management System
http://www.pe.net/~profpam/page3.html
------------------
J Fortuna wrote:

I just noticed this morning that my little phal equestris, potted in moss,
and currently in bloom has a strong moldy smell to it. I can see that at
least many of the roots have turned gray though a few still look healthy.
The leaves do not look any different. The blooms are slowly wilting one by
one but in the correct sequence and not perceptively faster than usual.

What should I do? Should I repot it immediately despite its being in bloom
and treat it with fungicide? Should all the roots that look gray be cut off
even if this does not leave all that many healthy ones. This is a very young
plant that was still a keiki less than a year ago. I have not bee
overwatering, it's not been standing in water, so I don't know how this
could have happened. Is this something that can wait till the weekend, or is
it a situation where every day counts? The moldy smell is pretty strong, I
think I may have half-noticed it before, but did not really register it and
take the mental leap of fungus in moss.

Thanks for your help,
Joanna

Hi, J.

Anytime you have a moldy smell or a strange smell in the soil, repot
immediately as decomposure is taking place. In as far as the roots, I
would take a pint bottle of water w/ 1/4 tsp of Physan 20 and spray the
plant and immediately rinsing it. Do not cut roots unless they are
dead.

.. . . Pam
Everything Orchid Management System
http://www.pe.net/~profpam/page3.html
------------------
J Fortuna wrote:

I just noticed this morning that my little phal equestris, potted in moss,
and currently in bloom has a strong moldy smell to it. I can see that at
least many of the roots have turned gray though a few still look healthy.
The leaves do not look any different. The blooms are slowly wilting one by
one but in the correct sequence and not perceptively faster than usual.

What should I do? Should I repot it immediately despite its being in bloom
and treat it with fungicide? Should all the roots that look gray be cut off
even if this does not leave all that many healthy ones. This is a very young
plant that was still a keiki less than a year ago. I have not bee
overwatering, it's not been standing in water, so I don't know how this
could have happened. Is this something that can wait till the weekend, or is
it a situation where every day counts? The moldy smell is pretty strong, I
think I may have half-noticed it before, but did not really register it and
take the mental leap of fungus in moss.

Thanks for your help,
Joanna