Repotting new phal- lots of rotten roots and black tips on roots

[orchid_newbie]

I just brought home a new phal and though it currently has a spike with flowers, I decided to repot it as it was in a very wet in a dense tightly packed medium.

I've just soaked it and removed the old medium... but there are hardly any roots left! The ones that are left have hard brown/black tips. I've removed the rotten roots, but now I am not sure what to do with the green roots with black tips? Is this rot or disease?

Should I soak it in peroxide? Is this hydrogen peroxide from the drug store? Should I dilute it? How long do I soak it for?

[krpot]

An expert should be on the way but, I would only trim off the black ends of the green roots. Then sprinkle some cinnamon on the cut ends. Not sure what peroxide does for roots. Anti fungal maybe? If you had some pics that would help.

Think it's just rot. Sorry to hear about the poor condition of your plant . A few good roots will work tho.

[amersault]

i wouldn't do peroxide - cinnamon would be a better option. it does sound like the plant has been soaking in water for awhile - too long between waterings: root rot.

trim back to the green portion of the roots. if enough healthy roots, are left, the Phal can recover. after repotting, hold back on full light to give the plant time to acclimate, then water judiciously and try to avoid having the roots sit in water (saucer treatment will work).

best of luck and keep us posted.

[lmartiny]

I agree with cinnimon on cut tips. Also, soak your bark for a while, put it in a small pot and hold it down with a pot clip so it doesn't wiggle while it gets it's bearings. I had one recover very well from just a year ago Christmas. It had two good roots. Now, the roots are winding their way all over the pot and it is in bloom with two spikes. (a peachy noid I recently posted)

[orchid_newbie]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I've trimmed the roots up and sprinkled cinnamon on the ends. I'll keep you posted. One more question though- I've read some people say cut the flowering spike off a struggling orchid to allow the plant to focus on growing the roots. What do you think? It currently has two open flowers and three buds. Thanks!

[amersault]

i can't say that i've done this before to any of my struggling plants. normally, i just let nature take its course and let the plant go through its flowering cycle. once the bloom drops, the plant will focus attention to root/leaf production.

root production is more encouraged when all the conditions are right. what works for me is having placed my plant on a SE facing window (lots of Geeks here have seen those results) and placing the plant on a saucer of water or pebble tray).

i find the added humidity and warmth seems to help the entire plant along, not just the roots.

[FLBob]

I hope you have not cut off those hard brown/black tips. Phal roots have hard brown black root tips. These are the growth tips.

Your bad roots may have simply been broken during the up potting process, and rotted as a result. Your description is of a healthy Phal.