Sick phals - help!!

[sbolles4]

I have 2 phals, and both are suddenly developing sick-looking leaves. I've attached photos. Orchid1 is the 1st one to start looking bad, with somewhat limp, wrinkled leaves. Orchid2 became sick last week, when 1 leaf suddenly turned very yellow. They are in filtered sunlight, with sun in the mornings. I'm in Denver, Colorado and we are very hot & dry. The weather turned hot in the past couple of weeks, pretty suddenly. The room they're in probably gets in the mid-80s range. When I brush aside the bark, I can see both healthy & sick roots in both pots. When the 1st started looking sick, I found posts & pics that looked very much like my leaves, and a recommendation of soaking to get the bark to the point where it will hold water. I've done that twice in the past week. The pictures were taken just after a soaking, so everything is very wet. I use a bamboo skewer in each, to check when they need water and don't think I'm overwatering. I cut spikes on both, to help them heal. I'm not seeing improvement since starting the soak routine, and I'm getting worried. Help?!

[brookn]

Okay, did you repot these at some time, and how long ago? The first plant looks like it is losing it's oldest leaf which is common. I am concerned that side is potted too deep. I try to keep bark and medium out of the creases and off the leaves. The second looks like it needs a repot, but I would like to know when it was last potted if ever since you got it. It has old pieces of sphag moss in the roots, and it looks like it needs to be removed, and the bad roots need to be removed also. The leaf that is yellowing is not the oldest on this plant, and that could be cause for concern, and you might want to examine the crown, and base more carefully for signs of infection also. In the very least you can pour peroxide into the roots to help clean up whatever is going on in there.

[sbolles4]

I bought both plants late winter/early spring from a large orchid company near here (Fantasy Orchids). I haven't repotted either one, but thought the 2nd looks like it needs it. I was waiting until the 2nd orchid stopped flowering to repot, which is certainly a moot point now. Is it ok to repot while they're not doing well? What do I look for, in terms of signs of infection? Should I take both out of the pot to examine the roots? I just don't want to stress more than they already are. How can I tell if the 1st one is in too big of a pot? On the peroxide - is that full strength? Do I pour that onto the roots while they're in the pot, or just as I would when watering? Sorry for so many questions, and thank you for your help!!!

[brookn]

Well, let's see....
I would depot the first, and check the roots, the mix doesn't look old, but it may be a little chunky. If the roots are good, pot it back into the same pot. It does not look overpotted. Phals can be repotted-carefully-while in bloom, without a problem. The second needs repotting, roots cleaned, trimmed, fresh medium etc. and IMO soon. Peroxide full strength is fine, I have gone so far as to soak a plant with bad roots up to 10 min., leaves, roots, and all. Well some of the roots look a little like they have some rot going on, possibly a bacterial issue (brown, wet, mushy). Pick a pot slightly larger than that of the root area, so the plant has room to grow, but not too much room. The one it is in may still work, or may be too large depending on the condition of the roots. Cinnamon spray will help also, on the leaves and crown, not the roots, you can sprinkle a little cinnamon powder on cut roots after peroxide, and a water rinse.

[articuno75]

Also another suggestion would be that after you finish your repotting make sure that the Phals have good air circulation flowing over the plant. This can help with the evaporation of the excess moisture, prevent crown rot and the Phals just plain love it.

[sbolles4]

Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions. I repotted both phals, and had some surprises. I attached some pictures. I don't know if either will make it, but am sure giving it a shot. Orchid1 was in a pot that was much too big. There was almost nothing left of healthy looking roots - just a couple of little green sprouts at the top. As I had a 2nd sick orchid in the smallest pot I have and it looked like it needed to go into a larger pot, I took it out and used that smaller pot for orchid1. so it went from a 6 1/2" pot to 4 1/2". Orchid2 had a healthier root system than #1 but is obviously in big trouble. I found a large sphag moss ball in the center of the roots that was very wet. Since some of the roots were wet & squishy I took the moss out entirely, and potted in the same bark mixture as I used for #1. I planted it in a 5" orchid pot which may be too big now that I've taken so much off the roots. These are my first 2 orchids, and I am hoping to save them. I welcome any suggestions anyone has, for getting them healthy again! Thanks!!

[Hummer344]

Good Job. Now its wait and see. I bet both will survive.

[brookn]

The repot looks great. I am surprised by the roots on Phal #1, as I thought it was the healthier of the two. I don't think that the pot will be too big for it, I have a Phal that had roots like that fill a pot in about 8 months. They are amazing plants. As for #2 be sure you are getting good air movement on it, as you can see a black spot on the leaf base of the yellowing leaf, that suggests mechanical damage or possible rot to me. With good air flow, you can almost eliminate the possiblility of water sitting in between the leaves, which will cause rot. It also, if the roots go to the bottom of the pot, might have needed a little bigger pot, but it should be okay in that one at least another 6 months or more.

I also was wondering if you are familiar with the skewer method? Your plants look like they were actually not getting enough water, by the looks of the roots. I venture to guess the ball of sphag actually worked in your favor on the second plant staying more moist than the other plant, thus keeping the roots in better condition. They do adjust to the conditions of underwatering, but they never thrive (I am a reformed underwaterer lol). Remember that Phals like to stay evenly moist at the roots. I am including a link to the skewer method just in case.

Skewer use for watering of orchids

[mayres]

Looks like you did an EXCELLENT job reworking those plants! Did you soak your bark really good (24-48 hours) before using? If your media is not soaking up and retaining water much initially you may need to soak-water for the first month or so until the bark begins to retain more moisture for you - something I've noted from time to time with marginal bark media - not something I will say is going to happen for sure - but you should be aware that this can/could be an issue. Again, great start so far!

[Orchidementia]

I'll join everyone else in saying great job of repotting! I also wanted to say that Orchid #1 looks better already, and that the three living roots I can see in the photos look pretty promising. I managed to do ... something ... to my first phal to the point where it ad a lot less root and what it had wasn't green and growing like that, and the sucker recovered! I'm sure yours will, too!

[sbolles4]

I had been using the skewers, and certainly will continue. Some of the roots were really squishy on both plants, so I was afraid the problem may have been overwatering, despite the skewers. So, I did not soak the bark. Sounds like I should do some good water-soaks anyway. I'll post in a few weeks, to let you know how they're doing. Thanks to all for your encouragement and suggestions!