Phal. leaf problem?

[jennr246]

I have a new orchid and I'm not sure if I have a problem or not. I can not tell you the exact type of Phal because the label that came with it was not legible(it is white flowers center is yellow). It was flowering when bought in May and I cut the stalk after the flowers fell off. It is in a window with no direct sunlight. The two bottom leaves have sunken patches all over with the color being a lighter green, the rest of leaf is darker and is not sunken. One leaf has some very very small raised spots that are brown. There is 1 new leaf growing that is very green and looks good. Is there something wrong with the leaves or is this normal. Also I took the plant out and some of the roots are turning light brown to white in color, while several roots still remain green. Do I need to repot? Two roots are sticking out of the bottom and many roots are smushed to the outside of the container, it is planted in bark, styrofoam at bottom and moss on top in plastice container inside of clay pot. Hope that is enough info, I can include a picture if not. Thanks in advance for your help.

--Jenn

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

I think we would really need pictures, and sometimes it still may not help. Roots smashed to the side of the pot is perfectly normal growth. Root color is not really a good indicator of things. Feel the roots. If they are firm, they are probably alive. Occasionally a root gets sort of petrified and feels firm, but is so black, you can be pretty sure it is dead. The clay pot is of no consequence, and I persoanally would get rid of the moss on top as it can mislead you about watering and is unnecessary. Cynthia, Prescott, AZ

[jennr246]

I took some pictures of the leaves and roots. I decided to take the orchid out of the pot and clean the roots to get a closer look some roots are black and soft, some are white or light green but still hard and other are green and hard. Is there any hope?

[Ellen]

The roots look like they're mostly alive. It's hard to tell from the photo what the marks on the older leaves are, but if the new leaf is growing normally, your plant should be fine. Just repot it and let the new leaf grow.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Jenn, can you send me via email that first picture? Cynthia schnitz @ c a b l e o n e . n e t

Very often when a phal starts a new central leaf it discards the oldest one. When these leaves die they can look pretty ugly and scary. If it's only the oldest leaf that's dying, not to worry.

[jennr246]

Thanks for all of your help! I'm replanting in a new pot, trimming the dead roots. Replanting in fir bark/charcol mixture, hopefully it will do well. And yes I believe the leaf started to change after the new one started growing. Cynthia I will send an email so you can get a closer look at the plant. Thanks again