Repotting of Phalaenopsis

[Sassy Sal]

Hi I am a newbie here but not a newbie to orchids, mainly phalaenopsis . I have just repotted some of my phalaenopsis orchids today , most of which I think will be fine as they had some new root growth and were not flowering at this time . However , I did one today and it did not have much roots to speak of left , as what there was , were pretty mushy and dry . I had to cut whatever was there off , so I was wondering if I should hold out any hope for it making any kind of roots at all . I potted them in a mix of orchid bark and spahgnum moss , not too wet but a moist environement for it . Any thoughts

[E-Jag]

Hi, Sassy, and welcome to the forum. Yes, a number of people here, including me, have brought phals back from a severely rotted/deteriorated root condition. Rooting hormone/stimulator would have been good but if it's already repotted then provide good light and water maybe once or twice a week and don't fuss over it. They're tougher than you might think. Make sure it's secure in the pot. Good luck. If nothing else, this will be a good experience and if it doesn't make it, phals are relatively inexpensive.

[E-Jag]

By the way, be careful of the sphag - you don't want to keep the roots too moist, which sphag has a tendency to do. That may have caused this problem to begin with. Sphag may not be the ideal medium for a novice, if in fact you are. Keep us informed.

[patticake]

It sounds good to me- A little of the sphag mixed with he bark may be just right. Good luck, and aboard!

[FLBob]

I have no idea why everyone has to denigrate sphagnum moss. I killed sooo many Phals before I switched to using premium moss. Now my phals are doing great and I'd never go back to a bark mix again.
If I just pulled a Phal from a pot and the roots were in the same shape that you describe Sassy Sal I'd find find a pot that matches the size of what ever the existing roots are or if no viable roots, a pot just large enough to hold the Phal base. I wrap the Phal base in moist moss and place it into the pot.
I'd drench the phal and the pot once a week. I'd also make sure there is some level of air flow over and around the plant.

[digitalgate]

Originally Posted by FLBob

I have no idea why everyone has to denigrate sphagnum moss. I killed sooo many Phals before I switched to using premium moss. Now my phals are doing great and I'd never go back to a bark mix again.

I'd drench the phal and the pot once a week. I'd also make sure there is some level of air flow over and around the plant.

It depend on the area you are in, my garden has high humidity. It is almost the kiss of death if i put Sphag moss on my phalaenopsis. However, during dry period.Moss would be a great help in retaining water. During monsoon seasoon, it will kill the plant till there is no roots left. So that is why i hate moss and love charcoal. But it does not mean moss is useless as recent weather prove to me.
1 hour after watering, the plant is bone dry which is quite damaging for Phalaenopsis. So i put all the moss back or I water more often.

[digitalgate]

to me it is easier to put the moss on than to take it out from the roots.

[Sassy Sal]

Thanks for all the welcomes to Orchid Forum . I have been collecting phalaenopsis for about 8 years , give or take a few . It has become an obsession and I just can't seem to get enough of them . There are so many to choose from the variety of colors that are out there . I have learned so much about them since I started . I bought two white phalaenopsis when I started to see if I could keep them alive , I didn't want to buy too many at first and find out my green thumb was not green after all . Well I still have my two original orchids that I bought , and they bloom for me on a regular basis . I have only lost two plants so far since starting . The plant I repotted today , should have been done quite some time ago , and yes it was in spaghnum moss which does stay wet for too long . I can only hope for the best for it but if it doesn't make it , I still has 76 to care for .