my phal seems to have rotten roots

[nastya]

Hi all,

I posted here about a month ago when I broke my orchid, but looks like i'd need someone experienced to advice me once more.

i got the orchid in semi lucid plastic bucket, it was blooming and seemed all healthy, but after a while i noticed that some smaller flowers started to dry out and fall, so i was advised to water it more often (i used to water once a week) and switched to about twice a week.

recently a few leaves turned brownish and i think rottened cos they just fell off.

the very beginning of the brunch that grows from the ground is turning whitish and today when i decided to "evacuate" it from its current bucket to something more fresh, i seen that its roots are practically all rotten and have darker dots on them. the very beginning (the "onion") seems to beging to rotten either..

now the Q is what can i do to save it? please help me, any advice will be highly appreciated.. thanks in advance!

[FLaCo]

I had a similar problem with a Phal. It was outside, it rainined night after night and I ignored it and it then had wilted leaves and rotten roots. It is sill with me today...this is what I did. Although this isn't a set standard from problematic Phals, I will give it a go.

I removed the plants washed the roots of all medium to have a good clean look at the roots. I then cut the roots that seem rotten...and rewashed again. When the old stuff was gone (including yellowing/black leaves) and sprayed it down with a fungicide (you can make one at home with cinnamon I will link you the recipe later). I let the plant air out a bit (not over night just for a little while). I proceeded by getting fresh Spag. moss soaking it and wrapping it around the damaged roots (I misted the roots once more before wrapping), I mounted the plant with the moss but you should probably keep in a bag to keep the humidity elevated and promote root growth. You can then keep it indoors where a consistent temperature is found.

This isn't a 100% sure thing...some plant survive other down't. Just be patient with your new patient and understand it may take a while to see any sign of new growth. After nearly 2 months I now see a new leaf emerging from the crown of the plant. Here is a pic. Don't mount it though you are probably better off with it in a bag and indoors.


Here is the link to the thread with the recipe: The Best Stuff Ever!!! Just scroll down to the third post by Articuno.

[nastya]

hi Flaco, thank you so much for your detailed reply!

my only problem in this case is that i think all the roots got rottened (at least i dont see anything particularly healthy), it seems like the juicy/fatter part of the root is rotten but there is a white wire inside that seems to be ok (dont know if i am making sense here, but this is how i see it... )

the second problem is getting cinnamon extract for that receipt you gave me. i looked in a few shops for nature products and some others, they only sell cinnamon powder for baking of cinnamon aromatic oil. is there anything that can replace it? even if i order somewhere online, it will take forever until it will arrive to israel.

what i dont understand is, the top of the orchid (flowers, tips of the brunches) seems like they are drying out, and the roots are obviously rotten, should i water it meanwhile or not?

[articuno75]

Have you tried the grocery store in the spice isle? It would be beside the other extracts like vanilla or almond.

[I. C. Unicorns]

Be prepared for a long recovery, (couple of years even) but you probably can save it. Bagging, getting some air to the roots occasionally and some clean spaghum will kill off any fungus. I loved my valentines day Phal almost to death, it now has 7 leaves (two years later!