Phal

[marilena]

Hi!
I have this phal which has six leaves on it. It has a spike with flowers on it- aboit ten. the trouble is the roots seem to be turning a brownish colour. Do you think it is sick?

Also will someone kindly tell me how and when peroxide is used?

Thanks.

[kid a]

It may be rotting. What is it potted in? Are the roots squishy? If they are they are rotting. Some phal have darker roots but if they were green when you got them it may be something to keep an eye on. If you have a picture you could post we could probably tell you what it looks like. Peroxide is for rot to dry it up and the infection.

[marilena]

Thanks! No the roots are not soft. It is planted in coconut husk, coal and bits of tile.
The husks were soft snd sort of rotting, so I changed them last week. Could be that the roots are brown. I bought it lately.

[mayres]

Over time the air roots commonly turn brown - especially if they are not receiving enough moisture/humidity and are slowly drying up/dying - you may not have a problem if they remain large and plump. Roots usually turn brown when plants are grown in humid greenhouse environments and then brought home and placed in homes with much less humidity - if they start to shrivel or reduce in size - herein lies the problem. Roots in the media are commonly light tan - this is a good normal color. They can also be green - especially if exposed to light. Good healthy air roots that are receiving good humidity are often a grey-ish color with green or reddish (depending on the color of the flower) tips. The overall diameter of the roots will tell you something as well as the texture noted by Kortney.

[marilena]

Thanks Myres! Thats such a relief. The roots are rounded, and the leaves firm except for one, the bottom most. Its turning yellow in the centre. I noticed it got the evening sun today, Its the monsoon season here so it should be rainy, but the rains are elusive! Am shifting her to a shadier place tomorrow. Hope she is happier there.
Thanks again!

[mayres]

If any leaf is to turn yellow the bottom most is GOOD. Over time they will loose them from the bottom up - slowly turning yellow and then brown and then fall off - at approximately the same frequency they should be replacing those leaves with new ones - potentially slightly faster - until you have 6-8 good leaves (sometimes a few more).
Enjoy!

[marilena]

Yes Myres, I do have a new leaf coming. Total number, seven. Guess thats good. I'm really scared i might kill the poor darling! Well thanks for the prompt reply.