Roots dying in s/h

[aribh123]

I had a phal growing in semi hydroponics and it was doing fine, then 2 days ago the root tips started growing into the resevoir, I checked on it today and the root tips were brown and mushy/ rotten as well as some other parts of the roots. So I unpotted it and cut off all the dead parts, sprayed with hydrogen peroxide and repotted it in a smaller container. I thought that roots weren't supposed to die in s/h because of how airy the media is. Could it be from the pot being too cold? I had a 1/2 inch layer of sphagnum moss on top but I don't think that would affect the roots at the bottom.

[raybark]

I would speculate that temperature is, indeed, the culprit.

Phalaenopsis, for the most part, are "hot growers," rarely seeing nighttime temperatures below 22-25^oC. In winter, when humidity is low, and thermostats are pushed down to save on utility bills, evaporative cooling from the open medium can drop the root zone temperature significantly. Wet and cold is a sure way to kill phalaenopsis roots.

Consider putting them oin a seedling heat mat.

[aribh123]

I would speculate that temperature is, indeed, the culprit.

Phalaenopsis, for the most part, are "hot growers," rarely seeing nighttime temperatures below 22-25^oC. In winter, when humidity is low, and thermostats are pushed down to save on utility bills, evaporative cooling from the open medium can drop the root zone temperature significantly. Wet and cold is a sure way to kill phalaenopsis roots.

Consider putting them oin a seedling heat mat.

Thanks! I will move them onto a heat mat and see if that helps

[Snowflake311]

Yeah temperature is the reason I fight to keep Phals alive but I can grow a big strong Zygo.

[Carolla]

My Phals are actually thriving in S/H, however we keep the house warm for my 92 yr old MIL - the thermostat is set at 71 F all winter. When it gets cold outside, like this last winter, we have a wood burning stove that gets the living room toasty warm - that is the room they are in. They must get enough cooler air though, as most of them are flowering like mad this year! I am a habitual under-waterer and our humidity is low, I'm not sure how that factors in, but my Phals are happy nuts.

(My Catts are loving it too, thanks Ray for your help when I started out!)

I've had trouble with inconsistent quality of bark and actually they seem more reliably happy in the S/H. Just my personal experience.