the usual phal root problem

[drew33998]

i am wondering if anyone has had the same problem as i have. during the winter months the non air roots coming out of my clay pots as well as the top 1/2" of media seems to dry very rapidly. when i unpotted one of my phals to check the total root system it was completely black, shriveled, and damp. i have another phal in a clear plastic pot that the roots look good (except the arial roots drying) and get near the same watering as the other two(clay pots). the difference is two are clay and planted in a course bark/perlite/sphagnum mix. The other is a clear pot with sphagnum. After unpotting the two with dead roots i soaked in physan 20 for 15 min and repotted in live sphagnum and clear pots. i guess my question would be what, if not a host, would be the prob? I am pretty sure that there is not enough humidity and the tray method has not seemed to be much help.

[remo]

Dear Drew,
I have had my clay pots dry out very quickly and I simply had to bring up the general humidity so that the pots weren't being sucked dry by the atmosphere.
If you are growing inside and running a heater you definitely need to augment the general humidity or the clay pots will get dried right out. You really need to repot that orchid. I would clean all the roots with a solution of bleach water, about 10% bleach, trim off all the dead rotting roots with sterilized tools and repot with all new mix and a new pot, too. In general, do everything to save it that you have, or, will read on this forum. Good luck, Remo.

[Daethen]

I have lots of trouble with the humidity here in the winter. We run a humidifier 24/7 and I still only get about 30-40 percent. I put all my phals into sphag and water about every 3 days. Don't have root rot at all. I don't pack my sphag very tightly, just enough to hold the plant secure. I think you did right by it, just keep check.

[drew33998]

thanks guys and gals. i just repotted them all in sphagnum and clear pots. hopefully i wont have the adverse effect of it rotting the roots. i just purchased a hygrometer and my humidity has been anywhere from 39-50 percent and the temp has been 58-73. its seems that the conditions are ideal as of now and i have the heater vents closed in the room they are in. hopefully all will go well as long as the sphag doesnt stay moist too long.