Help needed with yellowing phal please!

[Kathy]

I just found this forum and find it quite helpful! I have a question that I hope someone can help me with. I have always been nervous about growing orchids, I had heard they were really difficult (!), but I received one for Mother's Day and I don't want it to die!
When I got it, it was healthy with lots of flowers and buds. What is happening now is that one leaf at a time will turn yellow and fall off, and then another leaf starts the same process!?! I was thinking of repotting because the mixture it came in is mostly moss. The top roots that I can see look OK, but the roots that poke out of the bottom of the inner pot lining are soft and mushy and fall off if I touch them. I am watering once a week, but I'm worried that it's retaining too much water because of the potting mix?
Any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks in advance,
Kathy

[MonkeyThrowPoop]

ya i would repot in some bark mix.
and bring it outside if you can.

[momokev]

Hi Kathy,

I'm no expert, but I'll try to help. Your rotten roots are the problem. If I get an orchid from a store like Target or Lowe's, the first thing I do is repot it, because they just water the fool out of their orchids. I would take it out of the pot and with sterlized clippers, cut off the rotten, soft, mushy roots. I then would sprinkle with root tone. I know some people don't like the rooting hormone, but it's worked well for me. If you don't want to use it, then sprinkle the roots with cinnamon for the antifungus properties. And I use sphagnum moss to repot my phals and don't rewater for a few days, so the roots can seal up any cracks (and help prevent disease). I wouldn't rewater until the moss is crusty. Hope this helps...

Lisa

[momokev]

If you take it outside, beware of sunburn. Once the leaves are sunburned, they are useless and must be cut off. I grow my phals inside, but that's just me.

Lisa

[PAGrower]

Sphagnum moss can be a little controversial. Some of use it with good results (Gilda grows in it, or at least she used to, and wins ribbons) while some swear by bark. As your collection starts to grow and you acquire orchids that are potted in both types of medium you will get a better feel for which one suits your growing conditions. If you do decide to repot in moss instead of switching to bark, make sure to pack it loosely and you should be fine. Also, you might want to put some stryofoam peanuts in the bottom of the pot. They seem to help drainage and create some air pockets.

[MonkeyThrowPoop]

i have had good results with both bark and moss.
and like pagrower said packing penuts are a must for moss, or the large mass of moss will stay wet forever.
i now use inorganic mediums now for convenience.

[LJA]

Kathy, welcome!

Definitely repot, as soon as possible!

Once you've done that, withhold watering the pot for a couple weeks and only mist the leaves, once or twice a day, only in the mornings. That'll get the plant to put its energy into growing its roots back. After the two weeks have passed you can resume normal care, just be cautious about your watering if you repot in sphagnum: the center can stay wet for a very long time, especially if the pot you're using is plastic.

[Kathy]

nm

[Jmoney]

Like others have said, it sounds like root rot. But even if this is the case, don't think of it as a personal failure. Many of the mass market phals (if this is indeed one of them) are set up for failure, despite how excellent they may initially appear. The road to recovery depends on how bad the roots are, but most plants can be saved. If it was in moss previously, and most of its roots are mushy (which you will want to pull off while repotting), I would suggest using sphagnum instead of bark. Unless you have very high humidity (i.e. greenhouse), it is very difficult to revive root-challenged plants in bark. I grow on windowsills and all of my problem plants go straight into moss. Pack loosely, and use a pot that will accommodate the roots. If there aren't many roots, it is perfectly acceptable to put the remaining root mass into a 3" pot or so, as long as the plant is well-anchored to prevent damage to new root tips that should emanate shortly after repotting. No need to allow for much extra growth, because you can easily bump up to a bigger pot size when the time comes.

My mother is the phal nut, but I discourage her from taking the plants outside for two reasons--they get plenty of light inside the house, and you don't need to worry about 1. pests, and 2. water collecting in the crowns during evening showers.

[Gilda]

All great advice ,except for Kathy's! Don't run, but do repot , and loosely pack the moss, and use styro peanuts ,both for bottom drainage and add a few to the mix....to create air pockets.

You can't just water once a week...you have to water when the pot needs it. If it is in plastic ,you should be able to tell the pot is much lighter in weight. Also, if it is in plastic, you can burn or drill some holes into the pot,again for extra air(orchids love air). Also, if the orchid has lost a lot of roots...don't put it into a pot too big...it will stay too wet. Good luck!