Fungus in a newly repotted orchid pot

[theflowerbread]

Hi! I really didn't want to start a new thread but did not find a similar thread responding to my question. So here it goes.
I received a simple hybrid phal as a gift, beautiful tough. The roots seemed healthy but I did not like the medium it was growing in.
My doubts increased when the medium never dried in almost two weeks, the roots were green and humid, as well as medium. The pot had many small drops of water due to condensation.
I decided if I want to save it I have to repot DESPITE it's in bloom.
The medium it was growing in was so bad - peat and bark mix... Besides instead of sphagnum under the root ball there was an old epiweb. Despite all of this the roots were really good and not damaged, I removed like maybe one rotten root, cutting with a sterilized scissors.
I repotted the orchid in a new media but in the same pot as I did not have an empty phal pot on hand. Of course I washed it, with Marseille soap. I don't know maybe I had to disinfect?
The cutoff root place I disinfected with some cinnamon powder.
I used the medium to small sized bark with some small bits of sphagnum.
The plant did not drop any flowers nor buds, just a couple of days after one oldest flower on each stem started to shrivel.
A week after I found some fungus or mold (I'm no mycology expert) growing on the bottom bark. What should I do, REPOT again? I don't know if the flowers will survive the second reporting in such a short time. Or should I forget about flowers and repot anyway?
What to do to not have the same mold/fungus again?
Where did I make a mistake? I was disinfecting scissors, the root... But did not the potting medium nor the pot.
The pot is standing I a cachepot on a humid layer of pebbles.. Can be this the fault? Like the humidity or that the pebbles are not disinfected as the fungus are growing only on the bottom bark.
Is it possible to kill the fungus without the repot with some cinnamon or fungicide? Wouldn't that harm the orchid?
Many questions but I've never experienced this before.
Sorry to bother,
Have a nice day!
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---------- Post Merged at 01:57 PM ----------

Here are the pics




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[ksriramkumar]

Roots look healthy. Some fungi could be beneficial and could be from the bark medium. Orchiata I know adds some beneficial fungi to keep it safe from colony of bad fungi to extent possible. I would give it a couple of days and decide. You could also pour through some Physan 20 at regular dose to keep fungi at bay

[sciencegal]

With the plastic pots I heat up a big nail and make lots of holes in the sides of the pot. Gives more aeration. Kind of hard to do with the roots but next time you repot put the extra holes in first.

[PaphMadMan]

It is pretty common to see some fungus grow on fresh bark mix. Stirring things up and adding some water stimulates it. It seems like you have done nothing wrong, and as long as you can see the roots are healthy I wouldn't worry about it. If you see fungus growing on the roots it will be time to act. I agree it might be helpful to add some more holes in the sides of the pot for aeration.

[theflowerbread]

With the plastic pots I heat up a big nail and make lots of holes in the sides of the pot. Gives more aeration. Kind of hard to do with the roots but next time you repot put the extra holes in first.

Actually previously I did that, but then the roots grow trough those holes and repot was a lot more damaging for the roots

---------- Post Merged at 09:34 PM ----------

Thanks everyone! I was told to worry about fungus in pots and as I haven't had them until now, I panicked once found.
I will check how is going and in case will make some holes close to the infested bark.

[sciencegal]

Phal roots usually don't grow through the holes if I make the holes smaller than a typical root. I do have an encyclia that is growing out of all the holes. But, she is so happy and healthy it's okay with me.

[theflowerbread]

Phal roots usually don't grow through the holes if I make the holes smaller than a typical root.

Well mine does I guess then those holes are too big?

[sciencegal]

I thought about that last night after posting. They do grow through the holes but they will also grow through the bottom holes. You are going to lose a few roots when repotting but I think the advantage of having better aeration is worth it.... the phal you are showing needed repotting a long time ago.

[78Terp]

I would sacrifice the pot with scissors to reduce root damage. And I agree, well past repot time!

[Carolla]

Oh dear, don't come looking at my Phals then, they must all need repotting terribly! I have roots all over the place, climbing out holes and growing up into the air, very messy plants. On the other hand, many of the plants are old and huge, bloom well and are just taking over the universe! lol

Come to think of it, most of them probably do need repotting, I just don't know where to find enormous orchid pots for them. I may have to learn how to make my own. I need some 10" pots for several of them.

I do think they are happier when they have roots out in the air, their roots are so easy to smother. I should get some pictures of the whole crowd of them, I have 8? or so Phals blooming at the moment, this was a good year for them.