Rescuing a Severely Dehydrated Phalaenopsis: Root Check & Repotting

Leaves are floppy. How to rescue?

Root Cause of Dehydration

• Root loss (rot) → can't supply sap to leaves.
• Overly dry mix → pulls water from roots instead of supplying it.

Action Plan

1. Unpot and evaluate roots first. Mushy/stringy = dead; remove them.
2. Check mix quality. Good mixes contain charcoal, lava rock, tree fern fiber (inorganic/open) + fir bark (organic/root attachment) + perlite (moisture). Soak mix before use—dry bark repels water.

Outlook

Existing floppy leaves rarely recover. But correcting the root environment enables new root and leaf growth to replace lost tissue. Patience required.