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Half Buds Yellow on New Phalaenopsis: Root Rot from Trapped Water

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New orchid 2 weeks. Pulled off aerial root (mistake). Half buds green, half yellow. Flowers beautiful. Stick in leaves from purchase; small buds fell. Help?

Diagnosis: Root Rot

Mix broken down → stays wet, blocks air. Common in big-box store plants (no expert staff).

Repot After Bloom (Detailed Steps)

Mix: fir bark ~½" pieces + perlite + charcoal. Soak portion.
Pot: similar size, many drainage holes. No standing water.
Unpot: rinse old mix. Remove mushy roots (lost velamen = rot).
Aerial roots: soak 1 hr, try to bend in (don't break). Not mandatory.
Pot up: rotate pot while lowering roots, tap mix in. Drain overnight. East window.

Follow-Up: Can I Repot While Blooming?

If kept dry, may wait until bloom ends. Repotting now risks spike abortion (root disturbance). Judgment call: enjoy flowers vs. save plant.

Orchids: Basic Care for New Phalaenopsis and Oncidium Orchids; Half Buds Yellow on New Phalaenopsis: Root Rot from Trapped Water; Phalaenopsis Yellowing Leaves & Root Confusion: Repot, Assess, Seal Trunk Wound; Phalaenopsis Bud Blast and Leaf Wilt: Root Rot Strikes Again; Droopy Paphiopedilum Leaves? Check the Roots First; New Phalaenopsis from 1800Flowers: Immediate Repotting and Care Guide; Phalaenopsis Keikis: How to Remove & Pot Baby Orchids; Phalaenopsis One-Sided Spike Die-Back: Normal, Not Light Deficiency; Phalaenopsis Keiki on Spike: Wait for 2-Inch Roots Before Separating; After Mildew Treatment, Rose Stops Producing Buds: Recovery Timeline

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Phalaenopsis Bud Blast and Shriveled Roots: Repot After Bloom

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