Question
Hi,

I recently bought 3 pots of blooming phals that were potted in spagnum
moss. I didn't repot it after coming home and watered the phals ~weekly.
However after about 3 weeks, the blooms on one of them looked droopy and
the leaf started yellowing, so I pulled out the phal from the pot (there were
no holes) and realised that the root went all soft and mushy. In fact a lot of
the roots are left with the long spindly string, the flesh appears to have
'melted' off leaving on the skin which I've removed quite a bit. I've left the
remainder of the roots wrapped up in the spagnum moss ball, I didn't
untangle them and take away the moss. I've since cut away the flowers and
placed it out in my balcony which gets quite a bit of breeze (previously it was
indoor and the air circulation was poorer).

I notice the same thing happening to the other phal as well, what can I do
now to help save the phals? I really love the plants and hope to be able to
safe them! Should I remove all the spagnum moss and repot it? If so, is it
good to use charcoal? As I'll probably have to remove quite a bit of mushy
root, I'm afraid there isn't much root left to help it stand as well?

Thanks for any advice you can render!

Answer
Hi Jamie,

Before doing the following, buy 3 small pots that are about 3 to 4 inch size that have drainage holes in the bottom along with a small bag of coarse or medium grade orchid potting media.  

From your description about the condition of the roots, it would be best to remove them all from the pots, remove the sphagnum moss, remove the rotten (soft and mushy) roots including the stringy part.  Keep any roots that are still firm as they are still alive and well.  Cut off the flower spike and place them in a bud vase with water.  

If there are any with live roots, pot them in the pots with media.  If one or more end up with no live roots, you can try putting it in a large plastic bag (ziplocs work great!) with a slightly moist paper towel, close the bag and place it in a warm shady location.  Check the bag once a week to see if new roots begin to grow.  Once there are roots over 2 inches long you can pot them up.  

You didn't mention where you live but here is what phalaenopsis orchids prefer in their growing area.  Bright shade, temperatures between 65F to 85F, humidity above 50%, some light air movement.  Water them when the potting media becomes barely moist and feed them a dilute mixture of a balance orchid fertilizer once in a while.  

Hope this has helped.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.