QuestionI had seven phalaenopsis orchid plants,now I am doing to four. I think I had done all there is to be done they wilt and die. I stopped the water;change room location;bought supplies re-pot them. Something I did notice the roots under the base of the plant mushy few good solid roots,clean them but a month or so later the plant is dead. HELP
AnswerHello Edith,
It sounds like you have quite a problem on your hands, I'll make some suggestions on what you can do and how to remedy any problems. You've attempted quite a few things already, so I'll go from there.
From your description of what is happening and what you've done attempting to save them, there may be several possibilities for why they continue to die.
Water: When you water the phalaenopsis orchid plants, do you water them from the top of the pot in the afternoon or evening? If so, it may be that water is getting onto the leaves and a fungus growth is what is causing them to die. It is best to water orchids in the morning to allow any water on leaves to evaporate before nightfall. Water on the leaves overnight is a prime breeding environment for fungus growth.
Re-pot: Was the potting material you used one that is recommended for orchids? Orchid mixes should be fairly open, allow free drainage while retaining some moisture. Regular potting mixes will tend to compact and hold quite a bit of water which can be a death sentence for orchids.
Watering frequency: Most orchids prefer the potting mix to become barely moist between waterings. Mixes that are constantly damp can cause the roots to rot.
Tray under the pot: If you have the pot in a tray to catch any excess water from the pot, does the pot sit in the water? It is not a good idea to allow the pot to sit in water for very long (refer to comment on frequency for why). Put small pebbles or marbles in the tray to keep the pot above the tray water level.
Hope the above is helpful. If it is not, write back and I'll make some other suggestions you can check.
Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.
