Phalaenopsis Orchid root rot

A limp orchid in damp bark may have lost working roots. Remove it from the pot when roots collapse or the medium has decomposed into a dense mass; a brown stain alone is not a reason to cut a firm root.

Trim and repot

With clean scissors, remove roots that are mushy, hollow, or shedding their outer layer. Discard old medium, clean the pot, and use fresh orchid bark or another medium suited to phalaenopsis. Fit the pot to the remaining roots and keep the leaf crown above the medium.

Water the roots, leave air around them

Water when the medium approaches dry and exposed roots become silvery, checking inside as well as the surface. Drain completely and keep water out of the leaf crown. Look for fresh root tips and stable leaves before expecting flowers.