What Is This on My Phalaenopsis?

[c123anderson]

Hi everyone!

I have a phalaenopsis with a "growth". I am hoping this is a good thing, since this phalaenopsis is struggling. I'm sure if I wait a couple of weeks, it will be more obvious what this is, but I'm impatient, frankly. Given the growth's appearance and location, this is just a mystery to me.

Since the plant is struggling, I want to make sure to address it properly (e.g., if it's a new growth, then the plant may need other attention, etc.)

Thank you!

[Ray]

If you're referring to that green bump, it's a new root emerging.

[Relemitty]

Looks to me like your Phalaenopsis has a new baby root.
A root tip will get pointy and stay green and the older part will get a silver/grey color.
The growing part is very fragile so don't touch it.
Phalaenopsis are tough little guys and yours may be turning the corner and getting healthy.

[tmoney]

and if it’s struggling, since it’s growing new roots, this may be a time to move it down into a somewhat smaller pot. unless you’ve been fiddling with it a lot lately, then just leave it, i suppose!

[estación seca]

Does the plant have any roots under the medium, or are they all visible? What are temperatures day/night in your growing area?

[c123anderson]

So this was a rescue where a lot of roots were cut. There’s not a lot of roots below the medium; most are visible. Temps are 68F-74F indoor. Humidity constant around 50-60%

I am asking because when I mist it, the green appearance doesn’t change like a root tip might. If it’s a Phal. keiki, I just want to incorporate that into the plant’s care and, hopefully, recovery. Likewise, if it’s a spike, same thing — take care of it appropriately.

[Roberta]

Patience, patience. The orchid will, in due time, "tell" you what it is. If a root, it needs to get a lot bigger to see the silver part. In the meantime, just continue the usual care, which is the same no matter what is growing. But orchids don't do anything fast. So just be patient, and observe.

[Paphluvr]

I have to agree with tmoney. Might be time to get it into some fresh medium with a much more appropriately sized pot.

[estación seca]

A small, sick Phal going into the winter with your cool home temperatures has a big chance of dying.

I would suggest repotting with all the roots below the medium. Leave out the sphagnum moss. Evaporative cooling of the moss will lower temperatures in the rooting zone, which you do not want.

I agree with the above to use the smallest pot that will hold the roots.

Find a way to keep the plant warmer. This might be a heat mat, or a terrarium with heating. Healthy Phals survive, grow and flower in typical home temperatures. They do much better as temperatures rise to and go past 80 F / 27C. Sick Phals struggle in typical home temperatures.

[c123anderson]

Apparently I'm not getting notifications of replies .....

So I thought it was a root, but it remains green when I get a little water on it (it doesn't have the obvious white root sheath). The picture is really how it continues to look.

I'm going to treat it like a root, though, until I see otherwise.

Since the plant is in rough shape, I wanted to address if it needed additional care if it were a spike and not a root, but I think Roberta's message is sage.

As far as the media, it's actually been recently repotted and taken out of some old media and rotted roots dealt with. With its current state, I don't want to destabilize it. Let it rest.

It's got a long road to recovery. Thanks for everyone's advice!