Hard Grey-Black Roots on Phal

[Becca]

Hi Everyone! I have a problem with one of my phals. I don't know what I was thinking, but I had accidentally potted my phal in to large of a pot size a while back ago. The roots weren't the best at the time when I received it as well, but I thought they were salvageable. I thought all was going well....but then I noticed the bottom leaves starting to yellow so upon further observation, I found a spot of black rot on the stem where one of the bottom leaves attaches to the stem area. I had gotten some insane idea and re-potted it in some epiweb and was watering it daily, kind of like if it were mounted, so that I wouldn't over water it again. I happened to post the epiweb idea with phals previously this last week and Ray pointed out it wasn't such a good idea and he is right, so I was just about to pot it back into some fresh moss mixture when I saw how bad the roots really are. The roots are kind of hard and grey-black. I am not sure what to do....can some one help me and my phal?

[Ray]

Sounds like you may have cultivated a fungus along with the plant. I would suggest a dip in a Physan solution (1 tsp/gal) or in straight 3% hydrogen peroxide before potting it up again.

I would also like to take this opportunity to correct a misunderstanding you have made: I stated EpiWeb was a bad choice for phals in the home simply because it would dry out too rapidly. It had nothing to do with this problem. That was a "pre-existing condition" that you made worse by allowing water to stand in the leaf axils.

[Becca]

Hi Ray, I didn't mean to sound like you stating the EpiWeb being not a good choice because of my pre-existing problem, I clearly understand what you meant.

On another note, I try my hardest not to get water in the crown or leaf axils when watering, but I can't say I am perfect and it never happens. So just a tiny bit of water I may have not seen in the leaf axil will really make things that much worse? I try and dab water up with a Q-tip if I can see it, but it is usually so dry here that I don't worry about a little bit of water here and there on the plant if it is early enough in the day.

Thanks for the recommendations Ray!