Need help to save my orchid - repotting issue

[Effie]

This beautiful orchid was given to me as a present on the 3rd February this year.
As I looked in to various how to care for your orchid sites on the internet I read the below points.
•You should repot your new orchids as you do not know for how long it has been in its current bark.
•I also read about converting to Full water culture
About two to three weeks after I got I decided to try Full water culture (1/4th of the roots in water) and although it was doing ok (it had a very healthy root system) the mistake I think I did was that I filled its pot with water (my intention was only leave it in the water for an hr or so) but forgot to empty it out back to 1/4th . It stayed in the water for two days and when I realized and finally did empty the water I noticed that the roots had become very mushy. I left the roots again in 1/4th water and followed up to see how it was doing. Unfortunately the roots started to clearly rot - actually the coating “velamen” started to just peel of – but the roots themselves were there, so I decided to put it back in bark. I bought new bark and special orchid pot and left it in its new surrounding for two weeks but I felt very concerned and decided to have a look at the roots again and the attached photos is what the condition of the roots were this weekend. No velamen left around the root thread !!!
Below is the time frame of the environment the roots were in since the day I got it.
3 Feb got it and kept in old pot & bark (for 2 weeks)
19 Feb full water culture (for 2 weeks) somewhere in the second week I filled the glass pot with more water and forgot to empty it for two days. L
Picture 19 Feb (1pict)- still in very good condition / no pictures of roots
5 March put back in bark (for 2 weeks) and watered it only once a week
Pictures 5 March ( pict) - coating “velamen” has started to peel of
19 March took it out to check on roots and in Full water culture since then.
Pictures 19 March (13pict) - No velamen left around the root thread !!!

Additional info is that although it was in bloom it did not throw its flowers (some flowers did start to fall around 5 March – a whole month later) nor did it lose one bud that it still has.
But we did lose at least 3-4 healthy smaller leaves.

Any advice on what to do to save this beautiful orchid… ???
Should I cut of the roots with no velamen coating or will they grow this coating back ?
Do the roots with no velamen coating still absorb water ???

Thanking you in advance for your help.

[jkofferdahl]

I'm not a S/H grower, so can't address that. Roots that lost their velamin are essentially toast, so you can trim those off. You still have enough healthy root that the plant will be OK. Sadly, however, it appears that you cut off a lot of healthy, viable, and growing root - I see a lot of green, healthy tips on the pan you're showing. That's going to set the plant back a bit.

I'd personally pot the plant in large-chunk fir bark and in a shallow pot. Soak the bark overnight before potting, then make sure that when you've finished the plant is secure and wobble-free. Allow the media to completely dry between waterings.

[estación seca]

To be honest, I would throw it away and start again with a healthy plant. Its chances of survival are not high.

[Optimist]

I am confused about which picture is the latest. If it has full roots-- like roots with a pointy tip, even a small one.

ES--naughty!!!

Epiphyte orchids are not as dependent on their roots as tomato plants grown in soil.

Best thing to do is re-pot it. The roots will not "get better" but new roots will grow.

I think "total" water culture is a bit of a mistake here.

[Effie]

Thank you - Will do !!!
Will not give up on at least trying to save her !!

[Effie]

Originally Posted by Optimist

I am confused about which picture is the latest. If it has full roots-- like roots with a pointy tip, even a small one.

ES--naughty!!!

Epiphyte orchids are not as dependent on their roots as tomato plants grown in soil.

Best thing to do is re-pot it. The roots will not "get better" but new roots will grow.

I think "total" water culture is a bit of a mistake here.

Thanks for advice..
These are 2 of the latest pictures.
I agree with total water culture mistake !!!

[Effie]

Originally Posted by jkofferdahl

I'm not a S/H grower, so can't address that. Roots that lost their velamin are essentially toast, so you can trim those off. You still have enough healthy root that the plant will be OK. Sadly, however, it appears that you cut off a lot of healthy, viable, and growing root - I see a lot of green, healthy tips on the pan you're showing. That's going to set the plant back a bit.

I'd personally pot the plant in large-chunk fir bark and in a shallow pot. Soak the bark overnight before potting, then make sure that when you've finished the plant is secure and wobble-free. Allow the media to completely dry between waterings.

!! Will follow advice and let you know ...