Mini Phal Roots
 

I was looking at the mini Phals at Home Depot today (sadly that's the only store I ever see them at; everywhere else just has big ones). There was one that had two keikis on it, and there were also some pots that had 3-5 plants in them for a really good price. Much better deal than the individual ones, really.

But this one just stole my heart.

http://i.imgur.com/Khc6V4l.png

http://i.imgur.com/l6l6FDj.jpg

Only two flowers, but so much personality in them!

Disgustingly overwatered, though, like all Home Depot mini Phals.

http://i.imgur.com/xr3GRox.png

Root system not the best, but nothing a little surgery can't take care of, right?

http://i.imgur.com/K9E5vLg.png

I took some alcohol-dipped scissors to the black bits before repotting in fresh sphagnum.

Is this anything to worry about, though, this big black bit on the side of the stem where it looks like there used to be roots at one point?

http://i.imgur.com/1rLNCCU.png

Sorry i can't help you with you question about the black spot on the stem but I did want to jump in and compliment you on the plant. It is really, really cute, beautiful flowers.

:-)

If you can carefully take off the blackened parts, that's fine. Dab some cinnamon on the ends of the wounds. This does not need to be watered for at least a week, See my repotting phals from Saturday. If you repot carefully like I explained, your flowers will stay on the spike. These do look a little old though. You can use the same moss you take out of the pot. Just take it all off and then put it back "LOOSELY". That is the key. Then don't water for a week. let this plant dry off completely before you water it again. Here is another phal I repotted today. I just wanted to show how this one, like all the others, has a dense plug of sphagnum moss at the core of the root mass. Notice how all the roots grow around this plug? Once you carefully pull out all the old sphag from the bottom up, you can pull this plug out fairly easily. Then just take the moss you pull out and repot with it. Just don't jam it in too tightly. "LOOSELY" is the key. Then don't water until it is dry. Also get it out of that horrible thin clear flimsy plastic pot it is in. No drainage or air flow through this. Get another clear pot if you want but don't use this one. No matter what you do with this pot, it will ensure the phal's roots will rot.

The black part of the stem is very stiff and solid, and on closer inspection, most of the alive-looking roots seem to be coming from it.

Also, do the minis grow any faster than the regular-sized ones, or is it the same?

(Also it's already out of the nasty old moss, and I did cut off the dead root tips)

It is not really overwatering that is at the root of the problem, it is under-draining. Those plastic shrink wrap pots have no way for the water to get out. As others have said, moss is okay for phals, but you need the drainage holes. Many orchids live in places that have monsoon rains, that means for a certain portion of the year it rains every day. They can deal with it. They are clinging to trees so no water really gathers at the roots, and that is how you need to water them. The water needs to go in and out of the pot and not linger at the roots. I'm not sure about people who soak them for 20 minutes, but if you think about it, that is what happens if it rains for 20 minutes. Just as long as they dry out afterward. This is why I do not use moss, because it stays wet for 2-3 days or so (maybe longer) and the plants roots never are able to dry out. I started to use some Spanish moss on sick phal roots as an experiment. It dries out faster and is more loose and airy.

Potting with moss "LOOSELY" allows air flow through it. The roots and moss dry at the same rate if it is used loosely.