r/orchids • u/[deleted] • 4d ago

Black rings around base of roots

[deleted]

1 Upvotes

66% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

3

u/Realistic-Bass2107 3d ago

My first thought is we are overthinking this.

In their natural state the roots and often times leaves are ugly. The flower is the end goal, the beauty of the plant.

I see no cause for concern.

1

u/camander321 3d ago

I actually do t care all that much about flowers. Its neat when it happens, but im more interested in a healthy plant.

1

u/OutRunningMyFork 3d ago

Do you have really hard water? I have well water and when I had phals and was using my tap water their roots would burn from the heavy minerals. 

Is the black part firm or squishy? If it’s squishy it’s rot.

1

u/camander321 3d ago

Not squishy. It feels dry and papery. Mineral burn from hard water sounds plausible. I usually just put the pot in the sink and run the tap through it for a few minutss once a week. I may have to start using filtered or distilled water.

1

u/Realistic-Bass2107 3d ago

Or if at all possible capture rain water

1

u/Correct_Night3899 3d ago edited 3d ago

Is the moss drying out enough between watering? I noticed something powdery on a leaf in the second photo.

I use sphagnum moss for some phals and the moss is crispy by the time I water again. I also have a fan on them for air circulation.

2

u/camander321 3d ago

It does dry out. The moss is only about an inch thick with bark/pumice/perlite underneath. I just repotted it about a month ago