How to tell when orchid bark has gone bad and how to replace it?

Fellow Phalaenopsis growers have surely run into the problem of spoiled bark, right? In fact, bark is the Phalaenopsis's "staple food," and once it spoils it directly affects the health of the orchid. Today let's talk about how to tell whether the bark has gone bad and how to replace it.

How can you tell the bark has spoiled? The most direct way is to smell it. Fresh bark generally has no particular odor, at most a faint woody scent. If you lean in and catch a sour or musty smell, then nine times out of ten it has gone bad. At this point, dig into the bark and take a look. Normal bark should be brown, feel somewhat firm, and even after being soaked in water it won't turn mushy. Spoiled bark tends to be darker in color, turning dark brown; pinch it and it feels sticky, and you may even see white or green mold spots. At this point you need to deal with it right away.

Looking at the condition of the Phalaenopsis can also help us judge. If the bark has gone bad, the orchid roots will be the first to protest — healthy roots are silvery white with a hint of green, but after spoilage they turn black or brown and fall off at a light touch. The leaves will also develop problems, such as turning yellow and going soft; even though you water plenty, they always look listless. At this point, don't just blame the watering, check first whether the bark is the problem.

So how should you replace bark that has spoiled? It's actually not hard, just go step by step.

First, prepare new bark. Remember to choose bark specially made for Phalaenopsis, and soak it in boiling water for half an hour in advance; this both sterilizes it and lets the bark absorb enough water. After soaking, fish it out and drain it, until it feels moist but isn't dripping. Then prepare a small pair of scissors, some carbendazim, and a new flowerpot. The pot doesn't need to be too big, just slightly larger than the original one, and it must have plenty of drainage holes at the bottom.

Next comes removing it from the pot. Gently take out the Phalaenopsis together with the old bark, and be gentle so you don't damage the roots. Then shake off the old bark and examine the root system carefully. Cut off the blackened, rotten roots, and remember to use sterilized scissors when cutting. After cutting, apply some carbendazim to the wounds and leave them in a ventilated spot for half an hour to let the wounds dry.

Once dried, it's time to pot it up. First spread a layer of large-particle bark at the bottom of the pot, about one fifth of the flowerpot, to boost air permeability. Then place the Phalaenopsis in, adjust its position so the pseudobulb sits slightly above the potting medium, and then fill bark in around it. As you fill, gently shake the pot so the bark fills the gaps, but don't press hard, otherwise it won't be airy.

After repotting, don't water it right away and don't put it in the sun. Place it in a ventilated spot with diffused light, then after two or three days water it thoroughly once, and after that just care for it normally.

Actually, Phalaenopsis bark should generally be replaced once every half a year to a year. Even if it hasn't obviously spoiled, over time the nutrients dwindle and air permeability worsens. Pay attention to the condition of the bark and the orchid's growth in daily care, and replace it in time, so your Phalaenopsis can grow vigorously.