Can a Phalaenopsis survive after all its roots have rotted? Let me show you how to deal with the woody root core

As quality of life improves, many people like to buy one or two good-looking plants at the flower market, and among them the Phalaenopsis is the flower most people choose.

With more people buying them, more and more care problems have appeared too; yellow leaves and flowers withering early because of root rot are also common occurrences. When you run into a similar situation, you should make a decisive decision and "cut off" the bad roots. However, in the actual process of cutting off the bad roots, some flower growers have asked: "While pruning, I found that in the center of the rotted root there is still a green string of root left. Is it still of any use? Can I keep it?"

In response to the question from the flower grower above, we can start by understanding the structure and function of the Phalaenopsis root system. First, the plump outer layer of the root is the fleshy root, whose function is specifically to absorb and store water. Hidden inside it is the hard core of the root, called the woody root core, whose function is to send water up to the plant. Generally, root rot starts with the outer fleshy layer, while the woody root core in the very center is still fine, and that is what the flower grower is referring to, because it is relatively firm and not easy to rot. Should it be kept? I suggest keeping it, because its transport function is not lost; especially when the roots have rotted into a complete mess, keeping the woody root core is the most useful thing to do.

Let me share a bit of the editor's experience. I once ran into a serious root rot problem with a Phalaenopsis, and that time I directly switched the plant to water culture as an emergency measure and kept the woody root core. Those roots are like little straws, and they can slowly help the plant absorb a bit of water, so it will not die of thirst because it cannot transport water.

So, if the roots of your Phalaenopsis are down to just these strings, as long as they feel hard and have not rotted through, keep them if you can. Sometimes it is exactly these few inconspicuous hard cores that can pull a nearly dead Phalaenopsis back, and in the end it can slowly grow new roots again.

Finally, after you have dealt with it and potted it up, remember to check regularly whether the Phalaenopsis is growing well. At the same time, remember not to water too often; just keep the soil moist, because if it is too wet the roots rot easily. In addition, apply fertilizer about every half a month to give the Phalaenopsis some extra nutrients.