What does orchid root rot look like?

Rotted Phalaenopsis roots are brown or black, soft, mushy and often hollow, sometimes collapsing to a thin thread when pinched. Healthy roots are firm and plump, white or silvery-green when dry and bright green just after watering.

Can an orchid recover from root rot?

Yes, if some healthy roots remain. Trim away every soft, brown root with a sterilised blade, repot into fresh dry bark, and water sparingly while new roots form. A plant with firm leaves and even a few good roots usually pulls through.

Should I cut off rotted orchid roots?

Yes. Remove all mushy, brown or hollow roots with sterilised scissors, cutting back to firm, pale tissue. Leaving rotted roots lets the decay and any infection spread to the healthy roots that are keeping the plant alive.

How often should I water an orchid to avoid root rot?

Water only when the roots turn silvery and the bark is nearly dry, typically every 7 to 10 days, and let it drain completely. Never leave the pot standing in water, and water less in winter when the plant dries out more slowly.

Why do my orchid roots rot even though I barely water?

Poor airflow is often the culprit. Dense or broken-down media, a pot with no drainage, or a decorative outer pot trapping water keeps roots wet long after watering. Repot into chunky fresh bark in a pot with holes.

Does crown rot differ from root rot in orchids?

Yes. Crown rot is decay at the centre where new leaves emerge, caused by water sitting in the crown, and it can kill the plant fast. Root rot is in the media below. Both come from too much moisture; water at the roots and keep the crown dry.

Why are my orchid roots turning brown (root rot)?

Most likely cause

Overwatering is the top cause of orchid root rot. Phalaenopsis are epiphytes whose aerial roots evolved to cling to bark and dry quickly between rains, so roots kept constantly wet are starved of oxygen, weaken, and are then overtaken by the fungi and bacteria that cause them to brown and turn to mush.

You can confirm it by the roots and the watering habit. Healthy roots are firm, plump and silvery; rotted roots are brown or black, soft, and often hollow so the outer layer slides off a thin thread inside. If you water on a fixed schedule regardless of dryness, the bark stays wet for days, or the pot lacks drainage, that is almost certainly the driver. Trim the rot, repot into fresh dry bark, and water only when the roots dry out.

Other causes

These rank below straightforward overwatering but all keep the roots too wet.

Poor drainage. Water trapped in a pot without holes, or in a decorative cover pot, keeps roots soaking; the bottom of the media stays wet long after watering.
Dense, spent media. Old bark broken down to compost holds no air; it looks dark and fine and water sits in it instead of draining through.
No airflow. Stagnant, still air around a packed root ball stops the media drying; rot recurs even with careful watering.
Crown and joint water. Water pooling in the crown or leaf axils causes rot there, which can spread down; look for soft, blackened tissue at the centre of the plant.
Infection. Once rot starts, fungi and bacteria spread fast through wet roots; the decay advances and may smell sour.

How to fix it

Unpot and assess. Remove the orchid from its pot and clear away the old media to see every root.
Trim the rot. Cut off all brown, soft or hollow roots with sterilised scissors, back to firm, pale tissue.
Repot in fresh bark. Use chunky, dry orchid bark in a pot with drainage holes; clear or slotted pots help airflow and let you watch the roots.
Water sparingly. Water only when the roots turn silvery and the bark is nearly dry, usually every 7 to 10 days, then drain fully.
Empty the saucer and cover pot. Never let the plant sit in collected water, and tip out any decorative outer pot after watering.
Keep the crown dry. Water at the roots, not over the centre, and dab out any water that settles in the crown or leaf joints.
Improve airflow. Give the plant gentle air movement and bright indirect light so the media dries on a healthy cycle.

Cause	Tell-tale sign	Fix
Overwatering	Constantly wet bark, brown mushy roots	Trim rot, repot, water only when dry
Poor drainage	Water trapped in pot or cover pot	Use holes, empty saucer and cover pot
Spent dense media	Dark, broken-down compost-like bark	Repot in fresh chunky bark
Crown or joint water	Black soft tissue at the centre	Keep crown dry, water at roots only
Infection	Rot spreading fast, sour smell	Cut to clean tissue, repot, water less