it looks way too wet to me - i think you should let it dry out and possibly repot it.

Hi, chic. I've had that several times on roots of orchids. It's a fungus of some type. I think it gets into the medium and from there to the roots. It's in the bark.

It's easily killed by spraying or drenching with Safer's Insecticidal or even peroxide. I never noticed any particular harm to the plant or the roots if treated. Don't know what would happen if you just left it alone.

To keep it from coming back, I would repot into fresh medium. Run plenty of water over the roots, and spray roots and lower stem with physan solution before repotting.

Should be fine.

Thank you guys so much. I have had the plant for over 2 years and a repotting is definitely needed. I will do it once the flower spike is done. Any suggests on repotting - pot material, soil/bark, pot size. The otter pot does have drainage, but we have had VERY wet, foggy weather here and drying is an issue. I'm usually an under waterer so I think I went a little overboard once I saw the spike. My plan is to let it dry out for now, keep the spike happy and then repot come spring. Thanks again! I really don't want to kill another plant! I love them!!

Cajun, there are outstanding notes on phal culture at the Canadian Orchid Congress website, see url below. Just scroll down and click "phalaenopsis".

There are also excellent culture notes for hobbyist orchid growers at bigleaforchids.com and bedfordorchids.com.

A little reading on a couple of websites will repay you richly in knowing how to provide good conditions for your precious.

Congrats on the spike!

Here is a link that might be useful: COC culture notes

I think that what you have is a type of mold that likes to grow in musty, damp places. Your plant probably needs more air circulation. You can eliminate it if it is mold with a drenching of 3% hydrogen peroxide.

The Orchid Congress has been well known and in operation for a long while. Apparently some are just discovering it. Great for general information. Nothing drastically different from AOS or any other general culture information site. If you took the time to register it must not be satifying all your questions about growing orchids.

I'm more concerned about helping you now. Your plant will demise quickly. To keep your plant healthy, can you first tell us what kind of conditions you are growing the plant under? Light temps etc?

Mold is a sign of insufficient light and too much watering (too wet for too long makes mold) . If the light is corrected the plant will not remain wet and begin to mold. Phals are tropical plants, just like an other bright indirect light plants you would see growing in FL. They need plenty of light and heat. In z-9 you may also have the plant too cool if it's indoors. It needs a late May/ June day every day (z-9)

Clara

Leisurely's point about the need phals have for air circulation is a good one.

You can read a little more about the need for moving air by clicking the url below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Culture notes, Robert Bedard Nurseries

Air is a given with orchids. Balance of air-light-water-heat. Mold ain't cause by still air. Caused by dark wet conditions. Think of a basement. Z-9 that plant should be outdoors most of the year.
Mike

My issue is definitely light-heat-circulation. I live in the suburbs of New Orleans and we are in the odd weather part of the year - 80s during the day, 40s at night. We haven't been running our AC or heater much, thus causing the circulation issue. The plant has also been moved around A LOT - dining room table, garage floor, living room window. I am going to make a conscious effort to keep it in the right light/heat and to get some air moving around. Thank you all again!

Really can't add anything to the furry root problem, but you know anything that stands still around here will grow mold. Anyway, I see you most likely don't live very far from me. I live between Hammond and Gonzales. Just 45 min. away from the NO airport. I would like to compare notes with you about your growing conditions and such.

Evelyn Craig

Don't need AC. Just a little fan blowing the air around.

Hi Ebby - Sorry but I really don't think I can give you any viable advice!!! I have NEVER had a flower spike or even grow a new root under my care (except a Den. - maybe try a Den.). This Phal is all luck to get it even this far and now it has a fungus! Sorry I can't be of any help. I do now there is a Louisiana/New Orleans Orchid Society chapter that display in the malls one or two times a year. Maybe this would be a good source. Sorry again! Better luck!
Kelly

Hi Kelly and Evelyn - you might look through the SWROGA website http://swroga.org/ which is a bunch of local (LA, TX, MS, ARK, etc.) societies. It lists member societies by state and I think tells when/where they meet.
I put off visiting my local (Acadian) orchid society for years because I thought it would be way too highbrow for me - au contraire! Best place to get really specific info for your area - the COS site is fine, but does it really apply to us in zones 9/10? I've never even seen a Zygopetalum, though I know a person or two who's killed one. Too hot here; they die a lingering painful death.
Locals will give you the best advice about what will/won't grow in your area. And the New Orleans society does have a really dazzling show - this year it was in June.
We are lucky enough to be able to grow our orchids outside most of the year, so long as we pick the ones that will be happy with 10 months of summer. There might be another society in the general N.O. area, (Metairie?) not sure - it might have been dismantled by Katrina.
Hope this helps - visit your local society!
Regards - Nancy