---
title: "HELP!!! i was going to repot this new orchid (phalaenopsis “red…"
description: "HELP!!! i was going to repot this new orchid (phalaenopsis “red cat”)and put her into much better, airy soil, but i took her out of the sphagnum moss she was…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/JmTUi1iSQr6-tX35luAMXQ/0oL0PwCrc0J8zNlWGAhk7y"
community: "The Orchid Oasis"
author: "bear"
published: "2026-09-28T20:19:15.900767Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/IipXTRIOfEnJJJvxD2tszEqTfsrOWcmI30IuzJS9d1U/-6bZKziZTuyD0USn5zI8yw.webp?size=large"
---

[Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [The Orchid Oasis](https://getplanta.com/community/JmTUi1iSQr6-tX35luAMXQ.md)

# HELP!!! i was going to repot this new orchid (phalaenopsis “red…

_Posted by bear on 2026-09-28_

HELP!!!

i was going to repot this new orchid (phalaenopsis “red cat”)and put her into much better, airy soil, but i took her out of the sphagnum moss she was in and her roots look terrible!! is there any way i can salvage her or is she a goner…?

she has two normal sized green leaves that are slightly flappy and wrinkly, and one new leaf that hasn’t stopped growing, so obviously she’s got some green on her.

what do i do?? any suggestions?

![Attachment 1 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/IipXTRIOfEnJJJvxD2tszEqTfsrOWcmI30IuzJS9d1U/-6bZKziZTuyD0USn5zI8yw.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 2 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/IipXTRIOfEnJJJvxD2tszEqTfsrOWcmI30IuzJS9d1U/0LC0mzU8QFWGVSceozjizg.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 3 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/IipXTRIOfEnJJJvxD2tszEqTfsrOWcmI30IuzJS9d1U/vpEIKOf3Tzq38ffoIMtvIA.webp?size=large)

![Attachment 4 of 4](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/IipXTRIOfEnJJJvxD2tszEqTfsrOWcmI30IuzJS9d1U/_LNNv8FEQAWc2qPQnsQPjQ.webp?size=large)

## 6 comments

### plantgeek commented on 2026-09-28

those stringy bits are the stele and they do bring water up to the plant. pull off the mushy velamen (the "skin" of the root). try semi water culture, the plant should hover above a small pool of water. the humidity stimulates growth. it is VERY IMPORTANT that none of the plant is actually touching the water!! only hovering. it's long and tedious but it works.

#### bear replied on 2026-09-28

should i keep the stele in the water, or let those hover too?

#### plantgeek replied on 2026-09-28

the stele are incredibly susceptible to rot, moreso than the normal roots. they should also be hovering

#### bear replied on 2026-09-28

ok, awesome. thank you!!

### Waspinator commented on 2026-09-28

I agree, suspend it over and not touching water. I have one dealing with that; i clipped three stakes together in a triangle to hold it above a pot

### MoMo commented on 2026-10-07

Mine looked like this. I just repotted in orchid bark and kept in high humidity. Shes growing again!

---

_Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_