Help needed from a total newbie!

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Newgirl

1. This orchid has been in a not see through pot in regular soil for years. The roots have turned this colour. Are not mushy or soft. Still viable or should i cut them?

Hi there NG. Not-see through plastic pot is just fine. Instead of regular soil ---- one possible alternative you could try - is lava rock - 15 to 20 mm pieces and a very free draining pot.

2. Will yellow roots turn green if they are exposed to light long enough?

Probably won't turn green if those yellow roots (or white) are no longer alive ----- this is discounting algae etc.

3. The roots have white spots on a lot of them. Is this fungues or normal? What should i do? There is nothing moving so no bugs and i cannot scrape them off with my nail.

It could well be fungus, growing and feeding on the dead material. Not necessarily harmful to the orchid. But - a close-up good resolution photo of these white spots could help here.

4. The stem is incredibly long. Should i leave it like this or cut anything from it? There are still a lot of roots coming from the lower part but are the roots viable?

Also refer to tips such as Click Here and Click Here

And take a look at this video ----

youtube video

[Newgirl]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

Hi there NG. Not-see through plastic pot is just fine. Instead of regular soil ---- one possible alternative you could try - is lava rock - 15 to 20 mm pieces and a very free draining pot.



Probably won't turn green if those yellow roots (or white) are no longer alive ----- this is discounting algae etc.



It could well be fungus, growing and feeding on the dead material. Not necessarily harmful to the orchid. But - a close-up good resolution photo of these white spots could help here.



Take a look at this video ----

Click Here

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Newgirl

they have like wet firm white tissue inside. This means they are viable i asume?

They might possibly still be alive. And if they are alive, then they could still possibly sprout more roots from those old roots.

As for the stem - I don't think the very long stem should be buried into the media. It could just rot in there, and maybe kill the whole plant.

[Newgirl]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

They might possibly still be alive. And if they are alive, then they could still possibly sprout more roots from those old roots.

As for the stem - I don't think the very long stem should be buried into the media. It could just rot in there, and maybe kill the whole plant.

Thanks! And how far do i cut it then? And is it no problem i lose all those (probably viable) roots? It has been buried with the whole stem for years in regular soil..?