Root question

[katierkincaid]

Is it true that Dendrobiums dont like to be repotted? I took it out today because the medium (spag moss) looked green and rotten. The roots were all green so I changed out the moss and cut some of the dead tips off. On the other hand I have a Phal that I took out to water in my buckets and the roots were green but some turned like cream eyllow and the ends seemed hollow. I took my cutters steralized them and cut it off up to the green parts. Did I do this right? What does it mean when the roots turn that color?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Dendrobiums can tolerate repotting. But most orchids should be repotted sparingly anyways (usually once a year or if the medium goes bad).

Dead roots can mean a lot of things. The roots were old. Overwatering. Rotting medium. pH shift in medium. Underwatering. Physical damage caused by people, insects, or other pests. Stress. Bacterial infection (usually caused by overwatering). Really depends on what you narrow your problems down to.

Healthy roots don't necessarily mean "green" roots. In fact, sometimes healthy roots are white roots with a silvery white coating, with white growing tips and yellow or orange on the ends of the growing tips. The typical look being green fleshy roots with silvery white coating and green growing tips with yellow or orange on the ends. With experience you'll know what strong healthy roots look like.

[katierkincaid]

I saw a red root too, whats that mean

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Red roots are unusual for Dendrobiums. They are more common for Maxillarias or Erias. I have Maxillaria picta which naturally has a red or orange red coating to the fleshy roots and white growing tips with yellow ends. My Maxillaria schunkeana has dark wine red roots with yellow tips. Eria rhynchostyloides, Eria hyacinthoides, and Eria carinata grew crimson red roots for me.

Do you mean the tips of the roots to your Dendrobium are reddish? Or is it the entire root?

Maybe you're watering with tap water or something. Try watering with RO/DI water.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

You know, if your Dendrobium has green roots with a silvery white coating, green growing tips and bright orange tips, that's normal. I see it all the time on Dendrobiums.

[katierkincaid]

OH I mean my Phal had a red root, just one. It seems to be doing fine.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Phalaenopsis don't usually have red roots either.

Like I said it could be because you're using tap water to water it. Maybe you're fertilizing too often...?

Do you have a pic?

Orchids usually have this extra delayed reaction to things, so it's hard to tell if it's okay just because it's still alive. Most people including me forget this fact.

[katierkincaid]

Very interesting, I will try to get a pic of it! I interested in the R/O stuff but is there any cheaper way to do this until Im able to get a R/O system

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Buy water from a local water store.

[quiltergal]

Buy distilled water at the grocery store.