phaleanopsis root growth

[tedro]

is there something i can feed my phal to stimulate root growth? i have 2 feeds on hand: MSU and Better Gro Better Bloom.

Should expect root growth while blooming? i sm
blooming, almost.
Should the tips of my air roots be more green?

[Shadeflower]

Good question tedro. I still have orchids that have never really produced many roots and haven't figured them out. I've tried all sorts over the years.

My conclusions is that the basic care must be optimal otherwise using products that enhance results like root boosters will have no effect.

The basic care should include acceptable temperature, the right light, ventilation, humidity and most important is the correct substrate for your environment.

I find the substrate and watering play the most important role in determining root growth.

The next important role is the ph and using a balanced fertilizer in the right amounts.

Then I am sure there will be plenty of recommendations for different products you could try to give better results.

They can and do provide good results but the most important is figuring out what substrate/ watering technique works well.

Even then sometimes nothing works for some. I wouldn't look in to it too much if roots are not growing over winter.

It happens, but most times it just takes a bit of TLC and patience.

I'd say if I thought there was something wrong with yours, although I am still learning as I go a long myself, but I don't think you should worry about roots not growing.

Like I've been mentioning recently I've been trying out fulvic acid which I think has really improved root growth, especially on struggling orchids. I've been very impressed using minimal quantities.
I use 1/10th the recommended amount on the bottle on every watering.

It's easy to get a product meaning well and get it completely wrong.

Like my latest Iron supplement for example is super concentrated. For roses as a monthly feed their directions might be acceptable but for orchids I worked out the amount would be 10 times too strong compared to the maximum optimal amount.

People always say it is hard to use too much of the enhancers but I get great results using everything in moderation.

I have about 10 bottles of supplements that I use but I use each one at a fraction of the recommended amount.

You still need to pay attention to the overall concentration after adding all the products.

Ah it's a complicated topic. Each have their own observations on the matter. How do you quantify good root growth? Too many variables involved so that's just one take from me.

[camille1585]

Air roots are often not the best looking due to low humidity, and I've noticed that they are not always in active growth.

Does your plant not have enough roots, or are you just concerned about the lack of active growth at the moment? I have noticed that daily misting of the substrate surface and base of plant often seems to encourage some new root growth. Not sure why that happens, but that was my go to method for many years before I bought Kelpak.

Another point, I always noticed an explosion of growth (roots and leaves) when I turn on the supplemental lights in the fall.

	Mistking Looking for a misting system? Look no further. Automated misting systems from MistKing are used by multitude of plant enthusiasts and are perfect for Orchids. Systems feature run dry pumps, ZipDrip valve, adjustable black nozzles, per second control! Automatically mist one growing shelf or a greenhouse full of Orchids. See MistKing testimonials

[isurus79]

Kelp fertilizers are great for stimulating new root growth. First Ray's sells a high quality kelp fertilizer, which is in on sale right now (here: Nutrients/Additives Archives › First Rays LLC). His site also offers excellent fertilizer advice based on science.

I've noticed you can cut the mature aerial roots back to within 3-4 inches from the plant and stimulate new growth on them. Then tuck the new roots into the pot where they can better contribute to the plant's health.

---------- Post added at 02:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:23 PM ----------

Originally Posted by camille1585

Another point, I always noticed an explosion of growth (roots and leaves) when I turn on the supplemental lights in the fall.

That's interesting. Is it possible that even summertime light is a bit weak at your latitude? Then the plant positively responds (i.e. new growth) to the increased light?

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by isurus79

That's interesting. Is it possible that even summertime light is a bit weak at your latitude? Then the plant positively responds (i.e. new growth) to the increased light?

I've thought about this, and I don't think so. My shelves are up against a south facing window, and if I'm not careful with positioning I get some very yellow Phals and Oncs. I have bloomed my Clowesetum and Catts in that window.

What I think is happening is 2 things : normal dutch weather is rather cloudy (though climate change is shifting this), so even with in well lit spot, they might be getting enough 'high quality light' days, epecially towards the tail end of the summer. The other theory is that I'm turning on the lights too late in the year (early October) and the plants were already getting too little natural light and moved into a dormant state.

I also didn't realize just how much light they were getting. I took one of my fixtures to work and measured the output with a LI-COR quantum photometer, and the plants are getting between 200 and 300 μmol/m2/s Par depending on the distance from the lights. With a 10h day that's a average DLI of 9, just with with the supplemental light (natural light is contributing extra). My Phals are apparently enjoying all the light!

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by camille1585

I've thought about this, and I don't think so. My shelves are up against a south facing window, and if I'm not careful with positioning I get some very yellow Phals and Oncs. I have bloomed my Clowesetum and Catts in that window.

What I think is happening is 2 things : normal dutch weather is rather cloudy (though climate change is shifting this), so even with in well lit spot, they might be getting enough 'high quality light' days, epecially towards the tail end of the summer. The other theory is that I'm turning on the lights too late in the year (early October) and the plants were already getting too little natural light and moved into a dormant state.

I also didn't realize just how much light they were getting. I took one of my fixtures to work and measured the output with a LI-COR quantum photometer, and the plants are getting between 200 and 300 μmol/m2/s depending on the distance from the lights. With a 10h day that's a average DLI of 9, just with with the supplemental light (natural light is contributing extra). My Phals are apparently enjoying all the light!

Ah, very interesting!

[K-Sci]

Originally Posted by isurus79

...kelp fertilizer, which is in on sale right now (here: Nutrients/Additives Archives › First Rays LLC).

A picture is worth 1000 words. The attached photo is a C. intermedia that, as an experiment, received weekly doses of KelpMax rather than the label frequency, which is monthly. This plant was "potted" in the basket in August. All flour sides of the basket and the bottom are covered with roots, and the previously 1-lead plant now has three leads.

I strongly recommend against using more KelpMax than the labeled dose because overdosing also resulted in some undesirable side effects. Along with the multiple new leads and strong root growth the growths on most of the plants in the testing was stunted (these are visible in the photo) and some growths didn't produce sheaths. It appears that the overdosed plants didn't have enough biological machinery to support so much new growth at the same time.

The conclusion I draw from the experiment is that KelpMax used per the directions will promote new grow, branching of leads, and increase root growth, which is what I saw on the plants that were given weekly doses. I have not seen the stunting on plants given the labeled dose.

-Keith

[Rwhb12]

[QUOTE=isurus79;973946]Kelp fertilizers are great for stimulating new root growth. First Ray's sells a high quality kelp fertilizer, which is in on sale right now (here: Nutrients/Additives Archives › First Rays LLC). His site also offers excellent fertilizer advice based on science.

I've noticed you can cut the mature aerial roots back to within 3-4 inches from the plant and stimulate new growth on them. Then tuck the new roots into the pot where they can better contribute to the plant's health.[COLOR="Silver"]

So I tried this and killed the phalaenopsis. I have another phalaenopsis which seems to love sending out all air roots and no underground roots, so I have mounted it on a lump of bark and keep it at 60-75% r.h. And it has new air roots!

Orchids are never easy, if you don’t know what they are!

Russ

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Rwhb12

So I tried this and killed the phalaenopsis. I have another phalaenopsis which seems to love sending out all air roots and no underground roots, so I have mounted it on a lump of bark and keep it at 60-75% r.h. And it has new air roots!

I suspect it wasn't cutting the aerial roots to stimulate more growth that killed the plant. Not sending "underground roots" probably means that you were keeping the media too wet. However, realizing this and mounting is a great way to overcome a heavy handed watering can! I wish I had conditions conducive to mounting since it seems like such a cool (and natural!) method for growing orchids.

[Roberta]

I found that by adding supplemental light (like 12 hours a day) I went from very little reblooming to about 80%. Light duration (rather than intensity) is likely a very important factor. After all, Phals are from the tropics - about 12 hours a day of light throughout the year.