Number of air roots?

[estación seca]

They can still take up water when the velamen, the spongy outer layer, collapses. That's why I never cut them at all. Depending on growing temperatures, in a home with low humidity, you might even soak them in water for 1-6 hours each day if the leaves appear shriveled. Make sure they dry between waterings.

[Butters mom]

Originally Posted by estación seca

They can still take up water when the velamen, the spongy outer layer, collapses. That's why I never cut them at all. Depending on growing temperatures, in a home with low humidity, you might even soak them in water for 1-6 hours each day if the leaves appear shriveled. Make sure they dry between waterings.

Oh, I didn't know that! Thank you for letting me know. I thought that if the middle of the velamen is black then the root itself was dead and that it continued using up the nutriets needed for the healthy roots.The leaves seem the look pretty hardy. The medium inside the baskets is old and shriveled. Is it ok to remove the old bark? I noticed yesterday that the one Vanda has new leaves growing in all different directions from under the main roots. Should I just leave it alone or should I change something? Thank you again for your help

[Clawhammer]

Cochleanthes are not vandas, they are zygos. They grow much wetter than vandas and cannot take the high levels of fertilizer.

[estación seca]

The water conducting part of the root is the thread at the center of the velamen. Yes, if that is black, the root is dead. But you can't find that out without cutting roots. I suggest not cutting roots because you must cut into healthy roots to find out what part is dead, and plants need their roots.

The last two photos show a healthy Vanda cross. Roots usually look like this inside a low-humidity home, and much better in a high-humidity environment.

I would not disturb the medium in the old basket. The roots are well exposed to air and that tiny amount of medium will not harm them. The commonest method of repotting is to get a new basket and thread the roots through the openings of the new basket. Then backfill the new basket with the medium desired.

Having two people to do this makes it much easier: One holds the old basket up in the air, and the second threads roots into the new basket.

[Clawhammer]

I have Vanda Faye and Maximillian Roberts x tessellata from Exotic Orchids of Maui too. Mine just bloomed for the first time (love it). Smells like marigolds.

[IMG]Untitled by Eric, on Flickr[/IMG]

[Butters mom]

Originally Posted by Clawhammer

I have Vanda Faye and Maximillian Roberts x tessellata from Exotic Orchids of Maui too. Mine just bloomed for the first time (love it). Smells like marigolds.

[IMG]Untitled by Eric, on Flickr[/IMG]

Oh my! She is beautiful! May I ask, how long have you had her before she bloomed?

---------- Post added at 10:04 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:57 AM ----------

Originally Posted by estación seca

The water conducting part of the root is the thread at the center of the velamen. Yes, if that is black, the root is dead. But you can't find that out without cutting roots. I suggest not cutting roots because you must cut into healthy roots to find out what part is dead, and plants need their roots.

The last two photos show a healthy Vanda cross. Roots usually look like this inside a low-humidity home, and much better in a high-humidity environment.

I would not disturb the medium in the old basket. The roots are well exposed to air and that tiny amount of medium will not harm them. The commonest method of repotting is to get a new basket and thread the roots through the openings of the new basket. Then backfill the new basket with the medium desired.

Having two people to do this makes it much easier: One holds the old basket up in the air, and the second threads roots into the new basket.

I will take all the advice! Imma leave my Vandas alone and not be clipping here nor there! And as for my Cocheanthes discolor, my apologies. I wound up putting 2 questions on 2 totally different flowers on my thread. I will separate my questions in the future. I know the they aren't Vandas, they look nothing alike! Lol! Thank you all for your expertise!