New to paphs - is my new plant okay?

[alannanoelle]

Hello, everyone! I am a phal person, but I just purchased my first paph! Unfortunately, I am pretty clueless about them. It looks so much different from my phals, I'm not quite sure if it is healthy or not. Are the roots supposed to be brown like this? As soon as I get my new pots and medium, I am going to repot and check things out below. From what you can see in these photos though, does it look like it is supposed to look?

Thank you!

[Swamper]

I only have two of these that I got at the redlands show ( how long ago was that? )but they don't look like that my roots are green and look kinda like my phals to my uneducated eye.I'm sure you'll get answers from the pros here real soon though.

[Becca]

All of my paph's (6) and one my phrag have the exact same looking roots....brown, firm, and fuzzy looking! I don't recall ever seeing any green, maybe the potting medium turns them brown? Perhaps someone more experienced will chime in shortly. Also, I am surprised to see the root above the potting medium, I always thought they would dry out if they were on the top, but then again if it grew that way.....

Great looking paph! Very healthy looking!

[Vanessa]

I have about a dozen Phaphs and like Becca says they all have the brown fuzzy roots. Yours looks healthy! I think some of the bark must have gotten knocked out of the pot at the nursery or perhaps in shipping... good time to repot and cover those roots. Happy growing!

[Swamper]

6???? now Im worried about mine LOL
a dozen???? gotta go home and look

[alannanoelle]

Yes, I definitely think that some of the potting material got knocked loose, so when I repot it, I'll be sure to put the roots below the surface. I'm glad to hear that it looks okay though! Thanks!

[Ross]

I agree with the above as to fuzzyness. What bothers me more is the lack of an obvious whiteish tip. I don't see active root growth. Maybe it's the picture, but I suspect the roots have stalled. This isn't a good thing with Paphs.

[tenacity]

I think your paph looks very nice and healthy! As said, normal roots are brown, firm, and fuzzy. Is there only one root tip sticking out above the potting material? I wouldn't be concerned, but repotting would probably be a good idea.

[unhappykat]

Your paph looks nice and healthy. Dont bother with the roots, almost all paphs have brown to tan fuzzy looking roots, if your roots are green it may b that moss or algea is growing on them. When you go to repot this bsby you will need to use a fine bark mixture with charcoal and perilite so you can get by with watering every three to seven days, if you use a coarser mix make sure you water more as most paphs, especially hybrids, dont like to be dry for more than a day. it looks like the exposed root is stressed so as Ross said it has stalled but the others that are buried may still show signs of a greenish to red growing tip which you want to be very careful with as you repot as most paph roots dont branch when damaged they just stop and you have to wait for new ones to emerge from the plant. Other than a little pot issue your plant looks fine, make sure to grow it a little brighter than phals or it wont bloom like it should.

[RosieC]

Oooh I'm glad I saw this thread. I'm thinking of getting a Paph soon and I would have thought those roots look ill, but then I'm only used to Phals and my one Den. I'm glad I know that is normal before I get one and worry.