What to expect from these photos - Orchid Board

PJG · #1 10-25-2008, 07:57 PM

I had called these roots "snakes" once. One's growing out and down the others are going up. If you look closely at the 2nd img', you'll see the beginning of another root. Anything I should do?

This is just the group of them.

All these roots are growing down. I gave a front and back shot of them and I'm not sure I got all the roots.

This one has a new leaf, and 2 roots growing, one on each side.

OK, I leave these outside all the time in San Diego. Is there anything I should do to any of them that you would do?

I give them about a cup of water a week each, and if it's hot, I give them a 1/2 cup to keep them happy.

Me, I'm waiting for the spikes...... but until...
Thanks for your help,

Peter

Ross · #2 10-25-2008, 08:04 PM

Quite normal for Phals (and others as well). Don't do anything. You can spray them with water till they turn green, that would be fine. But otherwise, just leave them alone.

whygreenberg · #3 10-25-2008, 10:05 PM

I'll second what Ross said. Lots of actively growing roots is great!! Let them do their thing. Your Phals look nice and healthy!

magicatt · #4 10-25-2008, 11:48 PM

Arial roots means your orchid is feeling sexy! Mist them if it makes you feel better, otherwise feel proud of all that healthy growth!

BikerDoc5968 · #5 10-26-2008, 10:48 AM

Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but as arial roots get longer I try to "redirect" them back into the pot. I get them very wet so they are more pliable and put the growing ends back into the pot. This keeps things more tidy for my GH (my neurosis) and hopefuly more roots for me to overwater!!!!

So if I'm doing something wrong here won't somebody

Pleeeease

Lagoon · #6 10-26-2008, 12:27 PM

I do the same thing Howard- trying to get them back inside the pots. Sometimes it works and sometimes it deosn't, they don't care and creep back out or just make more on top

Species phals are terrible in this regard - so I'm pretty much over the fact that orchids don't train well

I think its very natural for phals to make arial roots. But, in this case that sphagnum moss looks spent. I have to wonder from the photos if it not actually trying to get away from such wet media. It looks very broken down to me.

camille1585 · #7 10-26-2008, 12:50 PM

Doc, I've tried to redirect the roots into the medium, but sometimes they are just plain stubborn! Some of them will grow into the pot a few centimeters, do a u-turn and come right back out again when I'm not looking!

Phal Mini mark is especially good at this, so now I leave its roots alone and the plant has roots poking out in every possible direction!

Lagoon, I agree with you about the medium. At first I thought it was potting soil, until I realized it was just really beat up sphag. It could be that the roots in the medium are not doing very well, so the plant is throwing out aerial roots to compensate...

PJG · #8 10-26-2008, 05:07 PM

Thanks all,

I've left the plants growing in what their growing in because there is activity with the roots. And my thinking was if I repot, am I going to shock the plant, and stop the roots from growing.

Am I wrong?

Peter

Ross · #9 10-26-2008, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJG

Thanks all,

I've left the plants growing in what their growing in because there is activity with the roots. And my thinking was if I repot, am I going to shock the plant, and stop the roots from growing.

Am I wrong?

Peter

Only repot when you think the potting medium is breaking (or broken) down. If you start using clear pots (like the plants tend to come in from the grocery stores) then you can monitor this. I've been able to intercept mold, algae, little plants, etc. by watching the pot and roots. So the answer to your question of wrong or right is "maybe". Repotting doesn't shock a Phal unless done too frequent (like 3-4 times a year.) I tend to aim for annually, but I have some plants (not Phals) that I have missed for a few years. Current activity in the roots is great. Great time to repot, if plant needs repotting.

camille1585 · #10 10-26-2008, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PJG

Thanks all,

I've left the plants growing in what their growing in because there is activity with the roots. And my thinking was if I repot, am I going to shock the plant, and stop the roots from growing.

Am I wrong?

Peter

From what I have seen in my phals, I think that repotting seems to stimulate root growth. They do sulk a few weeks, but after that the roots grow like crazy. Like I said, this is from my experience, so I don't know if you're right or wrong!