Unhealthy Roots

[Skyla]

Ok so my phal looks really healthy and has flowered and has the biggest brightest flowers! Its in a clear pot with holes and has been potted in bark mix. So my problem is. . . . the roots i can see through the pot look healthy but there really isnt much of them at all! So yesterday i decided to take it out the pot and examine the roots, here is what i found - There really isnt alot of roots at all, some look really healthy and green and some are yellow but still hard not gooey and mushy so thats a goodish sign right? So my question is what is causing the roots to turn yellow and how can i help my gorgeous phal.

Sorry i couldnt upload any photos but im having problems uploading them, i know how to do it but my computer isnt co-operating at the moment!!

[camille1585]

Yellow roots are completely normal. Phal roots are capable of photosynthesis, which means that if they are exposed to light they will become green. That's the case of the roots you can see through the clear pot. The roots that are growing in the center of the pot aren't getting any light, so not producing chloroplast, and so are yellow.
If the roots are firm, they're good. The only ones that need to be removed are those that are mushy or hollow.

[Skyla]

O brilliant!! Im so so glad my baby is fine! Thats such a relieve camille! So how do i get it to produce new healthy roots then as like i said it doesnt have many, poor thing, am i right in assuming if i cut the stalk right down then it can focus its energy on producing new roots?

[SewPretty]

I would say that you are right in that when a plant isn't in bloom it concentrates it's energy on making new roots and leaves.

if the Orchid is healthy, green and the leaves are thick and firm then I would only suggest that you keep doing what you're doing and let the plant worry about it's roots.