But the rest of the root LOOKS good....firm, not mushy, so this is what is confusing me, it's literally hanging on by a thread, with a dark root attached at the stem...
so I should cut if off anyway?
thanks
FTimer

I am only speaking for myself but to ask if this should be cut, but can you post a :photo:, to see exactly what your talking about.

hmm...could be alive if its not dried or mushy, but just burnt. Picture?

I can't seem to upload pictures to this website. Is there an easy way? I used a webcam and I have them in a Share to Web Upload folder.
FTimer

I use photobucket and then click on the icon that looks like a picture of a mountain(it has a yellow background), then you can copy the URL when the icon pops up

I won't be able to post my pictures, my webcam pictures are way too blurry for you to make out anything. I'm going to give up on it. Thanks anyway. With everyone's input I think I'm getting a better idea of which roots to cut. So, again, many thanks to all of you!
FirstTimer

Based upon my observation of the growth of roots under various conditions, and the fact that roots tailor themselves to the environment they grow in, I have concluded the following scenario about such situations - ones we have seen all of our orchid-growing lives:

1) The roots are suffocating due to densified/decomposed/overly-compact media, so the outer tissue begin to die. (Hence the black and/or shrivelled, really sorry-looking condition).
2) However, due to a bit of a change in the overall condition of the medium - change of season, change in watering frequency, or change in the drying rate - plus a growth spurt in the plant (both usually associated with improved seasonal conditions), the root tip starts regrowing, so is healthy in the conditons the upper part of the root couldn't handle.

In other words, if the root has ANY good parts, leave it alone, especialy if it includes the tip. If the root tip is a goner, but the upper part is OK, wait. It could branch and grow normally.

Great info! thanks very much
FirstTimer