Vanda orchid roots with cracks - Orchid Board

bdelfiero · #1 04-04-2010, 11:30 PM

I would like to seek your advice since i am new to orchids. I have a new Vanda orchids (V.Kasem's delight) but i've noticed that roots are cracking. though there are some healthy roots remaining but most of the roots has cracks. What should I do?

I bought this one week ago with the same condition and base on the pictures I've seen in the internet, my Vanda is not really healthy

I live in Philippines, the humidity is about 50 to 60 percent. the temperature is 30 to 33 degrees during the day. I put my orchids outside the house with enough bright light but not direct sunlight. I water 2 times i day but I've noticed the roots gets dry after minutes of watering. ( The roots turned green wen i water them, also some white roots turned also to green every time I gave them water)

The pictures shows a very unhappy Vanda, though the flowers are in full bloom but i have this feeling that it has some problems, the leaves has a tinge of very light yellow, almost unnoticeable with the pictures. I also touched the leaves and felt it was a bit thinner and dry.

I've done several research but i think my problem is very unusual since i can't find appropriate answer to my searches.

I will appreciate your help..

Thank you.
Benjie

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #2 04-05-2010, 12:00 AM

I think those cracks are one of two things:

1. They're signs of physical damage from the roots being banged around.

2. They're areas where the Vanda's roots stopped growing during their break from growing and then they started to re-grow new sections of roots from that point.

All-in-all, this is usually not a big problem.

The one thing you can do is to avoid banging the roots around.

You can't do anything about the other one.

bdelfiero · #3 04-05-2010, 12:34 AM

Hi Philip, Thank you for the insight. Since the leaves are not really good and dry( almost folded), i was thinking because the roots are broken and didn't get as much water as it needs? Is there any other way to bring the whole plant to life? Thank you.

dounoharm · #4 04-05-2010, 12:52 AM

i think you are doing everything correctly...the cracks on the roots are from physical damage during shipping or handling....the stem of the plant is entire and in good shape, and the leaves dont look bad....i think with you watering twice a day it will come around to better shape....but all in all, it looks ok...it is normal for them to dry out rapidly after watering....gl and enjoy the blooms~~!

Gofa · #5 04-05-2010, 02:09 AM

I had the same problem with a vanda which was given to me by my neighbor. It was a cutting from her own plant and only had two roots, the other one had a deep crack right in the middle of the right root. I did some research too as I am also very, very new in orchid growing. Then I read that healthy vanda roots turn green when drenched so I watered the vanda and saw that the lower portion of the cracked root stayed dry and limp. So what I did was I took off the dead portion of the root, left the part that still turns green when watered, and silently prayed for the plant's survival as I didn't know if I'm doing the right thing then (LOL!). I think I just got lucky--- the vanda is now growing new roots.

rogerman · #6 04-05-2010, 05:15 AM

Yes Gofa that is correct.

bdelfiero, The roots have obviously been damaged at some point and i wouldn't worry about that at all.... The only thing i can suggest is, do you have a fishpond or some watery area?....You might be able to give it an extra burst by hanging the plant above this area as well..... I have put all my seedlings above by huge fishpond and water them twice a day. The humidity from the fishpond just gives that extra little bit and now my seedlings are racing along.

My wholesaler that i buy grown plants from has his nursery built in an old rice farm and it is flooded all day everyday.....He gets amazing growth from his plants.

bdelfiero · #7 04-05-2010, 06:48 AM

Thank you so much for the information..I have a clear vision on what to do this time with my vanda. It is really great that people in this forum shares their knowledge about everything.

trdyl · #8 04-05-2010, 11:34 AM

Benjie, Looks like you've gotten some great advice here. I don't have anything to add. Enjoy!

CTB · #9 07-29-2010, 02:02 AM

I've got cracked roots on my Vanda's too, Thanks to everyone for posting, I always learn a trick or two from reading everyone's posts. Some of my Vanda's were bag babies and their roots were really damaged, but they have all grown new eyes off of the old roots. I soak mine in a bucket about every two weeks besides misting them twice daily.

Mine are all bare root. They are in the sun until about 1pm. I don't think they crack as much when placed in pots with a little rock or charcoal. Thanks again

susiep · #10 07-29-2010, 02:25 AM

Benjie, don't worry. Your vanda is in great shape. I have about 30 vandas and I have seen that before. Your plant has plenty of good, green roots. The cracked root is an older one anyway. Soon the plant will send out new roots higher up on the plant. The leaves look fine. Believe me, that is not that folded. It can be much worse! Some plants get folded leaves easier than others. Just their genetics, I guess. But underwatering can definitely make the leaf folding worse. Sometimes when I see it starting (especially on newer, softer leaves) I will make a splint to keep the leaf straight and it will firm up and stay straight. But if they have folded over and it has been a week or 2 it is hard to get that bend out. Just have to live with it! As the plant grows, those become the bottom leaves and fall off eventually. You have a nice plant there. Good growing!