How to maintain roots growing?

[bdelfiero]

Three weeks ago after transferring my phals to s/h I've notice the roots are growing very well. But this morning I saw one root about 3 inches to stop growing. The tip lost the green color and it's like a dormant root now. What are the factors of this kind of situation for the roots to stop growing? I'm afraid some of the roots(2 to 3 inches) will also lose the active green tip and stop growing.

[grasshopper]

I've had a few roots do the same for me after I converted to S/H, but I didn't really think much of it since some roots continued to grow down into the LECA. With the increase in temps (which I'm not really looking forward to!), I've started to mist the top layer of LECA each morning to keep the new roots from drying out and to encourage them to continue to grow down into the pot. I alternate using plain rain water and rain water with a few drops of KLN (to stimulate root growth).

Hopefully Ray will chime in with some more information.

[jrodpad]

bdelfiero -

I have a phal that does this with a fair degree of regularity. It will put out an aerial root, it will grow to about 3 or 4 inches long and then stop. Weeks or months later it will begin growing again from the same dormant tip with a pinched point where the growth started up again (sort of like a joint in a balloon animal). I don't use KLN or any other root stimulator - just weakly weekly fertilizer. I have no idea what triggers the roots to grow again, I figured it was just the orchid's natural cycle of growth.

Hopefully someone else has more to say that this lame anecdote.

- J

[bdelfiero]

Thanks Guys..I think I will leave them as it is and not to worry and see if the roots will branch out in some months.