Roots on my Phalaenopsis violacea

[penfold2]

I've had this orchid for about 4 months now. The leaves look healthy to me, but the roots do not. They look wrinkled, as if they're not getting enough water. But I water it several times per day in a greenhouse that runs at 70-80% humidity. The roots also have a few dark spots, but I'm not sure if they are new, or left over from the old potting mix it came in.

So is it getting too little water? Too much? Something else?

[Jayfar]

I think that's the normal texture for violacea roots, at least based on a couple I have.

[tucker85]

I think you phal looks pretty good although maybe a little dehydrated. Usually growers put some sphagnum moss behind the roots when the plant is first attached to the mount. You could probably attach some sphagnum over the roots to provide a little more moisture until the plant has a larger root system. Your watering schedule and humidity sound fine to me. Good luck.

[penfold2]

Thanks guys. After looking at some pictures online, some of them do appear to have similar looking roots. Maybe that is just the nature of this species. I'll keep an eye on it, but will stop worrying about a few wrinkles. As for sphagnum moss, I've never liked it, but will keep it in mind if things go downhill.