brassidium with brown tips on roots - Orchid Board

suehil · #1 03-08-2012, 10:57 AM

i've noticed the tips of some of the roots have turned brown and i'm wondering if it's due to under-watering the plant. it otherwise seems healthy though, has grown well since i bought it but hasn't bloomed.

Wjs2nd · #2 03-08-2012, 11:09 AM

Yes, your orchid looks underwatered. See how your blubs look wrinkled. When you increase your watering the blubs should smooth out.

Edit: looking at your second picture, your blubs are not wrinkled to bad. They look worse in your first picture. I would still increase watering a little. See if it make a difference. Maybe even try misting the top of the mix/roots.

suehil · #3 03-08-2012, 12:14 PM

thanks, i will increase the amount of water. i've wondered if maybe i should re-pot and remove that bulb, it's the oldest one. i've read how the older shoots/bulbs help sustain the plant but once they shrivel they should be removed and i'm wondering if that bulb is at that point.

Wjs2nd · #4 03-08-2012, 12:55 PM

No, you should leave it on. Once it starts to turn brown and soft is when you can remove it.

Rowangreen · #5 03-08-2012, 01:17 PM

I'm fairly new to this too, but all your bulbs look good, except for looking a little wrinkled. I don't think you should remove any unless they are definitely dead or you want to divide the plant. Again not sure, but your medium looks quite new? If it was repotted just before you got it that will have been a bit of a shock. That and change of enviroment might lead to a few ariel roots going crispy.

I have a Brassidium, though I don't think it's the same as yours (Spider Stars 'Toscanna'). The ariel roots on mine dried off too, but I'm not worrying too much as it seems healthy otherwise. I am finding it seems to be quite thirsty compared to the other 'cambrias'/oncidium alliance hybrids I have. I haven't repotted mine yet, but I may do in a month or so: mine came flowering, and has just finished and started new growths. Apparently the best time is when they are just putting out roots, as then the plant will be able to recover quicker from any root damage. It looks like you might have a well developed new growth at the back in the picture? If so bear that in mind when thinking about re-potting.

---------- Post added at 12:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:10 PM ----------

PS: more thoughts... my experience so far is that phals probably wouldn't mind if you took them out of their pots and took them for a walk round the block every day. Cambria types are much more sensitive though. Unless there's a suspicion of a problem (eg maybe a spagnum ball in the centre, old medium) I wouldn't repot. I think your plant looks pretty healthy and happy overall. In the first pic, though it's a bit blurred, I think I can see green root tips. That's good! As is the healthy looking growth at the back.

nenella · #6 03-08-2012, 06:03 PM

Hi Looks like you've had some good advice above. I agree you should Not cut the bulb off. It does not necessarily have to go brown & mushy (rot) In my experience if you get the watering right the bulb will eventually dry out.
Also, the browning of the root tips could also be due to the new growing medium it is potted in stainingthe new growth tips brown.As Rowangreen said above I would not repot either as the medium looks fresh.

By the way the root tips at the top of your pot look really really good. can't really see the bottom.

How often have you been watering it? for how long etc.. Have you left the pot standing in water? I ask as the roots of these are very thin and very prone to rotting.
Also, a good way of learning when to water is by using the 'skewer method'
Good Luck and keep us posted.

Bud · #7 03-08-2012, 06:14 PM

your roots are fine, the old pbulb is a little wrinkled but still has leaves so you do not want to get rid of it...you have a media that is new; it will be sometime before it holds moisture...so you need to water more(I dont know your grow zone and where the position of the plant is in your home=east window or south?) we could still add more help if we know your humidity levels, light levels...etc...