Dead Vanda roots?

[Paul Mc]

I have started soaking my Vandas for like 30 minutes to an hour in the morning recently. I've only bought Vandas in the past 8 months or so. However, I've noticed that many of the roots on one I bought don't ever turn green. My others have nice thick abd healthy roots that turn green in water. Some do on the one in question, but many don't despite all the thick healthy new root growths. Should these brown and small roots be cut off or should I leave them?

[Susie11]

I don't know whether you are supposed to cut them off but I did when got my vanda a while ago. I trimmed of the hollow ones and only had one really thick one left. It has since grown many new thick green healthy roots so I am glad that I did cut off the brown old hollow ones. Hopefully a vanda expert will offer you some reliable advice soon.

If they are firm and not mushy - I wouldn't cut them. From my experience those brown roots often produce new green root growths from the sides branching up.
Just my opinion.

[Paul Mc]

Interesting. They are just dried and not mushy. Some are broken and others not. Tons of new healthy roots from the center of the plant, but I wasn't sure what to do with these. I'll take a pic after I water this morning.

[tucker85]

You won't hurt anything by cutting off the dry, dead roots, but it won't do anything to help the plant either. It will only make it look a little nicer. I trim the old, dry, dead roots about once a year. Occasionally a root that you think is dead will surprise you and grow a new side root. By the way, I've trimmed healthy roots that have gotten too long and it didn't hurt the plant at all.

[Paul Mc]

Photo

I will say I noticed that some appear slightly green after watering, but just slightly...

[BradGC]

Yes I'm pretty sure they are dead, like tucker said, it won't hurt to trim one.
I'd just trim a tiny piece of one to see if its dry n brown inside.

I'm 90% sure that they're dead

[fishmommy]

personally I leave mine because they create a humidity zone around the good roots like when some people use spanish moss.

[Bud]

I dont see anything wrong with it, if it shrivels, shrink and turns brown it doesnt mean it is dead....dead Vanda roots just snap away and detach away from the main plant....the more roots you have the more energy it will give the plant to produce a spike.
The roots in the coconut fiber are robust whereas the aerial ones shrivel and browns....fishmommy is right....you need humidity on the aerial roots; try to spritz it in the morning as if it got some morning dew. Otherwise, you have a healthy plant in that picture.