Are these healthy Phalaenopsis roots? (with photos)

[My Green Pets]

These two phal hybrids were de-potted today and are sitting bare-root at the moment.

Phal 1


Phal 2


Phal 1 Roots


Phal 2 Roots


Some are really pale—is that bad?



Also some roots have white fuzzy stuff on them which I've outlined in pink in this next photo.



Is that mold/fungus? Do I need some fungicide?



I'm afraid after reading and reading, I still don't have a clear idea of healthy roots...every little nuance throws me off...there's so many gray areas...

[RandomGemini]

The roots look great, IMO! The pale coloring comes from those roots not being exposed to light, but that doesn't mean they aren't healthy. Worry if the roots are a beige-taupe sort of color or a mud brown to black color. That's rot. Yours look healthy to me.

As far as the fuzzy weirdness… I have no idea what that is.

[CPKidofAugusta]

It looks to me like those roots are dang near perfect. I don't thing i even see one dead root (unless you've already cut those away). The white hairs are nothing to worry about, completely normal. They're sorta like root hairs on other plants, except on other plants root hairs are for increasing surface area to gain more nutrients & water, while on Phalaenopsises (what is the plural of Phalaenopsis anyway?) root hairs dig into the bark of the tree so that the plant is firmly anchored and won't, you know, fall off due to wind or the weight of the plant. That one large piece of bark stuck to one of the roots probably has some of those hairs stuck in to it.

EDIT: These pieces of bark.

[Island Girl]

Yep, I agree, those white fuzzy spots are root hairs.. They are used to attach the orchid to the tree it's growing on. Perfectly natural! Those roots look perfectly healthy! Way to go!! As Gemini mentioned, the lighter colored roots are just ones that weren't exposed to light, and are just devoid of green from photosynthesis. Also perfectly normal.

Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it! Just takes experience... You're getting there!

[Miamiheat]

The day you run into bad roots you will notice right away. When they feel plump and hard to the touch = good. If mushy and slimy = rotten = cut them away.

[My Green Pets]

, I'm so happy to hear that they are doing ok!



So I guess I've just got to keep doing what I do and wait patiently for flowers...maybe they'll bloom in the spring...

[lepetitmartien]

The baby is perfectly normal. ^^

[thurrmax]

with roots like that i envy you.

[My Green Pets]

Thanks for the encouragement! Now they are all potted up in some questionable store-bought mix so we'll see how long they stay that way...

[My Green Pets]

Just a post-repot update...look what I just discovered!



Edit: And how fitting that this is my 100th post! I'm a senior member now y'all!