Roots

[charitysmama]

Hi, I am not sure if this is the place to post a question. But here goes. I have a phal with lots of air roots, but the leaves were wrinkling. I had it in a clear pot so could see that moss was starting to grow around the inside base of the pot. I unpotted it and it has hardly any subsurface roots. What is my next step? Can it be saved? I left it lying out on the kitchen counter and misted it a couple of times.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by charitysmama

Hi, I am not sure if this is the place to post a question. But here goes. I have a phal with lots of air roots, but the leaves were wrinkling. I had it in a clear pot so could see that moss was starting to grow around the inside base of the pot. I unpotted it and it has hardly any subsurface roots. What is my next step? Can it be saved? I left it lying out on the kitchen counter and misted it a couple of times.

Repot it. Cut away bad roots. Try to gently get the aerial roots into the pot; if they are growing in such a way that you can't, don't worry about it.

[mimigirl]

If aerial roots are a good thing then when to repot? I bought this dend this weekend and dont know if i should repot. I know i will get a great answer here.

[trdyl]

Originally Posted by mimigirl

If aerial roots are a good thing then when to repot? I bought this dend this weekend and dont know if i should repot. I know i will get a great answer here.

Great looking dendrobium. As long as the medium and the roots that are in the pot are in good shape then no need to repot unless it is going to grow over the side of the pot.

[Optimist]

In nature, there are no subsurface roots. Our insistance that these plants go in pots, against their nature is what causes rot and death. A phal in the wild uses its little suckers, like ivy to cling to a tree. And there it lives and dies. No potting mix change, no yearly repot no snug little pot. Since we live in houses in cities in the temparate zone (most here) we do not have the steam, nightly rain during monsoons, and other natural events.we end up keeping phals in pots because there is no other way to get enough steam or moisture to the exposed roots--which is what they would prefer if you asked them.

If your roots are flowing out of your pot, that means that the roots have been getting good moisture the way nature and evolution intended. If you got your plant from a greenhouse or grower and there are roots all over the place, try to keep those roots happy. If you can duplicate the events that made the roots go crazy. Some people think the roots are escaping. I don't agree. Roots were never meant to be in a pot. Unfortunately, you do need to live in the everglades or Viet Nam to really let your orchids do what they really want to do. We can only simulate their natural environment. A lot of people think or orchids as house plants, but they are environment plants. You just don't put an orchid on a table in the living room. You must do a lot more. It is like owning a snake or other exotic animal.

[Lilac]

Originally Posted by Optimist

In nature, there are no subsurface roots. Our insistance that these plants go in pots, against their nature is what causes rot and death. A phal in the wild uses its little suckers, like ivy to cling to a tree. And there it lives and dies. No potting mix change, no yearly repot no snug little pot. Since we live in houses in cities in the temparate zone (most here) we do not have the steam, nightly rain during monsoons, and other natural events.we end up keeping phals in pots because there is no other way to get enough steam or moisture to the exposed roots--which is what they would prefer if you asked them.

If your roots are flowing out of your pot, that means that the roots have been getting good moisture the way nature and evolution intended. If you got your plant from a greenhouse or grower and there are roots all over the place, try to keep those roots happy. If you can duplicate the events that made the roots go crazy. Some people think the roots are escaping. I don't agree. Roots were never meant to be in a pot. Unfortunately, you do need to live in the everglades or Viet Nam to really let your orchids do what they really want to do. We can only simulate their natural environment. A lot of people think or orchids as house plants, but they are environment plants. You just don't put an orchid on a table in the living room. You must do a lot more. It is like owning a snake or other exotic animal.

Woo hoo! I totally agree!

[Optimist]

Hey, I may as well be frank here. An orchid seed pod has millions of seeds. Do millions of orchids grow? No. In nature you'd be lucky if 5 or so actually find the right place. It is location, location, location in the orchid world. What everyone has here are seeds, seedlings and plants that have been tended and minded at each step in its growth by a professional grower, flasker, nursery, retailer. Then you get it and you haven't a clue and maybe the worst happens. I am here because maybe 15 years ago the first, second, and third orchid I ever owned died. Then, the 4th to 7th, and then I got the bright Idea that I should switch orchids. The 8th through 25th is still alive, three phals till at deaths door. Even I can Learn. What I know is that Orchids are NOT easy plants to grow. It takes time, interest, and failure to actually learn. All those big guys with a great greenhouse have bought and accidentlly killed dozens of orchids. They were noy born with ultimate knowledge. They studied their subject well and grew. I would rather not be one if these people who say it is easy.the riht combination of knowledge and enviroment is rare. I wish I cold find statistics on how many orchids were thrown away, by the florist industry, by the bbs, and others. Regular folks who want to grow orchids well are still a rare breed. For every delivery to a bbs, wm or lws, I'll bet less than 1/100 lives to see a second year. These are puppy mill orchids. Sad. What would you call that, a kikii mill?

[mimigirl]

Optimist i m so glad you told me that. After i buy a few, i panic. All i can do is find advice, do what i can and see wht happens. Learn from what i did, success or failure. I have to stop stressing and keep writing questions and taking notes. Thanks to all of you. I love this site.

[Optimist]

Originally Posted by mimigirl

Optimist i m so glad you told me that. After i buy a few, i panic. All i can do is find advice, do what i can and see wht happens. Learn from what i did, success or failure. I have to stop stressing and keep writing questions and taking notes. Thanks to all of you. I love this site.

Exactly. Do not stress. My advice is to join an orchid society, learn from masters, plan your purchases carefully, base them on the environment you are able to give. If you love phals, but cannot grow phals, hey, the phl dendrobium look like it. (Dends, cattleyas, and oncidiums are beginner plants, not phals. ) Choose only healthy plants. It is best if you can inspect them for health reasons yourself. (Ibelieve in never buying something you have not seen in person) Do not beat yourself up when you make a mistake. Become educated. Good culture trumps fancy fertilizers. Best wishes!

---------- Post added at 08:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:18 PM ----------

New orleans is perfect for orchids. Do you have a space, like a screened porch, where you can put them?