Roots and aging leaves

[mthurston]

So I have around 10 Phals. A lot of them have aerial roots. When their roots grow, it seems that the root starts at the base of the place below the leaves and the flower spike will grow in between the leaves.
With that said, i have two Phals that have roots growing in between the bottom and second leaf. Does that mean the bottom leaf is starting to age and will probably die off soon?

[tucker85]

Not necessarily, it's pretty normal for phals to grow roots in the space above the leaf.

[mthurston]

Gotcha! Thanks :-)

[Ray]

I agree with Tucker.

I speculate that aerial roots are the plants' attempts to grab onto something for the purpose of mechanical stability, sort-of like "guy wires" on an antenna tower, and you'll not they have those from higher up, but just at the base.

[mthurston]

Ah! That makes sense explained that way, too. Thank you