Question about Catt root growth

[camille1585]

I only have 2 Cattleya type plants, and have had them for only a couple years.

I knew that many will produce new roots around the time that new growths are developing (either while the growth is growing, or after it has matured, or some variation of that). But is it normal to get 2 spurts of root growth from the newest growths? Both my plants produced new growths and roots in the spring, and I'm now noticing a second set of roots coming from those same growths.

I'm wondering if this could be a side effect of my supplemental lights that I turned on 6 weeks ago. My plants get good natural light in the growing season, but this is my second winter with lights and the second time that I see an massive explosion of growth (leaves, roots) within a couple weeks of the lights being plugged in. Though I didn't pay close attention to what the Catts were doing!

[isurus79]

Many Catts (and orchids in general) will have several flushes of new roots. Sounds like your plants are enjoying the conditions!

[Shadeflower]

Hi Camille, I'm not really sure if there is anything to worry about. I take rooting as a good thing, there is no detrimental time imo. In my exprience the orchids know what they are doing and when they are happy they either produce roots or flowers. If they haven't got enough roots they produce some more.
I don't think one should ever think oh no I got my orchid to produce roots, it won't flower now. It's the same mechanism that triggers it. In fact an orchid that is not actively producing roots is far less likely to flower in my limited experience. A growing orchid is a happy orchid. A dormant orchid, who knows. Like isn't it fascinating that when you cut an orchid leaf off it can stay fresh and alive looking for several weeks before it starts to wrinkle and dry.

I would keep light hours under 11 hours myself to not confuse them what time of year it is but I know lots that give theirs 12 hours throughout winter. As long as you increase it to 14 in summer I think that might be ok but I don't risk it and go down to just under 11 hours for 3 months in winter.

I've never paid too much attention, all orchids have different patterns but overall they do seem to focus on roots over winter, then in spring new growth, summer they mature, autumn lots flower and winter they produce more roots again. But honestly it's when they stop growing roots that something is not quite right. I have a few fusspots that I can't keep happy and I wish I knew what they wanted. Even though to start with lots of mine went dormant in winter I consider it more the exception these days than the norm.

Anyway if it helps...

I know I have talked quite general about orchids but that is because that is how it is amongst my collection.

The only ones that I feel literally do nothing over winter are my maxillaria tenuifolia's. They just do nothing over winter. I think every single one of my Cattleya's is pushing out new roots, I can't think of a single one that isn't.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Shadeflower

I take rooting as a good thing, there is no detrimental time imo.

Absolutely! Production of new roots - anywhere on the plant, or maintained established healthy roots is a good thing indeed.

Originally Posted by camille1585

But is it normal to get 2 spurts of root growth from the newest growths?

Definitely not unusual camille. New roots can sprout from old sites as well as new sites.