Beautiful fat roots.

[horses_too]

Just for grins, if you want to see some CRAZY roots, start using that fish and seaweed fertilizer! We have a less-than-polite term for it on Peter's forum, and I politely call it 'Low Tide' - but I can see amazing root changes since starting to use it (I alternate that with MSU on a weekly basis). The vandas show the most extreme response - with the root diameter double or triple what it was before. Positively obscene! But the phals love it and I've seen comparable if less dramatic/visible results both in root and leaf health.
By the way, I do grow in a greenhouse, and the only change accounting for the response has been that stinky but wonderful stuff. My phals are both mounted (on cork, treefern, or in tipped vanda baskets with a bit of sphagnum) and potted (primarily in straight NZ sphagnum). The vandas are grown essentially without medium.

[Brooke]

But the smell of the Low Tide makes me nauseous

Brooke

[horses_too]

Ah, the sacrifices we make for our orchids, eh? Yeah, it's pretty ripe, and I'll admit I wouldn't want to use it in the house. I've taken to wearing a shower cap when I'm using it in the greenhouse - my hair is below my waist, and if I neglect to put on that shower cap, I have to make a mad dash to the shower to wash my hair and get rid of the smell, which is a project.

[Blueszz]

Thanks for showing!
I love roots

Originally Posted by Gwenchanter

My phals in ceramic pots don't grow as many ariels as the ones in ceramic because the ceramic "breathes" more.

As far as the fatness of the root, the fleshy part of the root is really just a protective covering of the real root inside. I think the other poster's theory about protecting themselves against dessication is a good one. Also, young plants will always have thinner roots then older plants so it could just be a simple case of them maturing.

Speaking of roots, I have this plant growing the craziest ariel root I've ever seen. Just thought you all might enjoy seeing it.