Air Roots only growing on one side.

[paamul]

I have a phal with air roots going crazy on one side and not growing on the other. I try rotating it but it doesn't seem to make much difference. There is also a root coming out where I'd expect a spike. Is there something wrong with this phal or that just the way it grows? Repot? See photos.

[RosieC]

There is nothing wrong with roots coming out where they are, I have some that come out like that. I also have ones that have sent aerial roots out from one side only one year, then the next year they came from the other side. I don't know why

Sometimes a lot of aerial roots can be an indication that those in the pot are struggling, but not always, sometimes they will produce them just because they want to.

Personally I would probably check the roots especially if it's been in that moss for a year or more (moss should really be changed every year).

[paamul]

Thanks, Rosie, I received the orchid as a gift this summer so don't know how long it's been in this pot but I do think a repotting is probably in order since it takes more than 3 days to dry out. I've actually cut holes in the side of the plastic pot to make sure the roots don't rot...

[Ben Belton]

My experience has been that the roots go in the opposite direction from the light. Maybe it is coincidence. It is my thought that the plant and flowers face the light, while the roots think they are reaching back for the tree. In our potted plants, light comes from different sides and the plants get turned on occasion, so sometimes the roots come from each side.

This is my theory... but it could all be BS :-)

[paamul]

Thanks, Ben. I have been turning the pot but it just seems to put out most of the roots to that one side. Maybe it's like me . . . I'm very right handed. Can't do much with the left. lol

[Ray]

Ben's observation is a good one, and I jives well with some of my own. First my theory on aerial roots on phals:

Structurally, a phalaenopsis plant is very unstable and vulnerable - big, floppy, heavy leaves sitting atop a relatively small base. In a storm, the leaves are veritable "sails" to grab the wind and potentially rip the plant out of the tree or break it off of its base. Aerial roots - which typically grow from a bit higher up in the plant - can act as "guy wires" to stabilize the plant, just like they do with an antenna tower.

As to Ben's comment, if the plant is "reaching out" to "grab hold" of something, it is likely the be the tree behind it, on the opposite side from the light, since the leaves will be growing toward the light.

It should also be considered that the shaded area away from the light might be cooler and moister, too.

Back to the "guy wires" for a moment, I did a test, and started moving all of my phalaenopsis into pots that are as close as possible in diameter to the leaf span of the plants. It looks odd, but since doing that, every single one has put those roots down into the medium, and none are wandering outside of the pot any longer.

Once caveat however: I can get away with doing that because I grow in LECA in semi-hydroponics. The LECA wicks the moisture level so effectively that it stays pretty even throughout the pot. If you try that with standard orchid media, it will dry from the top first, and through the pot walls (if clay) and along the medium/pot wall interface, leaving a soppy, suffocating mess in the pot center - right in the middle of the root mass.

[RosieC]

What you say sounds really good Ray, and I think you are right... both stability and light can affect it then. I know that on a Den kingianum I have the the keik's roots all point backwards from the window... pretty straight back with none coming forwards towards the light.

I wonder if roots on one side of a phal that has been rotated as Paamul's has could be because it's not so stable in that direction. That would actually match with the one I saw putting them out all on one-side followed by the other side the next year. I had re-potted in between and it probably was less stable on the side it was putting out roots

[tucker85]

I’ve noticed this phenomenon with cattleyas more than with my phals.. The cattleyas that I have in hanging wooden baskets grow almost all their roots away from the light. It makes perfect sense if the roots are trying to get to a tree trunk for support.

[paamul]

Hi Ben, Ray,Rosie and Tucker, Thanks for all the info! It has soothed my orchid soul. Being fairly new to this lovely plant, it's been wonderful to have a "go to" place to find out what to expect and what I may be doing wrong. I very much appreciate all the unselfish input.