Phalaenopsis with shriveling roots

[jrca]

Hi! I am new to the orchid board. Love all the info I have gained and wonderful to be able to ask questions. I have not seen the answer to this question, although it may well be here. I have several phals. They are all blooming or putting on new leaves. Is it normal for the roots to shrivel and new ones to be continually coming on? Or should they just add new roots and keep the old ones? Other than this they all seem happy. Thanks

[jkofferdahl]

Well, there are kind of two answers to this question.

First, a Phal will lose old roots just as it does old leaves. It's all part of the natural cycle of growth.

However, older roots on a Phal can remain viable after leaves grown around the same time fall off. Typically I'd say that if the roots are shriveling, and you aren't overwatering, the plant is doing pretty well but is asking for a bit more humidity.

[RosieC]

Welcome to Orchid Board Jrca.

As has already been said your Phal roots may be drying up due to lack of humidity. It sounds like they are otherwise healthy though.

[jrca]

Thank you. I will try increasing the humidity. During the winter my humidity was 75 to 85 percent. Now I see it has dropped to 68 percent. Didn't notice that! Thanks!

[jkofferdahl]

Hmm. That should be quite sufficent. In fact, it's higher than what my Phals get, and they have nice, plump, healthy roots. Are you sure that your humidity is that high? The symptoms are those of it being lower.

[jrca]

My hygrometer, or whatever it is called, sits right in among the orchids. It says 71 percent today.