Bleaching tannin-stained roots

[vegetalmatter]

Let's say I use to be much less wise and soaked my vanda in the same tub with other orchids.

While I no longer do that, my vanda's roots (although healthy) have a lasting reddish-brown stain likely due to sitting in the same soaking water with another orchid's cedar basket.

I really would like to return the vanda's roots back to their silver color. Is that possible? Is there a plant-safe bleaching agent for tannin-stained roots?

(Maybe very dilute laundry bleach??)

[Mr.Fakename]

On paper bleach won't kill your Vanda, but using aggressive chemicals on the roots isn't going to do any good either.

Depending on time and concentration it might even severely burn actively growing tissues, damaging roots that are otherwise healthy.

Not worth the risk!

[Ray]

The correct answer is “leave it alone”. It is doing nothing detrimental to the plant, while any effective treatment would.

[Leafmite]

I agree with Ray. Most substances that bleach roots tend to kill the roots while they are doing it.

The roots might naturally lighten over time, from exposure to sunlight (do not increase the amount of sunlight, though, just to lighten the roots), and being watered.

[SouthPark]

True! I agree with avoiding putting bleach substances on orchid roots.

True .... over a long enough period of time, the u.v. combined with watering may well break down and remove the colour. Or at least it will become lighter and lighter.

[estación seca]

I hope you don't dump your partner when grey hair arrives.

[SouthPark]

If your favourite orchid and your partner needed to be saved from a raging river and you had the power to save only one of them ....... which one ...........would ......


Just adding a tiny note that VM was only asking if it's possible to restore the colour of the roots to 'original' colour.

VM didn't indicate any intention of throwing away his orchid heheh.

[rbarata]

Originally Posted by estación seca

I hope you don't dump your partner when grey hair arrives.

You're mean, ES.
I don't understand what the problem is, vegetalmatter.

[vegetalmatter]

Thanks all for the advice

I know there's no problem, but I do think how a plant looks is one of the biggest reasons why we grow and for a vanda not in bloom, its roots are probably the most impressive and striking part. Not that I expected anyone to justify me using laundry bleach, I just wanted to see what I could possibly get away with.

But message received, stained roots are better than a dead plant and I will be leaving her ALONE

Originally Posted by estación seca

I hope you don't dump your partner when grey hair arrives.

Well I do think how our partners look is one of the biggest reasons why we–

just kidding

Not to redirect the blame but my partner is the one who poked me to post this question since the vanda hangs right in our living room