Orchid Roots

[isurus79]

Seems like we (collective orchid growers) only y’all about roots when things go wrong (e.g. rot), but maybe we should talk more about healthy roots! I made a video to discuss some plants with really good looking root systems.

Here's the video: https://youtu.be/lp1Ke_YoPOs

[Ray]

Another great video, Stephen.

I was a bit taken aback by the comment that plants growing out of the pot are an indication suggesting a culture change is necessary. In nature, they all grow on the surface of something, don't they?

However, when I tied that with your pointing out the aerial roots on the ansellias, a "maybe he has a point" sneaked into my thoughts.

The size, shape, and location/configuration of aerial roots are quite "intentional". In a phalaenopsis, for example, in addition to just being more absorbers, they tend to function as "guy wires" to provide some mechanical stability to those big, floppy, "sails" of leaves. To me, that suggests that the "cultural shortcoming" is simply too small of a pot, as moving phals into very large diameter pots tends to result in the aerial roots submerging themselves.

As far as the ansellia is concerned, I have heard of those aerial roots being called "basket roots" as they tend to trap detritus that will ultimately become a source of nutrition. The fact that they are finer also seems to make sense, as that provides more surface-to-volume ratio, meaning greater absorption capacity.

So what I don't know is - if you fed the ansellias more, would they not develop the basket?

Then I have a bone to pick: calling the "string" in the middle the "real" or "true" roots is missing a lot. That "string" is the remains of the stele, which houses the vascular bundle, isn't it? All they really are is a set of tubes that move fluids up to the plant, and without all of the supporting cells between the vasculum and the velamen, they'd have nothing to move.

Velamen is a sponge to collect water and nutrients, but it is the cells just below them, which is what we see in the velamen-free tips - are what actually absorbs them into the plant and then transfers them to the stele for distribution.

[isurus79]

Ray, As always, good questions and comments! I always appreciate your feedback.

Originally Posted by Ray

So what I don't know is - if you fed the ansellias more, would they not develop the basket?

I've heard from Catasetum growers that when they fertilize more, they see fewer basket roots from those species that put them out, so this could be the case for Ansellia. It's certainly something worth checking out!

---------- Post added at 12:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:10 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Ray

Then I have a bone to pick: calling the "string" in the middle the "real" or "true" roots is missing a lot. That "string" is the remains of the stele, which houses the vascular bundle, isn't it? All they really are is a set of tubes that move fluids up to the plant, and without all of the supporting cells between the vasculum and the velamen, they'd have nothing to move.

Velamen is a sponge to collect water and nutrients, but it is the cells just below them, which is what we see in the velamen-free tips - are what actually absorbs them into the plant and then transfers them to the stele for distribution.

Yes, this is a valid point. I think in my attempt to simplify the topic, I may have gone a bit overboard!

[isurus79]

I'll post a video this weekend of how I potted (and divided) that Cattleya lueddemanniana