Root rings/bands on Phal

[CMroz]

Anyone have any idea what causes these rings on orchid roots? I've noticed it on a few on my plants. Besides those marks the roots seem relativity healthy.

I know I've seen a similar issue being discussed, but I've spent too many hours searching for it.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Just growth pausing for a while, then resuming again. Could be a response to getting a little more water for a while, then less, then more again, etc.

[CMroz]

Thanks Orchid Whisperer! I thought I saw an image like this related to some kind of pest or disease so it's good to know I don't have to worry about it too much.

[Ray]

You are drastically underwatering that plant!

A properly grown phalaenopsis should have continuously-growing roots with green tips (sometimes yellow or red, depending upon the light intensity and species in the background). If you begin watering that plant more, they will appear, but probably will have another one of those "rings" where they currently end.

[CMroz]

Yikes! Thanks Ray. It's one of my only plants that I haven't switched over to semi-hydro, so it's on a weekly watering schedule with everything else. I'll have to increase it to twice a week! Thanks for the advice.

[SteveJackson]

Sorry but I do not have any idea regarding this.

[TomThumb]

It's definitely a watering schedule thing or a repotting adjustment etc. I notice this on my vanda seedlings and especially on my hoocoglossum (vandaceious) but It rarely happens on my phals since they're established and robust plants.

I haven't really figured out my holcoglossum yet. It's vandaceous but seems to need a lot more moisture than any of my other vandaceous types. It came in a plastic basket with large bark so i transferred it over to sphag in a basket and it seems to like it as all the root tips reactivated and are growing slowly.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by TomThumb

I haven't really figured out my holcoglossum yet. It's vandaceous but seems to need a lot more moisture than any of my other vandaceous types. It came in a plastic basket with large bark so i transferred it over to sphag in a basket and it seems to like it as all the root tips reactivated and are growing slowly.

It reassures me that I'm not alone in thinking that Holcoglossum roots are slow to reactivate! I got one in the spring, lost many roots to rot due to an inappropriate medium, and have been pampering it (in loose sphag in a pot). The only root to grow is the one that was still in active growth back then...