Chiloschista lunifera's roots turning yellow

[timrannosaur]

Hello! Having some trouble with my chiloschista lunifera. Recently its roots are turning yellow. Not sure if it's a lack of sunlight, disease, or if I'm overwatering? A bit alarmed since as y'all know the species is so dependent on the roots

[camille1585]

I don't know what's wrong with your plant, but hopefully others can help you. I'm guessing that it's supposed to be leafless? I don't know this species at all.

[Bud]

Do not put it in direct sun. Put it in a bright shade. That kind of orchid plant do not have leaves but the roots are the ones who do the photosynthesis but direct sunlight will harm them.

---------- Post added at 09:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:57 PM ----------

You may read my recent posting. This is a cousin of your plant.

Chiloschista usneoides (Asian Ghost Orchid)

[plantzzzzz]

I haven't grown this species specifically, but I have grown other Chiloschistas.

The roots are covered in algae and moss, which is probably hurting their ability to photosynthesize properly.

Also, if their environment is so wet that that amount of algae is able to grow on the mount, it's too wet and there's not enough air movement. It should be drying pretty quick, despite daily watering.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

1 Reduce water. It needs to dry out completely between waterings. While it does need to be watered frequently, it does not like to stay wet for extended periods of time.

2. Do not increase light. In the wild, they do not grow in bright locations.

3. Do not remove problem roots right now. If you must remove roots, do so after the plant has fully recovered for a good length of time.

[CROrchid]

I have the same plant, it came covered in those algae (and/or cyanobacteria), but they do not seem to have caused any damage to the roots, however my plant has produced 4 leaves at the beginning of the summer which it still maintains. New root growth does not seem to be covered in them in my case, but the mount itself remains covered.

I have mine placed in a large plastic bottle (not a very pretty terrarium, lol) with 2cm hydroton clay pebbles at the bottom half-submerged in water due to low humidity in my home. During the summer I watered them twice daily, now I do once daily. As others have mentioned, you really want it to dry out in less than 2 hours...prolonged wetness will result in rotting of the roots and once they die, they seem dried which further adds to the confusion and might make some people water them even more. The way I do it is, I drench the plant with the mount in water for 10mins, then put it back into the "terrarium", but with the top opened to allow air circulation and accelerate drying. Once two hours or so have passed, I just put the top part back on and wait til the next day.