SLC best friend rooting question
 

Hi im new here.

I just watered my orchids yesterday and noticed some new root growth around a new leaf shoot of my SLC best friend 'jane' orchid. today when i woke up the new root growth is gone. I am trying to figure out what could have caused it to drop off over night. It was just starting out maybe 1 to 2 mm long. I have the plant under compact fluorescents with a fan blowing towards them and a water fountain in the area that the fan blows towards to increase humidity. I will admit i pulled some of the dry dead plant tissue that usually surrounds the base of the leaves off that was near the new root growth. I may have damaged it then but if that's not the case I was wondering if there is any other reason for new roots to disappear overnight. Thank you for your time.

Maybe snails? It's the only thing i know that could make a root disappear in one night....

also... I wanted to know what causes otherwise healthy roots to turn brown at the tips and in spots along the root. This is happening on the roots near the surface (cant see the roots below the surface). They are hard roots, not mushy or rotten. White/beige in color. Are they drying out too much/ not enough humidity? Any other reason... would snails or slugs cause this? I don't think i have snails or slugs because I'm indoors but I could be wrong. Anyways, Im just trying to really figure these plants out as they're an ever growing interest to me and I'd like mine to be as happy as possible. Thanks again.

Welcome to the OB. It's hard to play doctor with so little info. Perhaps because you are a newbie you should begin with the beginners section of the OB - just a suggestion, so as to start at the beginning and learn more about growing orchids in general. Good luck

Hi there! Welcome to OB! I've noticed that when root tips get bumped, even just slightly, the tip will turn brown and stop growing. I have also noticed that if you continue a regular feeding/watering schedule that sometimes the brown tips will start to grow a new green tip. This is especially true of the finer rooted plants.