How to get an orchid to produce roots?
 

I have a few plants that have very few roots. I also have one or two that have many small roots that have a black tip (my fault). Any ways how can I get them to produce more roots?

Stop trying so hard.

That's why the new roots have black tips.

Don't have to do too much, just let them do their thing. You just provide what you can at appropriate times.

Stop using tricks or trying to find tricks. Stop using shortcuts or trying to find shortcuts.

Just honestly grow an orchid.

Grow the proper way first, you'll automatically learn the correct shortcuts later.

Doesn't sound so cool or snazzy does it?

Just give good care and culture and this spring you'll see those roots taking off.
Joann

Hi prc11,

I guess first it would be helpfull for you to understand the particular watering requirements for the types of orchid you have. I guess that's part of what Phillip meant about providing what you can at appropriate times. Some species like to remain moist at all times, while others need the roots to dry out some between waterings.
Learning as much as you can about your orchids is the beginning of success. I have also heard people suggest using rooting hormone, but I suspect that may be one of those shortcuts or tricks that Phillip was trying to discourage.
I know someone here has found that watering with slightly warmer water has helped her encourage root growth with her phals, but who knows?
Hope this helps some.

Warmer water, hummmmm... Very interesting, not that I will try it but it is an interesting concept.

Yeah, I think it was RosieC that was talking about that. Just thought I'd throw it in there. She's not even sure if it was just her imagination, coincidence, or what last I heard.

Yup, yup! :)

I think there are more rewards to growing them the honest way first.

Different orchids have different root growth habits. If a happy oncidium had roots that looked like a phal (or vice versa) it would probably mean trouble. What kind of orchid has "Many small roots"? It might be ok.

The black tips do sound ominous - but is it just the tip or more? Usually rot will affect the root wherever - not just the tip. What did you mean when you said you caused it? Are you sure it isn't just the darker purplish color of an actively growing root? If your orchid has been "resting" or dormant and is now starting to grow - that can be a good and positive change.

If the plants are otherwise healthy, and your growing conditions are appropriate, then a little "tonic" or root stimulator won't hurt anything. I use Super Thrive, but many others (and many threads devoted to them).

Pictures would help.

OFF TOPIC TOTALLY -
What movie from the 70's had a character refer to "honest peas"? The talk about "honest growing" got me on the thought, and I'm having trouble shaking it.

As has been mentioned above, I've had success with luke warm water. That's for Phals, not sure if it's the same for cooler growing orchids.

Ray has mentioned recently that he got a tip off Ross to use a seedling heat mat under the plant.

But I agree with the comments above, generally healthy culture for the particular orchid you are trying to grow is a MUST. You'll never get good roots unless the plant is getting good general care.

Finally, spring... many types of orchids launch in to vegetative growth in the spring. In some that means leaves and roots, in some that means new growths which then produce new roots off the new growths (depending on the type of orchid).

Well I was repotting too late and I hit the very tips off. When I mean small rots I mean not to long. What I am very worried about is a Promanea orchid that was thriving and had unmatched root growth of any Promanea I had eve seen. Unfortunately I rotted most of the roots and it stared rowing more, but the tips broke off some of them. I also have a few cattleya's that I got off a division with no roots and I was wondering why they both on grew one root on a new lead. Finally, I have a few orchids that I got with little or no roots and are not growing any, I just wanted to see if I could get them to grow more roots.