Hair or Fungus, Leave old spike while new one grows?
 

Hi All,

I have a NOID Phal that I'm not sure has "hairs" on the roots, or a fungus.

Also, I obtained this plant from Lowe's in September, and the blooms fell at the end of October. I left the spike, as it is still green. However, it has starting putting up a new spike. Should I cut the old one so it will put more energy into the new one?

Many Thanks!

http://www.orchidboard.com/community.../IMG_00991.JPG

Note: Tried uploading pics, but error message stated they could not be uploaded due to a missing security token.

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I've posted pics to my member gallery, but I cannot post the link in this post....

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Hair or Fungus v.3? - Orchid Board Galleries

Link to member gallery

MissOrchidGirl has a Youtube video about this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyY0LmCS0Zg


They look more like hairs the way they sprout out from the sides of the root instead of a web like fungus, but I'm just a newbie.

Thanks,

I had already viewed that before posting, but the orchid she finally gets to near the end of the vid is not the same species as mine, nor do mine look nearly that fuzzy...so I'm still wondering.

I don't think that's fungus, but can't say for sure. Hopefully some more members can add their thoughts.

I added your pic to your post. In your gallery, beneath the image, are links you can use to post the image - just copy and paste one of the "linked" ones into your post.

Not fungus. Nothing to worry about.

If the wood chips have been over 1 year old, I'd change those out, or at least throw out the wood chips with the white stuff on it.

nevermind

Those are definitely root hairs! My orchids grow those all the time and use them to glue to bark, rocks, the insides of their pots, and so on.

If the plant has plenty of roots and the old spike is still green, I would try keeping it just in case! You never know if it might want to bloom again for you. In the worst case, this new spike may have a few less flowers or be slightly less spectacular than it could have been, and you can cut the old spike.

Best case? The plant is super healthy and loves you and blooms from both!
I would keep the old one if it's still green if only for experimentation.

Thanks everyone! I'm happy to know I don't have to worry with a fungus.

For the time, I'll leave the spike, but if I see nothing happening with it within the next month, I'll cut it to maximize my new spike flowers.

:)

Thanks again.

Root hairs.