roots growing upwards - Orchid Board

VickiC · #1 05-16-2011, 05:31 PM

Hi everyone,
Could someone please tell me why these new roots are growing upwards and if there is something I can do to make them want to grow down into the S/H leca instead?

In the past, I learned that misting the top leca layer would avoid buildup caused by the often low humidity in my greenhouse-in turn creating an evaporation problem. I would think that the misting would rule out the roots "reaching up for humidity". Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I would appreciate your thoughts and advice.
Vicki

orchidsamore · #2 05-16-2011, 05:46 PM

You photo looks like a Phalaenopsis.

Genetically the roots grow up so it is normal. What is not normal for the plant is to be grown upside down in a pot, which is the most common way they are sold. The genus grows down from tree branches with the roots growing up.

scy · #3 05-16-2011, 05:47 PM

By no means am I an expert, but based on my orchids growing in s/h, I think it's the misting that causes the roots to reach up. My guess is that it's reaching for water/nutrients. I have low humidity, so I mist my dens in the morning but not phals for fear of getting water in the crown. With the dens, the roots do reach for the surface while my phal roots grow straight down towards the reservoir. My guess would be that the roots are growing in the direction of moisture / nutrients needed. I would suggest not misting and just flushing when it gets drier on top. The beauty of s/h is that you can't overwater.

zxyqu · #4 05-16-2011, 06:18 PM

Well first of all the roots look great. But I agree with scy, as the roots normall grow in the directions of water. I'd make sure the reservoir in your S/H setup isn't running dry. However, regardless I feel you'll always have a few roots that enjoy reaching for the sky. Gravity does eventually win, so at that point you can try to grow them down in the pot.

tucker85 · #5 05-16-2011, 06:57 PM

I agree that the plant and the roots look healthy. It seems like every plant has it's own personality and some just like to grow aerial roots. If the plant continues to grow healthy looking roots and leaves, I wouldn't worry about some of them being aerial.

VickiC · #6 05-16-2011, 08:59 PM

I re-read my question a few minutes ago and saw that I did NOT word my 2nd paragraph correctly At ALL! Obviously, my mind and my fingers were not working together at the time because I knew what I meant to type but my thoughts didn't come across as they should have on "paper". I want to thank and apolgize to those who replied to my question. Vicki

Ray · #7 05-17-2011, 02:37 PM

I doubt your feeding/watering/misting has anything to do with it at all. If anything, keeping the top moist usually encourages roots to penetrate the medium better.
About the only thing I can speculate about is that sunlight is overheating the top of the LECA????

calvin_orchidL · #8 05-20-2011, 12:17 PM

Have you tried a heat mat under your S/H?

Quote:

Originally Posted by orchidsamore

You photo looks like a Phalaenopsis.

Genetically the roots grow up so it is normal. What is not normal for the plant is to be grown upside down in a pot, which is the most common way they are sold. The genus grows down from tree branches with the roots growing up.

Jerry, I have to respectfully disagree - the idea of mounting the plants upside down (e.g. in your photos) is an invented method to prevent water settling in the crown. In the wild, plants do not grow like that. Check out

this youtube clip

or these photos. They do seem to grow 'sideways' attached to the sides of tree trunks, but the tops of the leaves are indeed facing upwards, and the roots go both up and down. I don't mean to be a d***, I just wanted to point out that in these epiphytes, roots aren't necessarily programed to go up or down.