Root Problems in S/H brown spots.

[GinaStarSeed]

Hello. I am new to orchid growing and need some help from more experienced growers. I switched around 25 orchids to S/H over a month ago. They had some yellowing leaves at first but most seem to have adjusted alright. A few still have yellowing leaves sometimes. Also some of them had old puesdobulbs that just totally rotted.. not sure if that is normal. Anyways, I unpottws two to see how the roots were doing. The one I will show in the photo literally had zero roots left. I cut them all off and potted it in S/H. Also, I have had a layer of spagnum moss on the top of the pellets to help with moisture. Should I leave it or remove it after new roots start? It has a ton of new root growth and a new top growth that is 4in tall: the thing is that the roots are pretty white and most of the tips are yellow not green.: and the worst part is they have these brown spots all over them. Almost like something pressed up against them and made them start to rot a little there. Nothing too big or mushy but all the roots are covered with the brown spots on big orchids I uprooted to check on. Only a couple tips were gone and kind of black st the very top of the root. The roots are a bit translucent also. The orchid in the photos is a gamma orchid , the large ones with the giraffe like spots in the flowers. New to orchids and really love them. Hope someone can help.

[Ray]

It appears that the brown spots are primarily on the old parts of the roots, not the new growth, and either way, everything looks fine.

Be careful with sphagnum on top. If it crumbles and goes down into the pot, it can clog airflow.

[GinaStarSeed]

thanks for your help, ray. All the roots you see are new growth so the brown spots are on the new roots. Maybe you meant it isn't on the brand new tip portion. Some of them the whole middle part of the root seems to be browning. Is this normal? I though healthy roots should be white or green. What about the slight translucence? Is that normal? Do you recommend I remove the spagnum moss on top? Do you just leave the top drier? I am so happy to have folks to help me with this process. I want to have a big orchid greenhouse one day! Also do you ever let your resevoirs dry up or do you keep them waterd all the time? Thanks so much for your help.

[Ray]

If the older parts of the roots existed before moving the plant into semi-hydro culture, I would expect them to ultimately fail and decompose.

No, the S/H pot should never be allowed to dry out. If it happens when you away on vacation, don't sweat it, but generally, that should be avoided.

Remove the moss or not, that's up to you. Keeping the medium moist bottom-to-top is preferred.

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

The old roots usually die after moving to S/H. That's why it's important to move plants only when they are actively growing new roots. For most Phals and Paphs, that can be all year. For Cattleyas you have to be more careful.

[Ray]

One more thing: Too late for you, but it may help others.

I do not recommend a "wholesale" changeover to semi-hydroponics. It is best to move one plant, and get used to what that means to your part of the growing experience. Then add one or two more of the same type, once you're more comfortable with it.

Once you're happy with them, knowing that different plants will react differently to the entire combination of cultural parameters, you can experiment with others.

[nogreenthumbs]

Are you talking about the light brown spots that are all over the place? To me that just looks like where the roots have been touching the leca. Could that just be dust/color transfer from the leca or a mild pressure bruise of some sort?

Either way (and I'm very novice at this stuff, practically a baby compared to Ray) the roots don't look like there's anything wrong with them. I would think that even a plant repotted out of bark would have spots like that on the roots.