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Originally Posted by ospylac
Hey Ross, Are your two Haraellas with wildly differing root sizes the same age and parentage? The older the orchid, the bigger the roots and leaves would be.
Genetics plays a role here to be sure. Different orchids employ a variety of strategies for water uptake and storage. Phalaenopsis definately use their roots, and their thick leaves for water storage. Orchids rather uniquely use all portions of the plant (except the flower!)for water storage. So mass is storage whether its leaf, root or swollen stem (pseudobulb) does not really matter; it's a water savings account if you're an orchid. The larger the proportional mass of the plant, the more able it is to survive a drought.
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that's definitely true, and part of what I was getting at with the original post.
all plants have water storage mechanisms, some of which more efficient than others. I was trying to understand better how the plants take up water, because watering is the one of the most easily modifiable aspects of home growing. and water storage inside the plant definitely plays a role. for instance, my oncidiums: big fat pseudobulbs, filamentous roots, and high uptake rates from the roots. this seems suited to a culture method that provides a constant source of moisture, such as s/h, and sure enough, they're doing great. my masdevallia: thin roots, decent uptake rate, but no pseudobulbs and relatively small leaves. needs a little damper than can be provided with s/h, so I've got it in straight sphag, and it's also doing great.
anyway, I'm a scientist at heart, and I have to understand the "why" of a process. all the culture advice of do this, don't do that, etc is meaningless to me unless I know the reasoning behind it. so I'm just trying to search out explanations.
anyway, I hope I'm making sense. this has definitely been an interesting discussion so far!
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