Help! Broken roots/stems - Orchid Board

desirue · #1 09-13-2021, 11:28 AM

Hi! Are these broken roots or stems ...? My orchid was like this when I purchased it, but wasn't sure if these are stems or roots and if they might grow in the future? Should I be concerned about them? Thank you for any help!

Shadeflower · #2 09-13-2021, 12:13 PM

Hi,
two of them are old flower spikes. The lowest in the pot is just a root end that has dried up.

There are no worrying signs on this orchid. Everything is looking healthy and in good shape.

desirue · #3 09-13-2021, 02:20 PM

Thank you! I'm trying my very best to be an attentive orchid mom, but I feel like the more knowledgeable I get, the more worried/paranoid I get as well, lol.

estación seca · #4 09-13-2021, 02:22 PM

Orchid roots and plants don't always look pretty even when healthy. You'll figure it out with time.

K-Sci · #5 09-13-2021, 07:55 PM

I'd like to confirm the prior opinions. The roots you pictured look a bit rough, but they're perfectly fine.

If you'd like, I'd like to see what the rest of the plant looks like.
Just curious.

-Keith

desirue · #6 09-13-2021, 08:32 PM

Keith, I uploaded more pictures.

K-Sci · #7 09-13-2021, 08:52 PM

Hey, that's a very nice well-grown plant. It appears to be flowering for a second time from the same stalk, and it's branching at the base. It's in good condition or it wouldn't do either. Edit- and the roots look fantastic!

It's hard to tell from a photo, but the leaves look a bit long, so a bit higher light and it might grow faster, but it's definitely not in poor health.

-Keith

desirue · #8 09-13-2021, 09:17 PM

Do you mean I should have the plant a little higher, like maybe put it on a riser of some sort? I don’t know if you can tell in the picture, but the orchid is a bit lower than the frame of the windowsill. I’ve only been in my current place though for a couple of weeks. Prior to the move, it was pretty even to the window ledge on a dresser. If I moved it higher, would that help with the spike and leaf growth?

---------- Post added at 08:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:15 PM ----------

And thank you ( and everyone else! ) for your replies and advice, it is appreciated!

K-Sci · #9 09-13-2021, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desirue

Do you mean I should have the plant a little higher, like maybe put it on a riser of some sort?

I deleted my last post. I misunderstood.

If you are growing under lights, yes, raising it up a bit would give it more light.

-Keith

Shadeflower · #10 09-14-2021, 01:23 AM

good thing you showed the leaves. K-sci has already confimed that is what my phal ended up doing from too little light too this year. I'd say it took a good 6 months of too little light to cause elongated leaves.

You have only had it for less than a month so your lighting conditions will not have caused it but could probably do with more.

It sounds like a dresser or window sill is blocking some of the light. I've got houses blocking my light.

I'd try giving it a bit more light, especially in winter.

Then in spring you need to minitor the new growth. If the next leaf starts getting a bit thicker again then you have found a good spot.

If the next leaf is just as thin it can do with a bit more. You can easily end up giving too much light which will cause a sunburn so make small changes and observe how it does in response for a week at a time.

It could be that this spot is perfect and the previous spot just had too little light. They are low light plants but too little will affect flowering long term