can you grow a phal from a root?

[Erce]

Ok, at my work, thers one of those lady - that just know it all. You know, she thinks she knows it all! And sometimes she says somthing i just cant belive!

For example, here the other day she told me, that when she need some extra phals for frinds and and so, she just cut of some root from one of her old chids, and put them in some media and then she get new chids from that root? Can this be done, or is she just long gone?

[Duane McDowell]

There is meristem tissue in the root tips of all plants (including orchids). That said, I've never had success getting any actual growth out of root tips in the lab. I would be highly doubtful that it could be done In Vivo... Of course, since she is a co-worker, the best thing might be to compliment her on her superior abilities as a grower.

[Triffid]

Like Duane McDowell says, it can be done but as for Orchids....

I'd guess it is possible but only if you get the conditions just right. I'm supposing that if this Lady is not pulling your leg (so to speak) that she perhaps keeps them in the dark warm conditions to encourage it to shoot forth new leaves to seek out the light.
The Root itself (again a guess) would have to be incredibly healthy as what ever energy it has left in the root is going to be needed.

Interesting.... May give it a go one day, if for no other reason then to find out for sure.

....Or she's getting roots mixed up with Keikis

[PaphMadMan]

Years ago I saw pictures of what appeared to be a keiki growing on an aerial root of a phal. I think it was real, but I'm even more sure it is very very rare. And that was an intact root still attached to a healthy mother plant and all its resources. I would advise her to patent her method since it has huge profit potential.

[Bird Song Farm]

I won't go so far as to say it can't be done, but I'd ask her to bring in one of her babies before she pots it up so I could see what is going on.
In other words, "show me".
Al

[jkofferdahl]

I think I would just smile at her and say, "OK, then." It's obvious that she is the world's premier grower of orchids!