Phal - Purple/brown root tips

[MateoinLosAngeles]

Hi everyone!

We had a few weeks of a bit of a cold spell in Los Angeles and noticed some orchids getting a bit of a purple tone under their leaves seemingly overnight. I didn't think much of it but just in case I supplemented with Magnesium at the beginning of the month (on top of regular fertilizing with K-Lite).

I have this Phal White Dream "V3" that is making daddy very happy with plenty of new roots. I'm used to seeing root tips being anywhere from pale green to brown, however, what surprised me was that the root tips pictured below went from bright green to maroon (again) seemingly overnight. The speed of the change is what caught my attention.

I'm assuming nothing out of the ordinary but any tips (no pun intended) on whether these maroon tips are telling a story I'm not reading correctly?

Thank you!

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[Roberta]

I think those just look like normal root tips. If the plants are outside, bring them in, it's still too cold for Phals to be outside. (Can't tell from the photos but looked "outdoors-ish". If indoors, then I'm assuming that the house is a bit cool. If so, try to keep them as warm as possible.

[MateoinLosAngeles]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I think those just look like normal root tips. If the plants are outside, bring them in, it's still too cold for Phals to be outside. (Can't tell from the photos but looked "outdoors-ish".

They're indoors but near a window! I have a hygrometer/thermometer by the window lowest temperature it reads is 65ºF and overall house temperature stays between 68ºF-70ºF. I wonder if any cool breezes could've caused any purple coloration, but they do look like regular root tips to me. Just surprised they changed from bright green to maroon so quickly.

[Roberta]

I'd suggest moving them away from the window - light may not be ideal but they can tolerate less-than-perfect light for a few days or weeks better than they can tolerate low temperatures. It will be warming up soon, and you can put them back in their normal place then.

[Dimples]

My phals are near a bank of windows, and we keep the thermostat set to 64F overnight but I have everything on heat mats. The phals on display are in spots that are directly warmed when the air comes on (unfortunately shortens bloom life) so they stay a little warmer too. Any chance you could add a heating mat?

[MateoinLosAngeles]

Originally Posted by Dimples

My phals are near a bank of windows, and we keep the thermostat set to 64F overnight but I have everything on heat mats. The phals on display are in spots that are directly warmed when the air comes on (unfortunately shortens bloom life) so they stay a little warmer too. Any chance you could add a heating mat?

All my Phals are on heating mats! But it is also true that this particular one is probably 6 inches tall and the deli cup it’s potted in is 5.5 inches tall, so add that up, top of canopy to heat mat is 12 inches. I think these roots are healthy and maybe the overnight change of color is a normal thing. I’m just not sure what the color changes can be attributed to. My only understanding is that purple is either low Magnesium or cold. I keep the house between 68 and 72 year round for personal comfort (might change if bills keep going up), so my only guess is that it could’ve gotten a chill breeze in the upper 40s or mid 50s at night that maybe triggered that reaction. For the time being I’ve moved them back from the windows a little bit. Luckily my plant shelf is arriving this week so my Phals will be in a different spot under artificial light only.