The word of the day is: ROOTS.
 

Roots roots roots roots roots! Why do I like 'em so much? I dunno, but I just find them beautiful when they're healthy. Maybe I also like them because I can usually see the growth from day to day.


https://i.postimg.cc/26brZZK7/20220710-144200-2.jpg
New roots on Brassocattleya Hawaiian Agenda Florida Winter. It was taken from the pot it was shipped in around Mother's Day this year and mounted, and almost all roots were lost within two days. The root on the right isn't damaged as far as I know, it just went into a hole in the bark.

https://i.postimg.cc/jj9rtjSw/20220710-144630.jpg
Roots of three orchids, Phalaenopsis NoID above, Dendrobium NoID middle, and mini Phalaenopsis NoID below.

https://i.postimg.cc/NjstxVnM/20220710-145151.jpg
The first new root I've seen on Brassavola nodosa.

https://i.postimg.cc/hjdRjqXC/20220710-145610.jpg
The first two roots on the same B. nodosa to anchor to the cork.

https://i.postimg.cc/tCKRXXW0/20220707-111703l.jpg
Dracula diabola in a vivarium being watered with low pH but high TDS aquarium water wicking up the mount. The roots were dying faster than they were growing for a while but to the left of the new growth in the green moss there's a root attached to the mount and it's still got a good tip, and at the bottom there's a root that looks good. Since this photo was taken some new roots have emerged under that new growth, I don't want to get my hopes up but I think it just might work.

https://i.postimg.cc/2jt3CQKS/20220712-125128-2.jpg
One more, the root on the left appeared overnight. It's the first on the Phal. Mituo King Bellina I've seen attached to the basket.

I'm curious about low pH but high TDS water. Most minerals in water (calcium and magnesium carbonates) raise pH. How did you achieve that?

I don't grow Draculas because of heat. But I thought they prefer very low TDS in water.

Organic material - I used regular compost-enriched potting soil for the base and have lots of wood and plants which have been growing in there for four years. Some of the calcium goes into snail shells, and I include organic material as part of TDS. Last I checked the pH was ~5.5 and it was stable enough that I quit checking, I don't remember how long ago. Now I'm curious if it's still close to that. And I'm sure they do prefer very low TDS as far as minerals go but in low pH things behave a bit differently, different ionic ratios and generally more solubility so less likely to form salts. That said I'm still pretty sure that's not going to work. There was another Dracula in the same pot and I've mounted it in a drier location where I need to mist it but it looks like the lighting is a bit too low or I'm not watering enough (I've been letting it dry or almost dry - I'm thinking about going daily but I've had a leaf rot already so I'm hesitant), and it's growing very slowly.

FOC - I am with you. I LOVE ROOTS! Thanks for the pics.

Dracs like to be pretty wet. They don't grow fast... Mine are growing under very different conditions... outside. In plastic baskets with sphagnum, in a shady area that gets watered daily, so the sphag stays quite damp. Don't know how that translates to your "tank" but their roots definitely don't like "dry". Maybe more sphag on the mount? Would keep the roots wetter while letting the leaves dry. Mine seem to put up with the heat during the day but appreciate the nightly cool-down. (The flowers are open in the morning, partially collapse during the heat of the day, and open up again the next morning)