| Dear Donkymom,
I would think that a little sunlight on the roots is somewhere in the "no consequence" to "helpful" range. As someone pointed out above, some types of orchid roots contain a bit of clorophyll which can make them look green. Where there's clorophyll and light, there's energy being generated for the plant.
If we look to how different kinds of orchids grow in nature, many of them are epiphytes which means they grow on other plants, mostly trees. They wrap their roots around tree branches and are often exposed. Phalaenopsis and Vandas both often have lots of roots exposed. Other orchids don't have exposed roots though. Paphiopedilum and Phragmipedium roots grow into pockets of leaf litter and are usually not exposed to the light.
Growers like the clear pots for many reasons, one of which is the practicallity of being able to see inside the pot to tell if the plant needs watering. They're great pots but usually a little more expensive than opaque.
Happy Growing!
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