Misting aerial roots

[whalloper]

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone out there mists their aerial roots. Recently, I have noticed some of mine have began to shrivel. I have pretty good humidity, so I didnt think this would be a problem. Would misting them help? If so, how often?

[PhalNewbie89]

I try to atleast get mine wet each time I water. But sometimes I mist them on other days too just to ensure that they don't dry out too much.

[whalloper]

Originally Posted by PhalNewbie89

I try to atleast get mine wet each time I water. But sometimes I mist them on other days too just to ensure that they don't dry out too much.

Thanks! How long have you had the plant with aerial roots, and are they all still plump?

[mehitabel]

For me, misting is way too much trouble for a healthy plant-- too many. A few sickies and tinies get misted with superthrive or other root hormone from time to time.

As phalpal said I wet them each time I water. I also put sphag on top of the coco chips in my pots. New roots tend to stay in the vicinity of the sphag. As roots start to appear above the mix, I add more sphag to cover them. I only have one who has roots all over that I haven't been able to handle that way, and I just let it be the way it insists on being.

The sphag does dry out a lot between waterings, but even so it keeps the medium underneath moist, giving the roots a more humid atmosphere.

I don't have the kind of plants that put out aggressive upward growth with lots of aerial roots everywhere (like some epis). Don't know what I would do with those-- chop them back? LOL.

With having to grow indoors all winter, and keeping the blooming plants indoors, it's just too much to worry about giving enough light, etc. I have to let humidity take care of itself with humidity trays and not worry about it. I might try Orchideas wet sham trick this winter to raise humidity a little. But mostly I try not to think about it.

[PhalNewbie89]

Mine aren't really sticking up all over or anything I just have a couple with parts that just won't let me cover them. They all seem to be doing really well. Just had to clip a couple the other day because they had gotten bad but I dont think it was because of them sticking out..I had to clip several covered roots that day too :P

[Dendian]

I have a Den. Nobile NOID that has a kiki half way up the stalk with arial roots. As I have low humidity here (I struggle to keep it about 45% even with pebble trays and a water fountain), I mist the roots when I water the plant and mist it when I mist the whole window (to try and bring the humidity up in the morning). None of the roots have shriveled, and the kiki is about 12" long now and the roots are about 2" long. I also have a kiki that didn't grow, so just have ariel roots and a nub. They also get misting and are plump. I have had the plant for 5 months and have had it re-bloom twice, so I think it is happy.

I have another Den. Oriental Smiles that I got with a kiki with no leaves, and the arial roots are all shrivled up and flat against the cain. I started misting them and I can see they are still green underneath so they are still alive. No green tips though.

I guess if you have enough humidity they should be ok without misting.

Don't know why they would shrivel in good humidity though. When you get them wet are they green underneath and do they have green tips? If not, there might be a reason other than water that they are shriveling.

[whalloper]

Originally Posted by Dendian

I guess if you have enough humidity they should be ok without misting.

Don't know why they would shrivel in good humidity though. When you get them wet are they green underneath and do they have green tips? If not, there might be a reason other than water that they are shriveling.

My humidity is about 55-60% in the grow area. I did have a mold issue which I was recently able to get under control, maybe that caused it????

[digitalgate]

high humidity with low air movement will encourage the growth of mold. Mold spore can be eradicated with UV light present in natural sunlight.