Pahl Repot With Aerial Roots

[Sharyn]

I’ve started this thread regarding the phalaenopsis and these top roots growing out of the pot so we can all learn more and what to do about them. Only two of my Phals have this situation. We’ve learned from Kevin that these roots are not normal - that the plant is seeking the right kind of environment, however, many of us have these top roots growing all over and sometimes are not quite sure what to do about them.

I have nothing to lose with experimenting - $16 plant. The media is very deteriorated and it needs repotting but I’ve held off because it’s sending up a new a flower spike. I can cut the spike off if necessary. So, a couple questions:

1. Roots growing out of the pot are dry (my low humidity area), but most of them are still firm. - some cracked and hanging on by a thread. When repotting, I would trim the cracked/broken roots, but should I try to bury the remainder in the media? Not sure if I can do that without placing it too low in the pot. Or should I just remove these aerial roots?

2. I’d like to change the media all together. It’s presently in a bark mixture and has become very porous and holding too much moisture. Recently purchased phalaenopsis peat base media from a grower - have several of his plants in this peat media and it seems to work for me. Usually, I stick to the same type of potting media, and that has been mostly bark mixtures. I’ve found that it’s tough to get the right balance with bark so the phal doesn’t dehydrate after repotting. My concern is changing the media completely. Since I’ve never done a 180 on the media, what are your thoughts?

[mayres]

Sharyn -
I would never remove aerial roots - I just put them into the pot and so far everything has always worked out well. If they are dried up or just hanging on by a thread I would remove them. I repotted most of my phals last July and since then they have grown lots of aerials all over the place - some of them are flying high in the sky six inches or more. Others are only growing into the pots - and NO DIFFERENCE in the culture between plants - to some degree it appears to be genetic - the amount of aerial action. For me the roots are as interesting as the rest of the plant - enjoy them! Once you get used to a closed mix I think you will find it superior to medium or coarse bark - I have not forgot you and still plan on sending you a sample of coir mix one of these days.........
Enjoy those orchids! mike

[Aniko]

Hi Sharyn - I completely share Mike's opinion and experience. My readings sustain all that.I'm quite amused of these funny features going nowhere. I try to keep them happy giving some extra water spray or just touching with wet fingers: they sip the water instantly and turn green.

(When are broken and tortured, they doesn't look well, indeed...)

[Sharyn]

Mike & Aniko: Thanks for your replies. I think I'm going to bite the bullet in a couple weeks. I'll repot this one in the peat based mix & follow your suggestions. I have a twin of this orchid, so just in case things don't work out too well, I'll still have a spare.

Mike: You already know how I'm heavy handed with that coir, but I'd still like to try it. If I kill this one with the peat mix, I'll still have one more to practice on.

[Aniko]

Sharyn - This Phal looks so healthy and strong that you can't easily kill it. Good luck and think positive .

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by Sharyn

I’ve started this thread regarding the phalaenopsis and these top roots growing out of the pot so we can all learn more and what to do about them. Only two of my Phals have this situation. We’ve learned from Kevin that these roots are not normal - that the plant is seeking the right kind of environment...

I think there's been a small misunderstanding regarding my root comments (from the post titled a question and some pictures). It was not my intent to say that the Phals roots that grow out of the pot are abnormal, but rather to correct the misnomer that they are 'aerial' roots. There were comments in that thread (and in other threads) that implied that Phals put out 2 different kinds of roots, 'normal' terrestrial roots and aerial roots. This is not the case. The roots we have growing out of the pot and wandering around are the same kind of root we have growing down into the pot. They may look a little different because of what they are exposed to but they are the same.

Orchid roots seek out something to hold onto, moisture, and nutrients that will sustain the plant. It is my opinion that they go looking outside the pot if they're not finding what they're looking for in the pot. This is just my opinion and I recognize that others may have another opinion on this (afterall I am primarily a Paph grower and have only 5 Phals). I do not believe these wandering roots are abnormal, on the contrary they're doing exactly what they normally do, go looking for the things they want. I do not think they should be cut off unless they are clearly dead. When I repot my Phals I put them down in the mix (gently to avoid snapping them off).

Thanks for letting me clarify. If anyone has questions about my post, let me know.

[tom499]

I have found my phals which have many roots compacted in the pot do like to put out roots out of the pot. These do look very similiar to the normal roots, but of course do shivel and dry up.

The photo i will post may (or may not ) help to clarify what an aerial root looks like. This is from my biggest phal, which now has lovely thick roots, a cm or more in diameter.

But the root i want to show is the thick grey/silver one. From what i have read, the silver colour means it is an aerial root, and has its own chlorophyll for photosynethesis. The roots are grey when dry, but when are wet will turn green. This is because the roots have taken in moisture, so the plant "thinks" that it is humid enough for it to photosynethise from the roots. (this involves opening stomata to let CO2 in and O2 out, which will invariably cause water loss. This is most obvious in vanda's which have many aerial roots, and the change from silver to green is apparent.

As a side note, some plants put out aerial roots when their soil becomes too saturated and stagnent, though i think this is more to do with swamp plants.

*The biological explaination there has been done with school biology learning and abit of thinking, do not take it word for word *

heres the picture of what i think is an aerial root

[palito]

Maybe someone who has mounted phals in a greenhouse can clear this? Do mounted phals have the same grey roots going into the air, or do all the roots attach to the substrate?

[tom499]

There is a layer of dead cells on aerial roots called the velamen, which becomes transparent when it absorbs water ( dont ask me how , be something to do with turgidity) so then light can reach the chlorophyll etc as i mentioned before.

Here is a picture of the root a few minutes after misting.

[kmarch]

I give up...I tried...I failed...I quit....

[tom499]

You are right kmarch. They will have roots attach to the substrate, but as orchids are blind They will send out roots in other directiions in search of new holdings. I guess it could be argued that all the roots of an epiphyte are aerial, as in the wild phals will not have their roots buried in compost or bark.

[fred]

oh Kevin you can only do your best mate.

you havent failed sp dont give up somthings take time

[Sharyn]

Kevin: Don't please don't give up. I truly appreciate the clarification. When I was referring to removing some of those top roots, I only meant to remove the broken or dead ones. I was confused by the other post and thought there was something wrong with my own culture of the plants. I've had roots like Tom's, growing up to the sky. Eventually, they get dried up and don't look so pretty like his. That's when mine start breaking or hanging by a thread. When I repot this, I'll try my best to tuck them back into the media.

Now I understand, roots are roots! (except for every six weeks with my hair dresser )

[jerrymeola]

Phals normally hang down from branches and not grown upside down in a pot.

If they grew up like we have them in pots they would all die of crown rot in the first rain storm. There is no crown when they grow down. Also the bottom of the leaf (when in a pot) would face the sun in the wild and is not light sensitive. The other side is super sensitive because it normally only gets bounced light. When mounted I grow Phals in Oncidium light levels or higher.

Because of this I believe the roots are genetically engineered to grow up looking for the branch on which to attach. I have hung many and usually find the roots will grow straight up and attach to the mount the whole way.

Back to the original question about removing roots. I always remove rotten or dead roots, I never put roots in the pot that were outside the pot (the velum is different and too easy to rot before it gets established) and always replace all the potting medium when re-potting.

But one person's preferences is not best for everyone, so you have to listen to everyone and do what sounds best for your growing environment.