What is going on with Ascosenda Kagawara Kultana Red??

[elitebettas]

My Kagawara Kultana Red is growing its roots straight up in the air, instead of downwards. Also, two of its leaves grew fused together? Am i doing something wrong? It was a Better Gro bag baby, now hanging outside in partial shade....?

[kmarch]

Well it's unusual for the roots to grow up like that but they look healthy and if they're growing I don't think you have any cause for concern. Same for the fused leaf, little malformations like this happen sometimes with complex hybrids and aren't a cause for concern if the plant is generally healthy.

On a related note, something seemed odd about the name you gave for your plant. I did a bit of checking and found there is no hybrid registered with the name Ascocenda Kagawara Kultana Red. I suspected the "Red" was just a note on the tag telling the grower what colour the flower was. That sort of thing is common but not part of the name. Even so though, there is no Ascocenda registered with the name "Kagawara Kultana." I found an Ascocenda Kultana Red and an Ascocenda Kultana but no Ascocenda Kagawara Kultana Red. You might want to go back to the nursery you got the plant from and ask which is the correct name.

Happy Growing!

[snowballsarebad]

Haha, that is funny looking! Though it looks healthy to me.

[PhalPal]

I agree, the strangest thing I have ever seen an orchid do!! Sorry but I had to laugh!
Like Kevin says - looks like some fine, healthy roots. Keep us posted to what they do next.

[Vivienne]

It looks like a giant smile! Agreed - those look healthy! I'm pleased that you posted this picture. I acquired an Ascocenda to rehabilitate and the lowest leaves seem to be fading. It looks like this is somewhat normal (it appears you have lost lower leaves as well). When I got this plant it had no healthy roots... now it's growing a new leaf up top and about 10 new roots.
Fused leaves... I have that on one of my complex hybrid paphs. The plant is absolutely fine despite it.

[WIB]

How often do you find that a seller can actually answer a nomenclature question? I'm batting about 0.

[Vivienne]

LOL - good point WIB! I usually get home with a purchase and start researching the tag... which almost always has at least 1 spelling error or portion of the plant name out of order!

[elitebettas]

Yes I agree, that tag that came with the plant says exactly what I put in my title, lol. Oh well, vivienne, I actually took off a few of the lower leaves today before taking this photo as they were a bit descicated. I'll continue to watch it and see what the future roots do, lol-hopefully it blooms alright!

[arleneg]

LOL...that's an unusual thing to see -- roots growing upwards! Like others, I wouldn't worry. The roots are healthy.

[pikevi]

It is SOOO pretty.

I hope some of mine have roots grow that way too

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

I have thought that the direction of growth might be toward humidity, but it also may be affected by air movement direction, especially if the moving air was bringing more humidity. Just guesses tho.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by WIB

How often do you find that a seller can actually answer a nomenclature question? I'm batting about 0.

Naturally it depends on the seller. For a few I know: almost always, for others: never. The exceptional ones know their plants well enough to catch those mistakes and correct them before the plants are sold.

It just struck me that the basic standard of "correct" has become "exceptional"? That's interesting and a little dissapointing.

[chefatplay]

Elite, if I read your post correctly, you have your vanda outside. This looks very normal to me. My vandas are all outside and the roots are everywhere since nature is watering for me. I read in another thread that growers get their vanda roots to grow down because they are always watered from above and the roots follow the drain of the water. In nature, we have mist, high humidity, etc. I'm into very natural looking things and I like your vanda!! To me, it's healthy without interference. Good work.

[orchid_girl]

Very interesting I like it though and it does look like it's smiling....LOL

[Mercedes]

I have what I think is the same plant, mine was labeled Vanda Kagawara Kultana Red, also a BetterGro bagged orchid. Mine has one root growing straight up, the others are growing downwards or snaking around the slats or the basket. Mine's indoors in a SW facing window. Your orchid may be behaving oddly, but it looks happy!

[elitebettas]

Mercedes, can you post a picture of your plant?

[elitebettas]

Hey all,
Watering today, i thought i'd post a picture of my funny vanda we've been talking about, it's on the far left if you couldn't figure it out

[pikevi]

wow, you are a specialist in Vandas!! Nice roots.

[KenFL]

eletebettas
I have been reading the answers to your post about vanda roots growing straight up.
I too have a Vanda Britz's Hearthrop X coerulea with roots growing straight up!
Could be the weather and all the rain we have had in south Florida.