Firm Brown Roots

[dianecty]

Hi! I am new to the site and I have a question regarding roots.

When I trim the rotten roots off of an orchid, very often I see roots that are cream or brown. If I cut off the tip of this root, I see the thread inside. My question is, is this root rotten or not?

The reason I am asking is because I thought that rotten roots had to be soft and mushy. The one I am asking about is firm and yet it is brown or cream colored.

Thanks everyone!

[Brooke]

The general rule of thumb is if a root is firm, regardless of color, it is a viable root. If mushy, cut them off. Roots will pick up the color of the potting media and can anything from white to cream to green to brown to black.

If firm, don't cut.

Brooke

[kmarch]

Firm or crisp and white, green, creamish, or brownish is good. Leave these roots as they are.
Soft or mushy and grey, dark brown, or black is bad. These are probably rotten and should be removed.

Please note that it also depends on what kind of orchid you are looking at. For example, some Coelogyne have thin, hard, dark brown roots which for them are perfectly healthy.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

The only exception is some very dark, almost black, and very old roots at the back end of sympodial orchids. These are very firm AND dead. I think they are essentially petrified.

[thebest]

Brown Roots?i thought they were live roots.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by thebest

Brown Roots?i thought they were live roots.

They may be. It depends on what kind of orchid.

[Neenie]

Hey Dianecty, welcome to the forum. Where are you from? Most of my roots are white with green tips on the roots, since they are in the growing season. My are lovin the Worm Tea we just started using.

[BunnytheOrchid]

Both times I repotted my cattleyas, I worried about the roots because they looked so yellowy-cream colored, not green like I expected. But the roots were firm and apparently healthy when I was given advice, so you're probably ok.