a question about my seedlings

[norris]

I recently bought the 10 species seedling special from Oak Hill Gardens. Most of the plants arrived with a few roots growing out of the pots, but Oak Hill did a great job of packing and I only had one plant with a broken root. It has been a few weeks since Ive had them, and I noticed this week that a few of the plants air roots have dried up (shriveled), and look dead. I'm wondering if it is normal for that to happen when a plant is trying to get used to living in a home as opposed to a greenhouse. We had some really hot temps this past week with low humidity in the 20% range. I was misting when I could, but working during the heat of the day. Should I be concerned?

[norris]

I recently bought the 10 species seedling special from Oak Hill Gardens. Most of the plants arrived with a few roots growing out of the pots, but Oak Hill did a great job of packing and I only had one plant with a broken root. It has been a few weeks since Ive had them, and I noticed this week that a few of the plants air roots have dried up (shriveled), and look dead. I'm wondering if it is normal for that to happen when a plant is trying to get used to living in a home as opposed to a greenhouse. We had some really hot temps this past week with low humidity in the 20% range. I was misting when I could, but working during the heat of the day. Should I be concerned?

[patticake]

I would say that if the rest of the plant looks o.k.- that you're fine. I have had a similar reaction in a few plants, but once they got used to their surroundings, they grew new roots. Do the rest of the plants look o.k.? Firm leaves, etc.?

[norris]

Yes, the plants look really good, it only happened to 3 out of the 10, and even those 3 look good.

[norris]

By the way, I got an error message when I made my post, so I re posted it, now there is two of the same post. Does anyone know how I can delete the duplicate post?

[patticake]

I wouldn't worry then. The change in humidity is probably a shock. Just keep caring for them as you do, and I'm sure you'll see new air roots soon!

[norris]

Thanks Patti, that is what I was hoping to hear

[kmarch]

I don't know how anyone can diagnose a potential root problem without knowing what kind of orchid we're talking about. What if the orchid is a high humidity/moisture orchids and is in the process of being stressed by the low humidity?

What are the orchids you're talking about norris?

By the way, I deleted your duplicate post.

[mayres]

As far as I can determine it is not only normal for these little guys but for the big guys as well to have air roots dry up in their new surroundings vs. where they came from - I've seen it a lot over the few years I've been growing. Funny you should mention this topic - as you know I also purchased a group of lil' guys just before you got yours. One interestingly had a root about four inches long hanging from a two inch pot - I still have not repotted any of mine - it is still hanging from the pot - looks cracked up near the pot, but seems to be (figuratively AND literally) hanging in there. I wouldn't be overly concerned if the roots INSIDE are keeping adequately moist.

[kid a]

I would try to get a small humidifier or something to help raise that humidity up or place them on a humidity tray or tray of wet rocks. I had this happen to some aerial roots on sederia japonica when I brought it home and when I increased the humidity it started new aerial roots. If you can get your humidity up you'll be ok. It will grow new roots. If you struggle to get your humidity up on a regular basis it might be difficult to grow new roots. I would definitely try to find a way to give them the humidity. I prefer ambient humidity over misting just because I am paranoid about crown rot, lol. But as long as your plants are happy, and if misting works well while you are at home that's good. I wouldn't be too concerned if you can get a humidifier or something for them.

[jerrymeola]

Surface and air roots are common in greenhouses with daily watering and high humidity. Even moving them from someone else's greenhouse to mine will usually cause the air roots to dry off.

Often it is the crowded conditions on a growing bench that keeps the moisture in the roots. Even when I move a plant from a crowded tray to a better area to see it, the roots will dry off. The plant has more roots then it needs and a healthy plant will just grow new roots in a more appropriate way for your conditions.

[norris]

Thanks mayres, I haven't repotted any of mine either, I figured it was best to let them get used to my growing environment for a while. 3 of my plants, all Phals. have roots over 4" hanging out the pots
Thanks kid a, I do have some large metal pans that would work great for humidity trays, I think I will set something up, I'm sure we will get more days of low humidity like last week. Thank goodness it is back up this week, it's now 51%.

[norris]

Thanks Kmarch, and Jerry
Kmarch, my order came as 5 Catt. species, and 5 Phal. species. The plants that had roots dry up are; P. amboinensis, C. maxima, and C. intermedia.