Healthy orchid plant roots, such as the Phalaenopsis (moth orchid), are typically firm and white in color, with a few healthy-looking roots emerging from the pot. Aerial roots, with thick silver-gray velamen and soft green tips, are present in a healthy Phalaenopsis orchid. The potting medium in a healthy orchid shows signs of good air circulation and excellent drainage.
To check the health of an orchid, take a root checkup, as most roots remain hidden within the plant’s drainage pot. The appearance of the roots should be firm to touch, with no softness or sogginess. Healthy roots can range from silvery white and green to yellow and white, while rotted roots may look brown or black and have a mushy texture. Dried roots may be light brown to tan and feel hard or hard.
Well-watered roots are usually bright green and pliable, while water-deprived roots are greyish-white and can become dry or brittle. If your orchid has dry roots, take steps to rehydrate it immediately. Vibrant green roots are a sign of excellent root health, and if the roots are green, the plant does not need watering. If your orchid’s roots smell or turn brown or black, it is a sign of rot. Healthy roots are pale green or grey.
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So helpful! I’ve had this orchid for a year that I never really learned to care for and always forget to water. The leaves are still so healthy so I started perusal your articles and realized the only reason it’s still alive is because it’s in sphagnum moss so my once a month watering has kept it alive. I realized it was completely pot bound though! I just took it out and removed all the compacted sphagnum moss but now I don’t know what size pot to put it in. It was in a 4.5″ diameter x 5″ tall pot and was completely root bound, but I did remove some unhealthy roots. Should I put it back in a pot of the same size?
What about Phal roots that aren’t quite green but are more yellowish? These roots are also tough and don’t feel weak or papery when I repotted. The phal I got was in moss for over two years! All the roots inside the pot are yellow (except for a few) but I managed to encourage 5 new roots that are healthy to grow. Why are these roots yellow? Thanks Danny.
Hi Dani, thanks so much for your articles! Very nice job done there! I have a phaleanopsis for 3 years now and recently I am having an issue with it. Some of it’s aerial roots are becoming thin and shrivelling and it started yellowing the two bottom leaves. How do I prevent this from happening? Any idea what the root cause might be? I have a humidifier close to them, but it emptied out for 3-4 days and didn’t see it to refil. Could it be it?
Hi Danni, I am fairly new to orchids and I really want to make sure I’m taking care of my Phal correctly as I develop this new interest. I recently repotted when I discovered it was being suffocated by the sphagnum moss it came in. I repotted it in the same sphagnum moss and kept it aerated and open as you advised in your article after cutting off the dead roots. The leaves and stem are all healthy and so are some of the roots. However there are others that are broken and simply holding on by the tiny inside thread. These ones have dehydrated a lot faster and I’m wondering if they’re detrimental to the overall root system. Please can you advise me on what to do 🙂 I also need to know if it’s okay that the roots are exposed at the top of the pot and are not covered in moss? My logic says yes since phals don’t need it in their natural habitat. I really enjoy your articles and I must say that perusal them has further increased my fascination, thank you 🙂
I have a Phalaenopsid one! It took me a while to figure out its type and when I did I got some mediums for that one specifically and mine looks just like yours so I’m really happy about that! The leaves can get a little bit wrinkly though, is there a way to fix this? It also has only flowered twice but I’m guessing this is because I’m in WA and we don’t get a lot of sun on our side
Great vid Danni I now know what to do with my vandas a now just wondering is there anything I should when hanging my vandas in the window as most of my windows are South facing I lack sphagnum and Spanish moss and I was just wondering if there was another solution to keep the moisture while I’m away and rest up after the hard gardening you deserved it lol
I’ve come to your articles as I went on holiday and came back to find my orchid had quite had burns on two of this leaves. Where it has a large dark ring and inside the ring the leave is dry and powdery and white. If I cut this there would be two leaves left so is this OK for a orchid to survive. I’m not sure if it’s infected
I have a mini Phal whose roots were green when I got it, so I didn’t water it, but it’s been almost three weeks now and they are still green, but shriveled. Is it possible they are actually dry but stained from algae, from being overwatered at the store? They look solid green but can’t find another explanation. They also look quite squished in their tiny pot. Should I water and repot?
Hi, I love your website and watch it religiously. I am a beginner, my question is what about thick plump roots, with dark brown coloration? is this root rot? the root seems to appear very solid and healthy, but the color is confusing me. In your article 4:48 is a prime example of what i am talking about. Should i be worried? Thank you for your time and knowledge!
Hi Danni, I bought 3 mini Phalaenopsis orchids about 4 days ago and they weren’t in the best condition as they were on sale at the store. I thought I’d try my hand at reviving them, but I am unsure if what I have done was right. The florist at a nearby nursery recommended that because they were kept in pots without drainage, I should repot them in a mixture of bark and moss in a 5 inch pot as they had a vast root system. I was also told to trim their spikes and water them with a very small amount of low nitrogen fertilizer (2g in 5l of water). They seem okay, but how long would it take to know if they are mending themselves or just slowly dying instead?
Hello… I purchased this phalanapolosis orchid a few days ago. I did not notice all the spider white hairs on the roots and container until I got home. It also looks like the moss has molded. I have looked at your article with the roots growing hairs but im not sure if this is the same case. My question is should I repot? I have pictures if you would like to see. Please help!! Thanks!!