Ray,
You are much more likely right than I am, since you know so much more about
orchids than I do. So the wiry roots are dead? Hmm, good to know. When I
learned how to repot Phals, I was told to leave the ones that only had wiry
cores left as well, but maybe as you say the idea was to provide additional
mechanical anchor.
Joanna

"Ray" wrote in message
. ..
I may be wrong (I don't think so, but you never know), but if the root has
lost its fleshy part, and all you're left with is the "wiry core", they
are
not "OK", but certainly are "less healthy", they're dead!

They might function to provide a mechanical anchor when repotting, but
they
do nothing as far as absorbing water or nutrition for the plant.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Artwork, Books and Lots of Free Info!