On Jun 13, 5:52 pm, "John Varigos"
wrote:
Ray

I have noticed the same thing with my Vandas. If you rub the old part when
wet it seems to green up quicker. Is there a protective coating on the
older part of the root?
John

"Ray B" wrote in message

news:nZXbi.7251$c45.4905@trndny06...



I just returned from a business trip, so sorry if this is late, but I have
a vanda in the GH that is totally unpotted, hanging from a wire.

The roots that grew last year sort of stopped over the winter. This
spring they all stated to branch like crazy. The "old part" greens up
rapidly when sprayed, the new growth does not.

From that, what do we speculate?

--

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

"danny" wrote in message
. ..
Someone in our local society mentioned that the water temperature can
have a big effect on how quickly the roots turn green. He said warmer
water turns them green faster.
-danny- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Speculate? Ok now my head is starting to hurt! LOL
Thinking does that to me sometimes G

However, it leads me to think the older roots or older parts of a root
are quicker to grab water. There must be something on or in the newer
velamen resistant to water uptake ... some kind of waxy coating?
Perhaps to facilitate sliding through .... wait, there is no
substrate.
Maybe to protect the newest parts of the root from drying out as they
grow? Doesn't water and nutrients flow throughout a plant?
Regardless of which part of the plant absorbs it? Roots are important
to a plant and extra protection to the more fragile ( or delicate?)
tips while they are developing seems reasonable. Perhaps once the new
root stops growing, rests, then begins growing again ... that part of
the root loses the waxy coating ( or whatever it might be) and now
absorbs water quickly.
Gotta go ... daughter's done work and I gotta pick her up.
Have a great day!
Bob Campoli