Let me jump in here. First, I've always called those vagrant roots *aerial*
roots. That's what I've heard them described as over time. Second, the
reason that some of them dry out is that they are not adequately watered.
They need a little extra care, since they don't have media to hold moisture.
Think of a Phal that's been mounted. All the roots will be the same, because
they all get the same amount of water.
Having said that, I'll tell you that many, many of our Phals have developed
large numbers of aerial roots over the last year. While there always have
been some, this is unprecedented. I mean, we're talking roots straight up in
the air, surrounding some of the plants. I believe it is due to a certain
amount of neglect due to *stuff* going on in our lives recently. It almost
appears that they are searching. And our Phals are in Aliflor and also have
healthy roots in the pots, so it's not rotting medium.
So we take extra care to completely saturate those soaring roots, and they
are doing fine, for the most part.
Jes' sayin'.
Diana
"Ray B" wrote in message
news:000001ca87cb$1531da60$04000100@fro...
"Prop roots"...I like that.
Seems to me that a guy wire or prop root is meant to stabilize the plant
in whatever direction it is growing, not necessarily up. Those big,
floppy leaves are probably pretty good "sails" in a breeze, so the guy
wires might help keep them attached to the base and rest of the root
system.
Ray Barkalow - First Rays LLC - www.firstrays.com
Orchid Plants, Supplies, Equipment, Books
Artwork, Free Services & Lots of Info!
-----Original Message-----
From: Steve ]
Posted At: Sunday, December 27, 2009 5:54 PM
Posted To: rec.gardens.orchids
Conversation: Phal Air Roots Question
Subject: Phal Air Roots Question
I like it. :-)
It reminded me of "Prop Roots". Have you ever grown corn?
http://www.backyardnature.net/roottype.htm Poor picture of prop roots
but interesting otherwise. How do orchid roots fit into the categories
on that web site? ;-)
One other thought... how does the guy wire or prop root idea hold up in
nature where Phals seem to grow flopped over anyway?
Steve in the Adirondacks
PS Prop root? That's not a prop root. Now THAT'S a prop root. (Imagine
my best Crocodile Dundee voice.)
http://img7.travelblog.org/Photos/12...Pandanus-plant
-1.jpg