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So, I went away for a few days and the roots on this rhynchostylis… | The Orchid Oasis | Planta-community

MattL

So, I went away for a few days and the roots on this rhynchostylis caerulea completely shriveled. I was hoping it would put out new roots into the mix, but it looks like it’s putting out a new root between the leaves! It’s hard to see in the picture but if you look right next to the stem on the left, you’ll see it sliding out right in the crease of the second leaf from the top! Any advice here? If it insists on putting out roots nowhere near the bark, it’s gonna be hard to keep it happy!

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  1. Jen

    If I’m not mistaken, these orchids grow very much like vandas, and do produce aerial roots, correct? I could be wrong, but I think that just looks like any other root put out by monopodial orchids. 🤷🏻‍♀️

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    • Jen

      Based on the media you’re using, I wouldn’t think that it behaves like terrestrial orchids like Paphiopedilum or Phragmipediums. You could certainly try to keep that root misted, or maybe just keep some damp sphagnum moss around it until it’s long enough to grow down into the medium and stay a little more hydrated. Also, how can you tell the roots are completely shriveled? Is there a clear plastic pot inside the terracotta one? Or did you unpot it remove it from the media to check?

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    • MattL

      Good questions. I did take it out of the pot to verify the roots were kaput. I think you might be right about the roots; the problem was they never reached down into the medium at all, which is why it went kaput in just a few days. So maybe that’s just how it grows and trying to keep it in a pot this way is just the wrong approach? I was sort of hoping that this spring as it put out new roots it would seek out the water and grow down, but it looks like that didn’t happen at all so I’m open to a complete change of approach. All I know about this particular orchid is that I clearly am not making it happy.

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    • MeasomerPi

      My approach would basically be the same to Jen, except that I would increase air movement around the plant and watch it like a hawk. That much moisture close to the base of a leaf just makes me nervous. Let us know how it goes

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