Bright red roots

[harpspiel]

I don't think this is a problem, the plant and roots look healthy, just think it's cool. This morning I noticed this deep red growing tip on my Maxillaria schunkeana:



I've only had this orchid for a month, and there weren't any roots this color when I put it in the tank, but now there are a few new roots this red. From reading about it, maybe it's a response to high light, like the anthocyanins that red-flowered plants get on leaves? The leaves aren't turning red at all and it's about 12" from the LEDs, so I didn't think the light was very high.

---------- Post added at 12:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:49 PM ----------

It's a little hard to get pics, it's on the back of one of my main cedar trunks, but here's the plant from two angles:

[orion141]

Prior to me killing mine ( ) I also remember mine having these color roots. It is a pretty cool little plant, enjoy!

[SouthPark]

Red colour roots ----- no problem at all here. And looks nice too.

I read that - at least for leaves - the pigmentation ----- is due to some processes occurring where some chemistry related stuff occurs when the light is bright, and it is a mechanism (involving the process that just so happens to result in different colour) that helps the plant to spread or remove heat build up (to a certain extent that is) ------ that would otherwise destroy the leaves (if the heat isn't removed).

[isurus79]

The red roots are definitely an expression of high anthocyanins. This is also true for many orchid genera and can give a hint of future flower color in immature plants. For example, you can get a good idea of many Cattleya seedling flower color if you can see the roots. Check out a batch of seedlings and buy the oddball with green root tips (maybe an alba?) or super dark red/purple root tips (maybe a rubra?).

[Mr.Fakename]

Originally Posted by isurus79

The red roots are definitely an expression of high anthocyanins. This is also true for many orchid genera and can give a hint of future flower color in immature plants. For example, you can get a good idea of many Cattleya seedling flower color if you can see the roots. Check out a batch of seedlings and buy the oddball with green root tips (maybe an alba?) or super dark red/purple root tips (maybe a rubra?).

That's brilliant!

[Orchidtinkerer]

it surprised me on my maxillaria marghinata the first time I saw it too.
A few neofinetia varieties have purple roots which makes them more interesting.
The marginata is so scrambling in growth the roots tend to dry and brown very fast like the ones in the picture next to the purple one as it has comletely outgrown its pot and I can see why not many grow the marginata now. In a few years time it will have taken over my entire windowsill...

[harpspiel]

That’s interesting, because the theory I’ve heard is that it shows up in plants with red flowers, but the marginata doesn’t appear to have much red. I also have a Maxillaria minuta, which does have dark red flowers, and its roots are not red.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by harpspiel

That’s interesting, because the theory I’ve heard is that it shows up in plants with red flowers, but the marginata doesn’t appear to have much red. I also have a Maxillaria minuta, which does have dark red flowers, and its roots are not red.

What color are the blooms?

Edit- I re-read the post and realized you gave the color of the flowers! lol Whoops.

The red root tips are indicative of strong anthocyanin, which may or may not appear as a dark flower. It definitely helps to know the different color forms of a given species when picking out seedlings using the root tips as a guide for potential flower color.

[Orchidtinkerer]

I generally like dark and black flowers but the Schunkeana just looks too dark for my liking.
Marginata flowers look pretty much the same just with yellow petals and a purple blob in the middle.
At least the schunkeana stays small. M. Marghinata has a few tiny flowers, no scent which it was supposed to have and is a big plant that spreads in all directions, similar to a Tenuifolia. The Tenuifolia has a nice smell so a better choice imo.