Which type of roots is my Phal growing?

[Orchidflowerchild]

Originally Posted by Shikitita

Err... I don't know if thanking for the comments or apologising for having said something inappropriate or stupid...

My question was because I am not sure if they are gonna end up being aerial or going into the soil. And there is my worry, if they are going towards the soil, which seems to be the case of two of them, should I do anything as moving the bits of bark out and so on to "make space" or just let them "excavate" themselves?

Well, you have to learn somehow, don't you? never fear to ask!

ANd you shan't have to move anything, they'll find their own course down into the media.

-Ceci

[Shikitita]

Originally Posted by Orchidflowerchild

Well, you have to learn somehow, don't you? never fear to ask!

ANd you shan't have to move anything, they'll find their own course down into the media.

-Ceci

Thank you!

It just felt as if I had asked something wrong and some of the replies made me feel like an idiot. I know roots are roots, but when I said "type" I meant aerial or in the soil as that's how I understand them easier. I guess I should have asked, instead, where my orchid's roots would end up...

Thanks again.

[Orchidflowerchild]

Originally Posted by Shikitita

Thank you!

It just felt as if I had asked something wrong and some of the replies made me feel like an idiot. I know roots are roots, but when I said "type" I meant aerial or in the soil as that's how I understand them easier. I guess I should have asked, instead, where my orchid's roots would end up...

Thanks again.

Think of it like this: a ground plat reaches down into the soil to anchor itself. It digs deeper to seek water. In a tree, for most orchids, they send out roots to cling to the surface on which they grow for an anchor. Even in the wild, this may mean they wander into some leaf litter or moss. Nothing changes really, about that root, other than it has steadier access to water.

-Ceci

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by Shikitita

Thank you!

It just felt as if I had asked something wrong and some of the replies made me feel like an idiot. I know roots are roots, but when I said "type" I meant aerial or in the soil as that's how I understand them easier. I guess I should have asked, instead, where my orchid's roots would end up...

Thanks again.

Apologies if my answer made you feel that way, not my intention

I think basically it's very difficult to tell which way they will go. Like others have suggested just let them do what they want. I've sometimes moved bit's of medium to try and encourage them one way or another but it often doesn't make any difference and they still just go the way they feel like