How to take care of these roots - Phal
 

Hello :)
I have one question for advanced orchid lovers :) My Phal went crazy with these aerial roots - but they are growing from center of my Phal and I don't know how to take care of them! I sprinkle them with water to keep them hidratated, but I'm not sure if I'm doing well. They all are growing from the same level. And yes, this is one healthy plant, roots in a pot are nice and green. Please help me with this. Thanks in advance! :waving

I would continue to do what you are doing at this point. They look nice and healthy. Mist them with water to keep them looking so nice. Water your Phal like you are doing as its healthy and looks great. The aerial roots are growing upwards because they are reaching for the light. I wouldn't change anything your doing.

Thank you Cntry :) I noticed that new spike is growing under top leaf :o That's kinda unusual, on my other Phals they grow lower. This sure is one weird Phal :D

I guess no need to open new thread :) Update on this situation - roots are going wild :) I'm planning to repot this Phal when it stops blooming, and I'm not sure if I should put these roots in media or not... I would love to pack it all inside, but I don't know if that is right thing to do. Please help! :waving

If you can get them into the pot without breaking them, you can do so. Or, it's fine to leave them.

I have this little Phal that has been growing these crazy aerial roots since shortly after it's last repot, a bit over two years ago ;)

Great growing! After seeing your other Phal thread I think it's fair to say you're doing plenty right. I second the others in advising you to mist the aerial roots, I'd say at least every couple days, but focus just on the roots so you don't keep the medium wet all the time.

Now if I may speculate a minute, use my imagination really. I'm no scientist but perhaps your plant is quite happy, but it wants to 'branch out'. Thus it's growing these new roots to - as it would in wild - attach elsewhere. Not only would it further secure itself but more roots means more water, more sunlight (photosynthesis) and just more happiness in general. So maybe it's searching...?

A lot of plants are more beautiful for having gnarly roots. I think phalaenopsis orchids should be among them. In the wild, they would grow with roots reaching wherever they wanted to go, and I don't know why we can't give them the same freedom within the forced confines of pots.

Those are really actively happy looking roots. I would pot them up in a bigger container, so it can still roam around inside freely. It will always find ways to go out, and I just let them go, it likes it that way. I gave mine a modified version, there is vertical mount inside wrapped in hygrolon, and I carefully got the thick roots looping around. But it still managed to let a root escape through a side hole, so I just let it be. It likes that much freedom to roam around the pot and out.

As long as I see the roots happy, am fine with it!:biggrin:

@WhiteRabbit Your Phal looks amazing :)

@Lotis146 Thanks for kind words :) I like your theory, who knows how far these roots will go :D

@Raqsharqi Maybe I will leave them out, just to see how far will they go :)

@tarev I guess I should leave them as they wish since they look healthy :)

Thanks everyone for kind answers!