Healthy vs. sick roots - How to tell if your orchid has healthy roots

One of my viewers suggested that I show the roots of various orchid types, how they should look like if they are healthy and how they look like if they are sick. So in this video I'll show you a few orchid species and varieties so you see how healthy roots should look like and when you might have some root problems.

[Silje.L]

I know it is super irrelevant, but i really love your voice and accent, it is so soothing lol

[kimberlycuster]

THANKS FOR TAKING YOUR TIME SHARING YOUR KNOWLEDGE.A Friend once told me if you want to learn something theres always someone willing to teach you. 😁

[marywajda]

My orchid looks amazing but the root are all brown and papery help

[Bgsqlila]

What happens if the root is green and good at the bottom but crispy and flat at the top/base of the plant? I have the "ph" kind of orchid.

[lauratejeda]

Dani, I just found three pale pink roots with bright pink tips on my plah! Amazing, right.. but what does this mean?

[danielawilner]

I have a mini Phal whose roots were green when I got it, so I didn’t water it, but it’s been almost three weeks now and they are still green, but shriveled. Is it possible they are actually dry but stained from algae, from being overwatered at the store? They look solid green but can’t find another explanation. They also look quite squished in their tiny pot. Should I water and repot?

[jacobnovozhenets]

What about Phal roots that aren't quite green but are more yellowish? These roots are also tough and don't feel weak or papery when I repotted. The phal I got was in moss for over two years! All the roots inside the pot are yellow (except for a few) but I managed to encourage 5 new roots that are healthy to grow. Why are these roots yellow? Thanks Danny.

[stefaniek]

The healthy roots on your Phal have some brown spots as do mine, so I came here wondering if that is also normal

[Rosemary]

Your videos are always so helpful, Thank you :)

[KIKIC]

danny please PLEASE HELP ME SAVE MY ORCHID, I really dont know what is happening...the roots of the top seem extra dry and whitish....and on the bottom are green ...and I think I saw a bug getting through the medum...please help

[LelaLuv]

Hi Danni, I am fairly new to orchids and I really want to make sure I'm taking care of my Phal correctly as I develop this new interest. I recently repotted when I discovered it was being suffocated by the sphagnum moss it came in. I repotted it in the same sphagnum moss and kept it aerated and open as you advised in your video after cutting off the dead roots. The leaves and stem are all healthy and so are some of the roots. However there are others that are broken and simply holding on by the tiny inside thread. These ones have dehydrated a lot faster and I'm wondering if they're detrimental to the overall root system. Please can you advise me on what to do :) I also need to know if it's okay that the roots are exposed at the top of the pot and are not covered in moss? My logic says yes since phals don't need it in their natural habitat. I really enjoy your videos and I must say that watching them has further increased my fascination, thank you :)

[Animefreak]

Some of my roots on my phalanopsis orchids start out healthy then have a dead, mushy spot, but then has continued healthy root growth over the dead spot, should I cut back to the dead spot and suffer all the additional healthy growth, or leave it be and maybe have a problem in the future? Thanks

[antonialopez]

Love How You present this video. I learn a lot from them. My orchid will look amaizing. Thanx to you

[apos]

Hi Dani, thanks so much for your videos! Very nice job done there!

I have a phaleanopsis for 3 years now and recently I am having an issue with it. Some of it's aerial roots are becoming thin and shrivelling and it started yellowing the two bottom leaves. How do I prevent this from happening? Any idea what the root cause might be? I have a humidifier close to them, but it emptied out for 3-4 days and didn't see it to refil. Could it be it?

[jrjmc]

I have had no luck getting my plants to rebloom ! Then my wife gets one and she gets four keiki without trying. Thanks Danni . Will keep watching

[rhythmandblues_alibi]

Wow I just discovered the orchid I'm looking after for my mum which I thought was a cattleya, is actually a dendrobrium! Thank you!

[quinetteosmond]

I have a phal and it has 2 leaves. As another leaf forms 1 leaf gets yellow and fall off. Help

[jachu]

Good information. But why are the rootsvof my Phal in dark green or dark brown almost black BUT they are firm and not mushy. They are also growing light green tips. The leaves are healthyband even growing new leaves or roots. It is in FWC. So im very confused

[yarbooa]

One of the best videos I’ve seen! Helped me a lot. Thank you so much.

[SureFireShannon]

I have a purple phal with a couple roots with reddish/purple roots. I read an article (I can't remember the title) that said it's common for some purple orchids to have red/purple roots. Do you have any experience with that?