How to tell an orchid flower spike from a root? Look at the color for the difference

People often say that growing Phalaenopsis orchids well is no easy task, and that beginners simply cannot keep them alive. Is that really true? Actually, it depends on two different angles. Some people grow them just to take photos, or because everyone else is growing them too, so they certainly have not really figured out how to care for them, and of course those people cannot keep them alive. But if someone is the type who treasures flowers like life itself, and every day browses websites or reads up on different flower-growing tips, then naturally they can grow them beautifully, making them a gorgeous sight in the home. That said, if you want your flowers to be even better, what other tricks are there for daily care?

During the transition between winter and spring, the weather is still fairly cool, and this kind of temperature is the most suitable for Phalaenopsis orchids to sprout flower stalks. However, many friends say they cannot tell a flower spike from a root. The following analysis discusses how to distinguish between the two.

To tell them apart, first look at the position. A flower spike does not grow just anywhere; it only emerges from the middle of the small bulge directly below the leaves, and if it is an old flower spike from last year, it may also grow from the sides near the leaves. Roots are different, since their position is not fixed. If something emerges from other parts below last year's old spike, it is most likely a crystal tip.

Next, look at the shape. The tip of a flower spike is flat with a small pointed corner, and from the side it looks like an inverted triangle; as time goes on, it will also branch as it grows. The tip of an aerial root, however, is round, and over time it becomes like a small cylinder. The color is different too: flower spikes are mostly purple, while roots are white.

Second, the growth direction can also help you tell them apart. Flower spikes generally grow upward, giving a feeling of vitality, while aerial roots mostly grow downward, or they stretch toward the leaves and grow flat and perpendicular on both sides. They grow this way to get close to the soil and absorb nutrients.

Finally, look at the color. Flower spikes are dark green or purple and stand out especially clearly on the plant, while once roots grow to a certain length, their color always turns white, with only the crystal tip still carrying a bit of tender green.

In addition, beginner growers should note: if you see a small green tip growing in autumn, do not get excited and assume it is a flower spike, and do not fertilize too much at this time, because the leaves may later grow smaller and smaller and become thin and weak. Instead, you can focus first on growing the seedling strong, because only with a healthy root system will the leaves be sturdy.