How to judge cultivation conditions by looking at orchid roots

Know your cultivation by looking at orchid roots -- repost [Cymbidium Capital]

Good orchid roots can be divided into four situations: 1. Orchid roots white, with crystal tips, length appropriate [according to some orchid books, the appropriate length of an orchid root is about 80% of the length of the orchid leaves], uniform in thickness, and new roots can grow again from old orchid roots. Such orchid roots are the best, indicating that the growing medium is suitable and the cultivation method is correct. 2. Orchid roots white, with crystal tips, uniform in thickness, but the orchid roots are rather long and rather thin; this is mostly due to being on the dry side or lacking fertilizer, and in the future you can slightly increase water or add fertilizer. 3. Orchid roots white, with crystal tips, uniform in thickness, but the orchid roots are rather short and rather thick; this is mostly due to being on the wet side or having too much fertilizer, and in the future you can keep things slightly drier or use less fertilizer. 4. Orchid roots white, with crystal tips, length appropriate, but on the same orchid root the thickness is uneven; this is mostly due to being on the dry side or lacking fertilizer during one period and then being on the wet side or having too much fertilizer during another period, and in the future just keep management balanced and consistent. Yellow roots mean disease, black roots mean rot. Poor orchid roots are generally yellow and black, without crystal tips or with inconspicuous crystal tips, and these can likewise be divided into four situations: 1. Orchid roots yellow, indicating that the orchid roots have been damaged by pathogens, chemicals, stuffy heat and steaming, freezing, and so on; in the future pay attention to sterilization, ventilation, cooling, frost prevention, use of low-concentration chemicals, watering thoroughly, and not watering during high temperatures. 2. Orchid roots black; black orchid roots manifest in various forms: some entire roots are black; some are black outside and white inside; some are white outside and black inside; some are white outside and inside with a black layer in the middle; some have a section of the orchid root black; some have black tips, and so on. Orchid roots turning black are mostly caused by growing medium that is not breathable and does not drain, too much water, and heavy fertilizer, with heavy fertilizer still accounting for the majority; in the future choose a growing medium that drains and breathes, use less water, and use less fertilizer or no fertilizer. 3. Orchid roots hollow, with the outer skin intact and white, and the inner layer rotted and hollow; this is mostly caused by being short of water for a long time, and in the future do not let them go short of water for a long time. Old roots being hollow, or a section of a root being hollow, may be due to the orchid root not contacting the growing medium, and in the future pay attention to this when planting orchids. 4. Orchid roots white, with a part of them dead and damaged; this may be due to pathogens or pest damage, and in the future pay attention to sterilization and pest control.