can anyone identify what is happening to my orchid?

Hi there,

I'm new to this forum so it's a bit intimidating posting on the site. I'm not experienced with orchids at all but have managed to keep my orchid alive and green. Since the beginning of the summer I've noticed a change in my orchid's roots and I'm no sure if this specifically is normal- but from full green and silver roots, the very top roots have hardened in places and have become brown. I don't think it's an aired out root, I feel as though it's something with regards to the water and summertime but I need some clarification.

If anyone knows what's causing this and how I can help it that would be great. If this is a normal thing -let me know. I haven't had any hits from Google.

 

Hello,

Thank you for the replies and the warm welcome. Normally the roots were perfectly silvery-gray, now they are becoming "bark-like". I never heard of tannin so I will have to look that up. That orchid is a Keiki (I named her "Kiki") her and her mama "CoCo" havent had a bloom in 4 years.

 

Sorry... sent by accident, so I've begun fertilizing them more. My concern was fertilizer burn or heat burn??? I've rescued them from the trauma of moving twice but this root thing is stressing me out since it's hardened and I've only read really bad things about heat burn.

The little bud that was growing inside has almost dried out even though I roots are moist. As far as the pot grows, that's what I was advised to buy when I was in store and showing the 'orchid expert' pics of the Keiki and mama plant before I replanted them.

Hopefully this picture is more clear. The root has really dark brown spots where it's exposed.

 

I repotted it last year in October, so it's been some time (and no bloom from the original plant for 4 years)

That one root on the left side is still a good green colour -which I super good. But another root that has emerged has a dark hard and dry tip. (not shown in pic) I'm wondering if I should shuffle it back in the pot and make sure all the roots are covered.

 

I water it everywhere. I've never kept to any specific side. I didn't realize I should keep it was from the 'clean root'. I'm not even sure what a 'clean root' is, is that compared to the green/silvery roots, vs the roots that are turning hard and brown at the base of the leaves?

 

Oh, I see.
From what I see the root on the left side just emerged from the pot and wasn't exposed to the air for long. But the rest of the roots that have been exposed and not cover by the bark are seriously drying up and hardening.

This is most obvious at the base of the leaves. Even the bud has dried up brown and hard.

What I'm going to do is shuffle the bark and cover up the roots completely so that none of the roots are exposed - not even the base.


Thank you again to everyone who replied. I very much appreciate it. Hopefully one day i'll see a bloom.

 

Thank you for the info on initiating the bloom!
Hopefully this is the year.