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Jun 12, 2016 8:33 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Tara
NE. FL. (Zone 9a)
Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Organic Gardener Garden Sages Birds Frogs and Toads Dragonflies
Butterflies Hummingbirder Orchids Container Gardener Garden Procrastinator Foliage Fan
Help! I'm absolutely beside myself this morning!
Watered the Vanda's this morning, and the 'Brighton's Ruby Jewel' has yellow roots. They were in beautiful shape yesterday! What's wrong? And what can I do to mend it? Please help!!!!
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Jun 12, 2016 8:40 AM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
I only have the two old Vanda and have never seen this happen. I hope it is nothing serious. I feel sure that those with more experience growing Vanda will be able to help you.
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
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Jun 12, 2016 8:45 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Tara
NE. FL. (Zone 9a)
Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Organic Gardener Garden Sages Birds Frogs and Toads Dragonflies
Butterflies Hummingbirder Orchids Container Gardener Garden Procrastinator Foliage Fan
Thank You! Ken. Crossing Fingers!
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Jun 12, 2016 9:22 AM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
Yikes, Tara I can see how you'd be worried. I have not that much experience either, but here's my take on it. As long as your plant has healthy looking leaves and some healthy green roots with growing tips - I can see a great big one in your picture - then I don't think it's in trouble. Your plant has some older, brown roots (mine have those too) and maybe these roots have just reached the end of their useful life? Or maybe they have a case of new algae growing on them - some of mine have a lot of green algae growing on them, it doesn't seem to hurt anything.

For this to happen so suddenly is very odd and would indicate to me it was something in the water or something that got on the roots from somewhere else. Most diseases or bugs would not happen suddenly like that.

Can you get a magnifying glass and look closely at the yellow roots to make sure it's not bugs or mites or something? If they go white or grey again when they dry out, I'd just keep an eye on it but not worry as long as the plant's top growth isn't affected.
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
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Jun 15, 2016 9:56 PM CST
Name: Gigi AdeniumPlumeria
Florida (Zone 9b)
Adeniums Roses Plumerias Orchids Miniature Gardening Hibiscus
Region: Florida Container Gardener Garden Photography Cactus and Succulents Butterflies Garden Ideas: Level 1
I agree with Elaine. My Vanda's hair like roots get brittle and fall off. For as long as you have huge green roots and healthy leaves you should be fine. One of my Vanda leaves turned brown because it got sunburned.
©by Gigi Adenium Plumeria "Gardening is my favorite pastime. I grow whatever plant that catches my attention. I also enjoy hand pollinating desert roses.”
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Jun 16, 2016 6:08 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Tara
NE. FL. (Zone 9a)
Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Organic Gardener Garden Sages Birds Frogs and Toads Dragonflies
Butterflies Hummingbirder Orchids Container Gardener Garden Procrastinator Foliage Fan
Been off line for a few days now...
Thank You! Elaine! The plant itself, is looking very healthy! Very green leaves! Looking very happy! The roots ,as you have seen, not so much... I did look very closely for an "infestation"... mites, etc....I've seen none. Just some roots looking quite sad. Yellowing, but also some new very healthy roots...At this point I'm just hoping that these are "old" roots that are 'giving up'?

Gigi, Thank You! There are several really green roots, and seems to be some new, green roots coming on, so, I'm hoping that the yellow ones I'm seeing are just a "natural" part of .... Blinking So long as the plant itself is looking pretty good, I'm just going to go with...the natural order of things????
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Jun 16, 2016 9:42 PM CST
Name: Gigi AdeniumPlumeria
Florida (Zone 9b)
Adeniums Roses Plumerias Orchids Miniature Gardening Hibiscus
Region: Florida Container Gardener Garden Photography Cactus and Succulents Butterflies Garden Ideas: Level 1
That's what I would do Tara. Thumbs up
©by Gigi Adenium Plumeria "Gardening is my favorite pastime. I grow whatever plant that catches my attention. I also enjoy hand pollinating desert roses.”
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Dec 4, 2018 6:42 AM CST
Name: Big Bill
Livonia Michigan (Zone 6a)
If you need to relax, grow plants!!
Bee Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Orchids Region: Michigan Hostas Growing under artificial light
Echinacea Critters Allowed Cat Lover Butterflies Birds Region: United States of America
Green roots, chartreuse roots, yellow green roots, it really doesn't matter what color they are. When Vanda roots go from white or gray to green/ yellow, they have absorbed water.
I think that your Vanda may be suffering from a lack of fertilizer and Vandas are one of the few types of orchids that are heavy feeders.
How long have you had the plant?
How often do you fertilize?
With what?
You can actually hang a small little nylon bag of fertilizer at the base of the Vanda stem. Some slow release 20-20-20 would be nice, a tablespoon would work. Every time you water, food will be realeased. I don't think you have bugs or a root disease. I think you have a fertilizer problem.
Being in Jacksonville, keep it in warm air year round. They don't like temperatures below 60*, 50 on rare occasions!!

When is the last time it flowered?? Vandas love heat, water and fertilizer. You can't over water or feed them too much. I think with good sunlight, 5-6 hours of sun and really bright light will pump this bad boy right back up! That and some fertilizer! I tip my hat to you.
Orchid lecturer, teacher and judge. Retired Wildlife Biologist. Supervisor of a nature preserve up until I retired.
Last edited by BigBill Dec 4, 2018 6:43 AM Icon for preview
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Dec 5, 2018 8:22 AM CST
Name: Gina
Florida (Zone 9a)
Tropical plant collector 40 years
Aroids Region: Florida Tropicals
As a fellow Floridian who experiences similar stuff sometimes, and with the continued really warm winter weather we have had here, could it be the beginnings of a growth of algae?
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Dec 5, 2018 8:41 AM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
I wouldn't think algae would be yellow, @Gina1960. I would think green, but I am anything but knowledgeable when it comes to algal growth. Green algae is all I am aware of. As Bill stated, when Vanda roots are wet, they'll change color. Perhaps those yellowing roots are simply old roots that are in decline?
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
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Dec 5, 2018 9:30 AM CST
Name: Gina
Florida (Zone 9a)
Tropical plant collector 40 years
Aroids Region: Florida Tropicals
I have had some yellow mildew on hard surfaces and on some of the big bird nest Anthuria in the greenhouse, killed by Physan. Although you are right, have never had it in the roots of a Vanda.
Award winning beaded art at ceinwin.deviantart.com!
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Dec 5, 2018 9:35 AM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
Um, Bill and Gina you are aware that this is a revived thread from well over 2 years ago, right? June 2016

Have not heard much from Gigi in ages. She sometimes used to post on the Florida Gardening thread, too.
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
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Dec 5, 2018 9:37 AM CST
Name: Big Bill
Livonia Michigan (Zone 6a)
If you need to relax, grow plants!!
Bee Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Orchids Region: Michigan Hostas Growing under artificial light
Echinacea Critters Allowed Cat Lover Butterflies Birds Region: United States of America
You know that there is a chance that the roots are indeed in decline but when you think about it, there are lots of shades of color from yellow, to yellow/green, to chartreuse, to greenish yellow to light green to medium green. It just boggles the mind!
BUT I feel that from what was written the plant is fine and with proper water and warmth and good sun and a healthy sprinkling of fertilizer, this guy will bloom. Thumbs up
Orchid lecturer, teacher and judge. Retired Wildlife Biologist. Supervisor of a nature preserve up until I retired.
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Dec 5, 2018 9:37 AM CST
Name: Big Bill
Livonia Michigan (Zone 6a)
If you need to relax, grow plants!!
Bee Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Orchids Region: Michigan Hostas Growing under artificial light
Echinacea Critters Allowed Cat Lover Butterflies Birds Region: United States of America
Yes indeed!
Orchid lecturer, teacher and judge. Retired Wildlife Biologist. Supervisor of a nature preserve up until I retired.
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Dec 5, 2018 10:22 AM CST
Name: Gina
Florida (Zone 9a)
Tropical plant collector 40 years
Aroids Region: Florida Tropicals
No Elaine I never noticed LOL! How does something like this get 'revived'? (Just curious LOL)
Award winning beaded art at ceinwin.deviantart.com!
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Dec 5, 2018 12:23 PM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
No idea, you'd have to ask Bill, I guess. I only saw it because I contributed to the thread back then, and I guess I never "unwatched" it. I'm going to bow out of this conversation now.
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
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Dec 5, 2018 12:46 PM CST
Name: Big Bill
Livonia Michigan (Zone 6a)
If you need to relax, grow plants!!
Bee Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Orchids Region: Michigan Hostas Growing under artificial light
Echinacea Critters Allowed Cat Lover Butterflies Birds Region: United States of America
It suddenly popped up for me too but since I was not in this group 2 years ago, it seemed to me to be a brand new post from Tara. There seemed to be responses from other people I do know now.
I can honestly say that I never saw the June of 2016 dates. It just never occurred to me to look! I thought on December 4th, I was just late to the party.
I wouldn't even know where to go to revive this unless I would have to scroll back and look for something to bring forward. I have been so involved with my wandering pussycat that I wouldn't have the time or the inclination to do that.
Orchid lecturer, teacher and judge. Retired Wildlife Biologist. Supervisor of a nature preserve up until I retired.
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Dec 5, 2018 2:07 PM CST
Name: Gina
Florida (Zone 9a)
Tropical plant collector 40 years
Aroids Region: Florida Tropicals
That's weird.
Award winning beaded art at ceinwin.deviantart.com!
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Dec 5, 2018 7:21 PM CST
Name: Daisy I
Reno, Nv (Zone 6b)
Not all who wander are lost
Garden Sages Plant Identifier
I've noticed it happening in other forums. Maybe Dave could explain it but, I'm not the one to ask him.
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and proclaiming...."WOW What a Ride!!" -Mark Frost

President: Orchid Society of Northern Nevada
Webmaster: osnnv.org
Avatar for mariaaahh
Feb 26, 2023 11:42 PM CST

Thank you Gigi, if it wasn't for your post I wouldn't have saved my plant. That guy was so rude and stupid. You have helped so many orchid lovers like me help grow and protect plants or ours and all of our friends/loved ones.
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