TheNaturePlanet

Phalaenopsis has an elegant posture and is deeply loved by flower enthusiasts. However, many beginners often find it difficult to distinguish between the flower spike and the roots, which causes difficulties in daily care. In fact, the flower spike and the roots have significant differences in growth location, shape, color, and growth direction. Let me tell you about them below.

How to Distinguish between the Flower Spike and the Roots:

Growth Location
The flower spike usually grows from the axil of the leaves and has a relatively fixed position. Many Phalaenopsis will send out the flower stalks below the third and fourth leaves. The growth location of the roots is more random and is mainly concentrated on the vertical sides of the direction in which the leaves extend. This difference provides a clue for our initial judgment.

Shape
The head of the flower spike is flat and has small sharp corners. The whole is in the shape of a sword, which is why it gets its name. The head of the root is round. When the two are compared together, the difference in shape is obvious at a glance.

Color
The color of the flower spike is generally dark green or purple, with bright colors and very eye-catching. The roots are pure white, and we can quickly distinguish between the two based on their colors.

Growth Direction
The flower spike has obvious phototropism and generally grows upward, extending in the direction of the sunlight. The growth direction of the roots is relatively free. However, in order to better absorb water and nutrients, most of them grow downward.

Maintenance Tips for Phalaenopsis

Selection of Growing Medium
Phalaenopsis is an epiphytic plant and has high requirements for the growing medium. An ideal growing medium should be loose, breathable, and have good drainage. Materials such as sphagnum moss and pine bark are all good choices. Avoid using growing media that retain too much water. Otherwise, the roots will be in a humid environment for a long time, which is extremely likely to cause root rot and endanger the health of the plant.

Leaf Condition
Healthy leaves are a sign of the vigorous growth of Phalaenopsis. During daily maintenance, it is necessary to ensure that the plant receives sufficient scattered light and avoid direct strong light from burning the leaves. At the same time, reasonably control the environmental humidity and regularly supplement nutrients to the plant to keep the leaves always stiff and in good condition.

By mastering the method of distinguishing between the flower spike and the roots of Phalaenopsis and combining it with the correct maintenance techniques, everyone can take better care of Phalaenopsis.