Philodendron aerial roots

From: Sue Haffner <sue_haffner at csufresno.edu> on 1997.11.14 at 15:35:09(1617) Hello: Awhile back I wrote about Philodenron "Xanadu" and all the aerial roots that it was producing. Question: when I divide and repot this thing, what should I do with these roots? I shouldn't bury them, should I? Snip them off? Sue Haffner

From: plantnut at shadow.net (Dewey Fisk) on 1997.11.14 at 23:35:14(1618) >Awhile back I wrote about Philodenron "Xanadu" and >all the aerial roots that it was producing. > >Question: when I divide and repot this thing, what >should I do with these roots? I shouldn't bury >them, should I? Snip them off? Sue, Think about the purpose of roots.... to provide nurishment to the plant... If I were you, I would do my best to cram them in the pot. If you soak them in water for a couple of hours, they will become more pliable... Cut them if absolutely necessary only.... Dewey +More Dewey E. Fisk, Plant Nut THE PHILODENDRON PHREAQUE Your Source for Tropical Araceae

From: jared at libcong.com (Jared R. Shortman) on 1997.11.15 at 00:04:06(1620) >Hello: > >Awhile back I wrote about Philodenron "Xanadu" and >all the aerial roots that it was producing. > >Question: when I divide and repot this thing, what >should I do with these roots? I shouldn't bury >them, should I? Snip them off? > >Sue Haffner Sue, I have buried the plant deeper when aerial were emerging and have had excellent results, especially when you pot up the plants in large pots! Jared Shortman +More ** PLANTFREAK ** ** 2509 N. Campbell #338, Tucson, AZ 85719 ** ** jared@libcong.com (520)882-7060 **

From: "Carlo A. Balistrieri" <cabalist at facstaff.wisc.edu> on 1997.11.15 at 05:49:55(1621) At 05:40 PM 11/14/97 -0600, you wrote: >>Awhile back I wrote about Philodenron "Xanadu" and >>all the aerial roots that it was producing. +More >> >>Question: when I divide and repot this thing, what >>should I do with these roots? I shouldn't bury >>them, should I? Snip them off? > >Sue, >Think about the purpose of roots.... to provide nurishment to the plant... >If I were you, I would do my best to cram them in the pot. If you soak >them in water for a couple of hours, they will become more pliable... Cut >them if absolutely necessary only.... >Dewey Dewey, I have to disagree with you on this one. As a grower of many epiphytes before I even got to the aroid group I am familiar with aerial roots. The last thing I'd do is cram them into a pot. I'd leave them be and use them to help establish the plant by misting them regularly. There is a school of thought that aerial roots are physiologically different than roots that go into substrate and, at least anecdotal evidence that if aerial roots are buried, they'll simply rot. Besides, I kind of like them dangling out in space! Carlo Carlo A. Balistrieri, J.D. Email: CABalist@facstaff.wisc.edu P.O. Box 327 Ashippun, WI 53003-0327 U.S.A. Voice: 414.569.1902 Telefax: same number, please call ahead.

From: plantnut at shadow.net (Dewey Fisk) on 1997.11.17 at 14:56:37(1622) >Dewey, >I have to disagree with you on this one. As a grower of many epiphytes >before I even got to the aroid group I am familiar with aerial roots. The >last thing I'd do is cram them into a pot. I'd leave them be and use them to >help establish the plant by misting them regularly. There is a school of >thought that aerial roots are physiologically different than roots that go >into substrate and, at least anecdotal evidence that if aerial roots are >buried, they'll simply rot. > >Besides, I kind of like them dangling out in space! Carlo, There may be a physiological difference in roots. However, once the aerial root reaches any material that it can grow into and extract nutrients, it wlll do so. I have plenty of aerial roots in the shade house. When they reach the ground or when I take them and turn them into a pot they immediately spread out and become nutrient gathers. Aerial roots are just searching for nutrients and when they find them.... Sure, aerial roots have a different epidermal layer than ones that are in potting media but that is only because they are in air and not in media. But, when they find some type of media... they change. Quite frankly, I like them hanging out also... Dewey +More Dewey E. Fisk, Plant Nut THE PHILODENDRON PHREAQUE Your Source for Tropical Araceae

From: SNALICE at aol.com on 1997.11.17 at 15:19:31(1624) Dear Jared, >>>>I have buried the plant deeper when aerial were emerging <<<< Would this apply when they are ' just' emerging, because my Anthurium +More gracile seedlings started out rather lanky due to the fact that I didn't have the light close enough to them from the beginning. Now they are stretched out to a 5" length with aerial roots at every 1/2" along the 5" length, and each root is about 1/2" long. When I transplanted them into pots, I burried as many roots as I could to get the length down, but they have since grown 5" out of the soil with lots of 1/2" roots above ground ( I'm not sure what is normal for gracile), and still have that stretched look even though the lights are now on top of them. They are so lanky that they look like a runner. What do I do to bring them back into shape? How deep can they be planted? I have another question for the group please. Since I lost all of my email information, I don't recall if the 'Blueberry' Anthurium was ID'd as A. scandens, var. leucocarpum. Is this correct? Thank you, Sue Zuninio

From: Lester Kallus <lkallus at earthlink.net> on 1997.11.17 at 15:33:10(1626) I've had arial roots from Philodrendons reach out and dig themselves into the soil after which they became regular roots. As soon as just a few had entered the soil, the plant took off and grew aggressively. Even if arial roots might start out different from regular roots, they apparently have a way of becoming regular roots that do very well in soil. (I did not, however, force them into the soil... they did that on their own.) Les +More At 11:51 PM 11/14/97 -0600, you wrote: >At 05:40 PM 11/14/97 -0600, you wrote: >>>Awhile back I wrote about Philodenron "Xanadu" and >>>all the aerial roots that it was producing. >>> >>>Question: when I divide and repot this thing, what >>>should I do with these roots? I shouldn't bury >>>them, should I? Snip them off? >> >>Sue, >>Think about the purpose of roots.... to provide nurishment to the plant... >>If I were you, I would do my best to cram them in the pot. If you soak >>them in water for a couple of hours, they will become more pliable... Cut >>them if absolutely necessary only.... >>Dewey > >Dewey, >I have to disagree with you on this one. As a grower of many epiphytes >before I even got to the aroid group I am familiar with aerial roots. The >last thing I'd do is cram them into a pot. I'd leave them be and use them to >help establish the plant by misting them regularly. There is a school of >thought that aerial roots are physiologically different than roots that go >into substrate and, at least anecdotal evidence that if aerial roots are >buried, they'll simply rot. > >Besides, I kind of like them dangling out in space! > >Carlo > >Carlo A. Balistrieri, J.D. Email: CABalist@facstaff.wisc.edu >P.O. Box 327 >Ashippun, WI 53003-0327 >U.S.A. >Voice: 414.569.1902 Telefax: same number, please call ahead. > > > >

From: Gabe Thomas <cdanielle at prodigy.net> on 1997.11.17 at 15:48:32(1628) I think you are both right. I think it depends on the plant. I recently did some air layers of Monstera deliciosa and a few only develoded roots off of their aerial roots that happened to be in areas I wrapped. It may be that aerial roots start off physiologically different from real roots, however in many plants they have the potential to turn into real roots if subjected to the right conditions. I used a rooting hormone when I did the air layers so that might have helped, but I couldn't count the times I've taken a cutting from a plant with aerial roots and just tossed it in a cup of water where is sat until the aerial roots became real ones. I don't have any experience growing truely epiphytic plants but I have a hunch they probably would be less likely to appreciate their aerial apendages buried. The only way Sue will know for sure is to due some experimenting with her Philodendron "Xanadu". +More Carlo A. Balistrieri wrote: > > At 05:40 PM 11/14/97 -0600, you wrote: > >>Awhile back I wrote about Philodenron "Xanadu" and > >>all the aerial roots that it was producing. > >> > >>Question: when I divide and repot this thing, what > >>should I do with these roots? I shouldn't bury > >>them, should I? Snip them off? > > > >Sue, > >Think about the purpose of roots.... to provide nurishment to the plant... > >If I were you, I would do my best to cram them in the pot. If you soak > >them in water for a couple of hours, they will become more pliable... Cut > >them if absolutely necessary only.... > >Dewey > > Dewey, > I have to disagree with you on this one. As a grower of many epiphytes > before I even got to the aroid group I am familiar with aerial roots. The > last thing I'd do is cram them into a pot. I'd leave them be and use them to > help establish the plant by misting them regularly. There is a school of > thought that aerial roots are physiologically different than roots that go > into substrate and, at least anecdotal evidence that if aerial roots are > buried, they'll simply rot. > > Besides, I kind of like them dangling out in space! > > Carlo > > Carlo A. Balistrieri, J.D. Email: CABalist@facstaff.wisc.edu > P.O. Box 327 > Ashippun, WI 53003-0327 > U.S.A. > Voice: 414.569.1902 Telefax: same number, please call ahead.

From: stacy holtzman <sholtzma at sunflower.bio.indiana.edu> on 1997.11.17 at 18:43:02(1629) Think about the purpose of roots.... to provide nurishment to the plant... >>If I were you, I would do my best to cram them in the pot. If you soak >>them in water for a couple of hours, they will become more pliable... Cut +More >>them if absolutely necessary only.... >>Dewey > >Dewey, >I have to disagree with you on this one. As a grower of many epiphytes >before I even got to the aroid group I am familiar with aerial roots. The >last thing I'd do is cram them into a pot. I'd leave them be and use them to >help establish the plant by misting them regularly. There is a school of >thought that aerial roots are physiologically different than roots that go >into substrate and, at least anecdotal evidence that if aerial roots are >buried, they'll simply rot. > Really, the thing to do is to guide them towards the pot by curving them back gently; then, when they want to go to substrate, they will. I had a scary experience with my Philodendron when it decided to put out a bunch of aerial roots behind my back one winter in the greenhouse - I had lava rock on the greenhouse floor at the time for decoration and the aerial roots had started clinging to these rocks. Before I knew it, I had these "fuzzy feet" all over the greenhouse floor - they are definitely looking for something, whether it be more support or nutrition. I gently removed all of the rocks and guided the roots back to the pot, being careful not to bury them, for fear that they may rot, not being used to being in soil. They found their way in, but I have to check constantly to make sure the plant is in check! Stacy Stacy Holtzman sholtzma@sunflower.bio.indiana.edu --- Biology Dept., Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405 ---

From: "Carlo A. Balistrieri" <cabalist at facstaff.wisc.edu> on 1997.11.18 at 04:24:21(1631) .. Sure, aerial roots >have a different epidermal layer than ones that are in potting media but >that is only because they are in air and not in media. But, when they find >some type of media... they change. That's my point. My understanding is that subsurface roots are different than aerial roots, even if the two zones exist on the same root. Burying the aerial portion often leads to rot of the root. If the aerial portion hits substrate and changes...I think the root is ok. Does this make any sense? Carlo +More Carlo A. Balistrieri, J.D. Email: CABalist@facstaff.wisc.edu P.O. Box 327 Ashippun, WI 53003-0327 U.S.A. Voice: 414.569.1902 Telefax: same number, please call ahead.

From: plantnut at shadow.net (Dewey Fisk) on 1997.11.19 at 03:29:02(1635) >That's my point. My understanding is that subsurface roots are different >than aerial roots, even if the two zones exist on the same root. Burying the >aerial portion often leads to rot of the root. If the aerial portion hits >substrate and changes...I think the root is ok. Does this make any sense? Sorry, not to me. I have never had a root rot from this. Only rot that I get is if it is damaged or bruised in the process of repotting. Dewey +More Dewey E. Fisk, Plant Nut THE PHILODENDRON PHREAQUE Your Source for Tropical Araceae

From: Don Martinson <dmartin at post.its.mcw.edu> on 1997.11.19 at 03:33:51(1636) >.. Sure, aerial roots >>have a different epidermal layer than ones that are in potting media but >>that is only because they are in air and not in media. But, when they find +More >>some type of media... they change. > >That's my point. My understanding is that subsurface roots are different >than aerial roots, even if the two zones exist on the same root. Burying the >aerial portion often leads to rot of the root. If the aerial portion hits >substrate and changes...I think the root is ok. Does this make any sense? > >Carlo This makes perfect sense from a biological standpoint. The root tip, just like the growing tip, has what are termed meristem cells, that is, cells that are actively dividing but may not have differentiated into specific cell type (leaf, stem, root hair or whatever), so probably when this meristem area first contacts some type of substrate suitable for rooting, the cells behave appropriately (i.e. begin to differentiate). Now if you bury this area rather than letting the root "feel" the ground first, you may well short circuit the normal rooting mechanism, leading to the observed rot. Don Martinson Senior Research Associate Department of Medicine Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Clinical Nutrition Medical College of Wisconsin, FMLH-West 9200 W. Wisconsin Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53226 (414) 259-3817 dmartin@post.its.mcw.edu

From: dana at homecom.com (Dana Scholle) on 1997.11.19 at 19:46:41(1637) I grow a lot of orchids, and I know that this is definitely the case with these plants.. If, when repotting, you bury roots that had been growing outside the medium, they tend to suffocate pretty quickly.. +More At 09:33 PM 11/18/97 -0600, you wrote: >>.. Sure, aerial roots >>>have a different epidermal layer than ones that are in potting media but >>>that is only because they are in air and not in media. But, when they find >>>some type of media... they change. >> >>That's my point. My understanding is that subsurface roots are different >>than aerial roots, even if the two zones exist on the same root. Burying the >>aerial portion often leads to rot of the root. If the aerial portion hits >>substrate and changes...I think the root is ok. Does this make any sense? >> >>Carlo > >This makes perfect sense from a biological standpoint. The root tip, just >like the growing tip, has what are termed meristem cells, that is, cells >that are actively dividing but may not have differentiated into specific >cell type (leaf, stem, root hair or whatever), so probably when this >meristem area first contacts some type of substrate suitable for rooting, >the cells behave appropriately (i.e. begin to differentiate). Now if you >bury this area rather than letting the root "feel" the ground first, you >may well short circuit the normal rooting mechanism, leading to the >observed rot. > >Don Martinson >Senior Research Associate >Department of Medicine >Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Clinical Nutrition >Medical College of Wisconsin, FMLH-West >9200 W. Wisconsin Ave. >Milwaukee, WI 53226 >(414) 259-3817 >dmartin@post.its.mcw.edu>

From: Lester Kallus <lkallus at earthlink.net> on 1997.11.20 at 00:19:12(1638) I've not had the root rot problem when burying air roots on anthuriums. I have a clarinervium that after a few years grows a long stem with leaves at the top. I've generally just dug it up, cut a few of the underground roots back so that I could bury it deeper and then buried the plant to a higher level. The newly-buried air roots have survived the burial, have grown, and the plant continues to thrive. I presume, though, that with such a hardy plant, only a blow torch or a deep freeze would kill it and that it's suriving this trivial torture easily. Les +More At 01:49 PM 11/19/97 -0600, you wrote: >I grow a lot of orchids, and I know that this is definitely the case with >these plants.. If, when repotting, you bury roots that had been growing >outside the medium, they tend to suffocate pretty quickly.. > >At 09:33 PM 11/18/97 -0600, you wrote: >>>.. Sure, aerial roots >>>>have a different epidermal layer than ones that are in potting media but >>>>that is only because they are in air and not in media. But, when they find >>>>some type of media... they change. >>> >>>That's my point. My understanding is that subsurface roots are different >>>than aerial roots, even if the two zones exist on the same root. Burying the >>>aerial portion often leads to rot of the root. If the aerial portion hits >>>substrate and changes...I think the root is ok. Does this make any sense? >>> >>>Carlo >> >>This makes perfect sense from a biological standpoint. The root tip,= just >>like the growing tip, has what are termed meristem cells, that is, cells >>that are actively dividing but may not have differentiated into specific >>cell type (leaf, stem, root hair or whatever), so probably when this >>meristem area first contacts some type of substrate suitable for rooting, >>the cells behave appropriately (i.e. begin to differentiate). Now if= you >>bury this area rather than letting the root "feel" the ground first, you >>may well short circuit the normal rooting mechanism, leading to the >>observed rot. >> >>Don Martinson >>Senior Research Associate >>Department of Medicine >>Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Clinical Nutrition >>Medical College of Wisconsin, FMLH-West >>9200 W. Wisconsin Ave. >>Milwaukee, WI 53226 >>(414) 259-3817 >>dmartin@post.its.mcw.edu> >

From: "Carlo A. Balistrieri" <cabalist at facstaff.wisc.edu> on 1997.11.20 at 05:32:55(1641) >Sorry, not to me. I have never had a root rot from this. Only rot that I >get is if it is damaged or bruised in the process of repotting. >Dewey Then I defer to you! You've got far more experience with the genus than I do. Carlo +More Carlo A. Balistrieri, J.D. Email: CABalist@facstaff.wisc.edu P.O. Box 327 Ashippun, WI 53003-0327 U.S.A. Voice: 414.569.1902 Telefax: same number, please call ahead.

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