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This plant was given to my mother, we do not know what it is called. It has purple flowers, when it flowers. she has had it for a year, looks like a perfectly healthy plant apart from the fact that it has suddenly got what looked like roots coming out of the branches All over the plant. They look like long white spider legs with pointed light green tips.
can anyone shed any light on what is happening to the plant? Is it normal?
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Not sure what purple flowered plant this is, but those things sticking out could be roots. It is possible the plant is very crowded and roots are growing higher up. If I'm right, these plants are not totally reliant on soil for intake of nutrients. Roots can rise up to search for nutrients.
I think it may be a type of Orchid? I agree with borderline they are roots.
Thank you. Any idea how to care for the plant now that there are roots are growing out of the branches so high up on the plant?
I don't think it is anything to worry about. You could re-pot to a slightly larger pot. But make sure not to try and cover the roots. In time, if they die out, you could cut them off, but if they're fresh and fleshy, leave them alone. These roots are just doing what they would in nature, trying to cling to some branch of a tree trunk to get more nutrients. This kind of behaviour is usually caused by it growing bigger, so accept it as part of the plant's habit.
Agree with Borderline
Thank you.
We shall have to wapit and watch and hope that there is nothing to worry about.
Thank you Pansyface. The link you have provided has been very informative and enlightening. I'm sure my mother will be very pleased to learn this is quite normal and she hasn't done anything to cause harm to her plant.
Thank you ?