One of the most common flowers that are found on the windowsill is the orchid. For the plant to always be healthy and beautiful, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the root system. If necessary, it is cut off. More about how to trim orchid roots will be discussed in this article.
Frequently asked questions: how to trim orchid’s roots. First, you need to study the features of the roots.
Orchid’s roots are necessary for the absorption of mineral components and water, with their subsequent transportation to the aerial parts of the flower. The main feature of the healthy orchid roots is the presence of underground and air vegetative organs.
Types of orchid roots:
- underground – supply the bush with vitamins, and moisture from the substrate;
- orchid air roots are saturated with sunlight, oxygen, and moisture from the atmosphere.
In the natural environment, thanks to the help of air roots, the orchid is attached to tree trunks and rocks.
Air and underground orchid roots
The orchid plant has aerial and underground roots. Flower growers see both, as the orchid is grown in a transparent pot. Botanists see an invisible connection between aerial and underground healthy roots.
The first are modifications of the second. They are located in the aerial part of the plant. They are needed to absorb rainwater and oxygen from the air.
All tropical crops (and the orchid is a guest from the tropics) have this type of root, since there are few mineral salts in the soil layers under natural conditions.
The functions of aerial roots are support. Epiphytes growing in the wild have well-developed aerial roots, with the help of which moisture is collected from the atmosphere when there is no rain in the tropics for a long time, and even in the bark of trees, it is not stored.
You can read more on treating the orchid aerial roots in my article “How to repot orchids with air roots: a step-by-step guide“.
Does it need to be cut? The Importance Of Maintaining An Orchid’s Roots.
Many are interested, is it OK to trim orchid roots? Florists consider above-ground shoots a sign of the development of a serious illness. Because of this, they often act imprudently, immersing them in the substrate or cutting them. Neither aerial nor underground roots are pruned without a serious reason.
This is what they do when they see that an orchid’s roots have dried up, have root rot or plant has dead roots. Healthy roots are greenish when they wet and silvery gray when they dry. The younger it is, the richer its color scheme is.
Sometimes they notice the absence of young light green roots. To solve this problem, adjust the frequency of watering. If there are a lot of them, water the plant less often.
Do I need to trim roots of an orchid?
For no apparent reason, it is impossible to cut off the roots of an epiphyte. The main situations when root pruning is inevitably required:
- Transplant. As the orchid grows, once every 2-3 years, the plant needs a planned change of potting mix. During transplantation, it is necessary to carefully inspect the roots, and cut off damaged, dry, and dead roots.
- Rejuvenation. With a large-scale growth of the green mass of the orchid and healthy roots, it is desirable to divide the bush into upper and lower parts. This must be done very carefully so as not to destroy the adult plant.
- Treatment. If the plant is infected with parasites or pathogenic bacteria, or fungi, then the infected root parts must be completely removed.
After you cut orchid roots with a large lesion, the cropped plant must be sent for resuscitation.
Living root
The living roots are easy to distinguish from the dead roots. They are white, and dead roots are dark.
If you can’t find it, you can put the plant in a container of water and see which roots turn bright green.
If no color change occurs, the orchid’s roots are dead. Healthy roots are not pruned, as this causes pain to the orchids and promotes the development of diseases.
Dead orchid’s roots
Regarding the dead roots, the opinions of flower growers differ. Some say that you should remove them without fear, while others advise saving them to contribute to the stability of the orchid in the pot.
Rotten roots are dealt with without hesitation: they are cut off. They never dry out, putrefactive bacteria live and multiply in them, causing a lot of harm to orchids.
Overgrown roots
Common Question: what to do with overgrown orchid roots?
Air roots are not a cause for concern, as their appearance is due to the characteristics of orchids. In the wild, they grow on rocky cliffs, in trees, or on gorges. Air roots are needed to obtain the substances necessary for growth and flowering.
Even in an apartment, the ambient air contains the necessary and nutritious moisture for them. By trimming orchid air roots, you deprive the orchid plants of nutrient moisture, without which it dies. No matter how many aerial roots there are. Do not trim air roots if the plant’s roots are healthy.
Is it possible to cut the roots f a blooming orchid?
It is impossible to cut the roots of phalaenopsis during the budding period. The plant will be heavily stressed and may drop all buds. In some cases, the bush may die.
The question arises, when should I cut my orchid roots? Emergency root pruning is necessary if:
- leaves begin to lose turgor;
- buds do not open;
- flowers wither prematurely;
- maybe the root rot, an unpleasant putrefactive odor, is felt in the soil.
Such a bush is subject to urgent transplantation with the pruning of the peduncle and rotten roots. Check out more tips on orchid transplantation.
Step-by-step pruning instructions
Trimming orchid roots is a healing procedure, that is carried out when it is at rest, i.e. orchid is faded.
Decay is the process of destruction of organic nitrogen-containing compounds under the action of microbial enzymes. If one of the roots of an orchid is affected by rot, other areas will soon be infected. If you reject trimming orchid roots, you push phalaenopsis orchids to an early death.
Before cutting off the suspicious-looking part of the plant, cut off a small piece of it with a pruner. It is being examined. If its color is white, do nothing with it. Only shriveled, brown and rotting shoots are cut off.
Instrument preparation
When pruning, the grower uses a knife or secateurs. It must prepare the instrument before use.
For disinfection, wipe the cutting part of the tool with alcohol. Manicure scissors are not the best choice when you need to trim dead roots. Tender leaves are often damaged by them.
Before proceeding with the procedure, inspect the roots. Remove those that have dried out or begun to rot. Dead orchid roots differ from healthy ones in that they do not change their color as the substrate dries out in a pot: they are always brown.
Attention! After the procedure, the orchid is not watered so as not to contribute to the development of the process of decay in the healthy orchid’s roots.
How can you trim your orchid’s roots?
1. Remove the orchid from the substrate. This is easier to do when the substrate is dry, i.e. before the procedure, it is undesirable to water it.
2. After removing the plant from the substrate, it is determined which roots rot and which do not. Rotting shoots brown.
3. Having found rotting roots, you must prepare a tool for cutting them off. It is treated with an alcohol solution so as not to introduce an infection into the wound. After preparing the instrument, the problem area is cut off. If it is located at the bottom, only rot is removed.
4. If the root is damaged at the base, cut it off completely. If you do not cut it off like this, the fungal disease will develop with renewed vigor, provoking a new wave of decay in healthy areas.
5. Another reason for this action: capillary moisture from the environment enters the upper layers of the root damaged at the base, but it does not reach the plant. Sooner or later, such a root dies anyway. After cutting off the problem area, the cut points are processed.
6. Flower growers dilute the fungicide or make a manganese solution in a separate container and immerse the orchid in it for 10 to 15 minutes. After processing the cut sites, the lower part of the flower is placed in a vitamin solution.
7. When preparing it, you must take 1 liter of water and dilute it with one ampoule of vitamins B12, and B1. Then keep it in it for 10-15 minutes.
8. After 2-3 months after this procedure, new roots appear. The orchid is returned to the pot, laying a layer of drainage on the bottom and filling the voids with a new substrate.
How and how to properly process a flower after the procedure?
The place of the cut is the wound. It is a common cause of the desiccation of tissues and a place through which pathogens can enter the orchid. Without processing it appropriately, the flower becomes ill and dies.
When pruning, the cut is treated with one of the substances: coal or sphagnum moss. Coal is used not only for treating wounds but also for the lower part of the cuttings, which are being prepared for planting. It will be needed for preventive purposes: pouring it into a flower pot, to prevent the roots from rotting in the future.
Sphagnum moss has bactericidal properties. It is an excellent anti-inflammatory agent. Its use contributes to the rapid healing of wounds in the plant.
How to use it? Touch the wound with crushed, finely chopped, or rubbed moss.
- Antiseptics. The root is not immersed in them, but simply touched without pressure. These antiseptics are powerful. Therefore, the risk of re-rotting is minimal.
- Fungicide. It is not always used, but it stops the development of fungal diseases.
It is important! Alcohol is not suitable for slice processing on orchid roots. It dries out healthy tissues.
When can’t you do it? Never cut the roots of an orchid if it blooms. Do not cut healthy parts. In both cases, the orchid becomes ill and dies due to shock.
Conclusion
As you can see, pruning orchid roots is quite an important process. You need to trim your orchid’s root only in case of urgent need, otherwise, the bush may die.
How do I know which roots to cut off my orchid?
When pruning an orchid, you should only cut off roots that are dead, damaged, or rotted. Healthy roots are usually firm, green, or silvery-white, and have small root hairs. It’s important to use sterilized tools and to avoid cutting off too many roots at once, as this can stress the plant. If you’re unsure which roots to cut, it’s best to seek advice from a knowledgeable orchid grower or a horticulturist.
What do I do with long air roots on my orchid?
Long air roots on orchids are normal and can be left alone or tucked back into the potting mix. If they’re becoming unruly, you can trim them back to a reasonable length. Just be careful not to damage the healthy roots in the process.
Why does my orchid have so many air roots?
Orchids have air roots as a natural adaptation to their epiphytic growing conditions in the wild. They use these roots to absorb moisture and nutrients from the air and surrounding environment. In cultivation, orchids may also develop more air roots when they’re not getting enough water or when the potting mix is too dense or compact.
How do you trim an orchid for repotting?
To trim an orchid for repotting, you should first remove any dead, damaged, or rotted roots using sterilized scissors or a knife. Then, trim back any excessively long or unruly air roots to a reasonable length. Finally, trim away any dead or yellowing leaves or stems. It’s important not to remove too many healthy roots or leaves, as this can stress the plant. After trimming, repot the orchid into a clean, well-draining potting mix, and water it thoroughly.
Is it OK to trim orchid roots?
Yes, it is okay to trim orchid roots, as long as you only trim the dead, damaged, or rotted roots. Trimming healthy roots can stress the plant and may lead to other issues. It’s important to use sterilized tools when trimming orchid roots to avoid introducing infections. If you’re unsure which roots to trim, seek advice from a knowledgeable orchid grower or horticulturist.
What do unhealthy orchid roots look like?
Unhealthy orchid roots can appear brown or black, soft or mushy, dry or brittle, or may have rotted or decayed sections. They may also have reduced growth, a shriveled appearance, or show signs of pest or disease infestations. Regularly checking your orchid’s roots is important to catch and address any issues promptly.