Wild Orchid

Knowing Your Orchid Roots Is The Key To Growing Healthy, Beautiful Orchids

Orchids are one of those rare plants that do not need roots to be firmly seated in soil for them to grow. In the wild, orchid roots will attach to a medium, usually a tree branch where they get their nourishment and thrive.

This is essential for you to know if you are growing orchids because maintaining healthy roots is at the root of orchid care. Most indoor orchids are called epiphytes, or air plants. They are able to grow to maturity above the soil. When orchids grow in nature, they will mostly attach to nooks and crannies in bark of tree branches where they face away from direct sunshine and where the leaves falling from the rest of the tree provide enough fungus for nutrition.

When they are grown at home or in a greenhouse, you should use soil only to make sure that the orchid is held upright. To mimic an orchid’s natural conditions, you should make sure that the roots sit in a soil that’s loose and that allows circulation of air. There are different kinds of soils, and some are dark and dense. These will not do for your orchids.

Because orchid roots are after free air circulation, you will notice that after a little while, they start to grow out of the pot. It doesn’t necessarily mean that your plant needs re-potting. Leave it as is, but make sure that the roots are able to dry in between watering. Don’t let them hang in water – else they will rot. Re-pot your orchid when you notice that the plant is out growing the pot. When the orchid plant itself starts to hang out of the pot, that’s a good indication that you need to move it to bigger size.

Orchid roots are prone to root rot, and this will mainly happen if they are not drying out enough, or if the soil is always wet. Always look out for this. Also, small insects and bugs attack the overhanging roots. They may kill off healthy roots, so you need to keep an eye out for roots that look like they have insect damage. Talk to your local plant shop for a safe pesticide.

Here are 4 tricks that the experts use when caring for their orchid roots:

1. When re-potting, clean off the old soil, but be gentle so that you don’t damage the roots. You can also trim off any section of root that looks dead, but don’t trim off too much. Your orchid won’t be able to hold itself up.

2. When cutting and trimming, make your cut beyond the end of the rot to make sure that you catch it all.

3. When refilling with new pot mix, make sure that the root is packed just enough to hold the plant’s weight, but not enough to suffocate the root from adequate ventilation.

4. Don’t leave your plant out for long when re-potting. Put it in its new home as soon as you are done with the trimming.

Many people will say that orchids are sensitive houseplants, but if you take the proper precautions, you’ll be amazed at how well they grow. Orchid roots are something you need to check on occasionally, and when you do, you’ll have healthy, happy, and beautiful orchids year round.

About the Author

Simon John Adams is an avid flower gardener from Canada. If you’ve found this information helpful, Simon has more great advice on caring for your
orchid roots
. While you’re there, claim your Free Mini-Course providing invaluable tips and tricks about growing and caring for orchids.
www.LovingOrchidCare.com

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