Image by mm88. If your orchids are developing crazy-looking tendrils that look a little like tentacles, don’t worry. Your orchid is growing roots, specifically aerial roots – a perfectly normal activity for this unique, epiphytic plant. Read on for more information about these orchid air roots and learn what to do with orchid roots.
Many orchid growers claim that the quantity of roots growing outside is a sign that there are problems with the medium in pot : may be too moist, decomposed medium, poor ventilation, etc. This is a myth. While it could be true that there are problems in the pot, it is not always the case.
Roots are brown and mushy. When an orchid’s roots are brown and mushy to the touch, this is most likely because of mold or root rot. The most common reason is overwatering. While root rot is never a good sign, there are some things you can do to attempt to salvage the plant.
If your orchids are developing crazy-looking tendrils that look a little like tentacles, don’t worry. Your orchid is growing roots, specifically aerial roots – a perfectly normal activity for this unique, epiphytic plant.
Why are my roots growing out of the pot?
The most common reasons are that the pot is too small, the plant is pot-bound, or the roots are overcrowded. If the pot is too small, the roots will grow out of the pot in search of more space . If the plant is pot-bound, the roots will grow out of the pot in search of more space.
How do you repot an orchid roots?
Let the orchid soak. The majority of the aerial roots can be repotted to fit down under the potting medium when in their new pot, but be warned, they will die off. They have accustomed to being in the air and will not adapt well to the new medium.
The only thing the pot provides it is the firm surface area to cling to. Orchid roots will grow to the sides of the pot, never concentrating in the middle of the plant, as other household plants do. They prefer the security of attaching their roots to the rough bark-like surface of the pot.