Orchid aerial roots: transplant and other options

Orchids differ significantly from other indoor plants in their root system, since the roots not only grow in the soil, some of them are located above the pot. This is alarming for many flower growers and causes them a large number of questions. To get answers to them, you need to know what the aerial roots of an orchid are and what they are for.

The main reasons for the appearance

Aerial roots in an orchid are normal. They appear due to the natural ability of the plant to germinate in trees or swamps. With the help of this structure of the root system, the flower is held on the tree trunk and feeds on trace elements in the air. In indoor orchid species, several aerial roots grow as a result of insufficient plant care.

Orchid will decorate the house with its unusual flowering

In appearance, the root system of orchids resembles a sponge planted on a thick and long process. This coating is called velamen, it takes an active part in the process of plant nutrition. It is through the spongy membrane that the flower absorbs moisture. Under the velamen there are bundles of vessels that fill with moisture and distribute it throughout the plant.

If every two months new aerial roots form in the orchid, this means that the florist is taking care of it incorrectly.

The main reasons for the roots to come out of the pot are:

• high air temperature in the room;
• the root system is constantly poured;
• dry potted soil;
• there is not enough light for photosynthesis;
• high soil density.

Orchid transplant

The plant is transplanted in such cases:

1. The orchid has grown significantly and no longer fits in the pot, the aerial roots have spread more and more on the surface.
2. A large amount of salt was deposited in the substrate during irrigation with hard water.
3. There is moss in the pot, which does not allow moisture to evaporate completely. This leads to the formation of rot on the root system.

Most flower growers will be sincerely surprised, where does the moss come from? Watering is carried out according to the rules, once a week to allow the soil to dry out. The reasons lie in the conditions under which the plant was grown in the nursery. Most often, sphagnum moss is used for seedling germination. After the formation of a full-fledged root system, the flower is transplanted into the bark, the moss is left among the roots. All this is done so that the orchid feels comfortable when transported from the nursery to the buyer's home. Later, the sphagnum dries up and becomes dense, which begins to provoke the formation of rot.

Orchid aerial roots take part in photosynthesis

Where to put air roots

For work you need to prepare:

• substrate;
• transparent dishes for orchid transplantation;
• Activated carbon;
• secateurs;
• the plant itself.

The transplant process should proceed as follows:

1. Holes must be made in the pot to allow excess liquid to drain.
2. The roots of a flower in an old pot are watered to give them elasticity.
3. The plant is removed from the vessel, and the root system is examined.
4. Rotten and dry roots are removed, the cut sites are treated first with water, then with activated carbon.
5. The roots of the plant are placed at the bottom of the vessel and covered with fresh substrate.
6. The orchid is fixed in the pot in the center, while making sure that the root collar is on the surface, the roots themselves are not damaged.
7. Finally, the plant is watered and exposed to a warm place.

Many are interested in the question: is it necessary to bury the root of the orchid? The aerial roots of the orchid should not be buried in the potting mix. They need to be distributed over the surface and only the void between the walls of the vessel and the processes should be filled.

How to transplant an orchid when there are many roots

If a plant has a large number of shoots, then in no case should they be cut off. In this case, you will need a larger pot. After all, the presence of a large number of processes indicates the discomfort of the plant at this stage of its development.

Cutting the roots

Most inexperienced growers, trying to make orchids attractive, cut aerial roots. In no case should this be done, because it is thanks to them that the plant feeds and, accordingly, lives.

Pruning is done when the roots begin to dry out or rot. Here it is necessary to reanimate the plant, ridding it of the diseased parts of the root system.

The main component of the soil smear is pine bark

You can distinguish a healthy root from a sick one by its appearance. A healthy root is green because it, like the leaves, takes part in photosynthesis. Dead - has a darkened color and does not turn green when dipped in water.

The subtleties of plant care

In order for the orchid flower stalk to decorate the room, the florist needs to know how to properly care for the plant. It is recommended to pay more attention to watering, lighting and soil mixture.

Priming

In order for the orchid to feel comfortable, you need to prepare a special soil. You can buy it at a flower shop or make it yourself. For this you will need:

• charcoal;
• pine bark;
• coconut fiber;
• polystyrene;
• expanded clay;
• peat;
• fern rhizome;
• sphagnum;
• perlite;
• vermiculite;
• Pine cones;
• humus.

Lighting

An orchid needs a lot of light. In this case, the lighting should be diffused, since direct sunlight can have a detrimental effect on the flower.

Watering

Since the orchid in natural conditions does not grow in the soil, but on trees, then it feeds on the bark of a tree, through which rainwater flows. Based on this, we can conclude that the plant needs moderate watering. There must be holes in the pot to drain excess moisture.

There are varieties that, on the contrary, like more moist soil. These include:

• Phalaenopsis;
• Cymbidium;
• Odontoglossum;
• Paphiopedilum.

In the summer, any of the varieties should be watered a little more often than in the winter.

An orchid will become a decoration of the house, if you take care of it correctly, create comfortable conditions for development. In gratitude, the plant will bloom and smell for a long time.

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