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Orchid aerial roots – are they pruned
Inexperienced gardeners are greatly intimidated by the aerial roots of the orchid. Many people think that they are a sign of some kind of disease. This is a wrong opinion, since in the natural environment, nutrients and moisture are obtained through this part of the plant.
Why do orchids have aerial roots?
There is no need to worry about the appearance of such branches in the plant. They do not carry any threat to their home favorite. Moreover, they are a kind of support for the plant, as well as organs through which the culture receives additional moisture and nutrients.
The aerial roots of the orchid are a natural part of the flower.
But if a lot of aerial roots have appeared on the plant, it means that the flower signals errors in care and maintenance. Possible reasons for the growth of appendages:
- Not the right place for an orchid. If a flower stands next to heating devices, for example, on a windowsill, then most likely it does not like warm dry air. It is advisable to move the pot to a more suitable location. But do not forget to install a phytolamp next to the crop for additional lighting.
- Depleted soil. If the soil for the orchid lacks nutrients, then it begins to receive them from the air. For this, the culture releases new aerial roots.
- Excessive watering. Overgrowth of aerial roots is often associated with abundant moisture. It is enough to reduce the volume of water, and the pet will stop releasing new appendages.
If only a few of these roots have appeared on your orchid, then don’t panic. After all, this is quite natural for culture.
Is the orchid’s aerial roots cut off during transplantation?
The answer is unambiguous: in no case. Aerial roots are, albeit unaesthetic, but an integral part of the plant. And if you damage them, then the orchid will not only get sick, but may also die. Therefore, these appendages cannot be removed during transplantation. Moreover, they need to be placed correctly in the pot:
- Pour some substrate into the bottom of the container.
- Place the plant on top and gently spread the roots.
- Cover the culture with the substrate so that the air appendages are on the surface.
- In the future, the roots themselves will take the correct position.
Thanks to the aerial root appendages, the orchid receives additional nutrition and moisture from the air. Therefore, they cannot be deleted. If you are confused by the unaesthetic appearance of these appendages, then simply transplant the flower into a larger container, which will visually hide them.