Their unorthodox growth as an epiphyte sometimes causes headaches for the orchid gardener when it comes to care. Especially if there are countless aerial roots sticking out of the pot, you should consider using scissors. We'll tell you here why cutting it off is the wrong way and how to deal with the root network correctly.
Is it necessary to remove an orchid with many aerial roots?
Should orchids with lots of aerial roots remove them? No, cutting off he althy aerial roots is not advisable as they are important for nutrient and water absorption. Instead, the orchid can be repotted or tied to a branch to create more space for the root system.
Don’t remove aerial roots too quickly
In the exotic physiology of an orchid, aerial roots act as the plant's lifelines. Whether as an epiphyte in the rainforest or as a houseplant in the coarse pine bark substrate, the long root strands supply the leaves and flowers with water and nutrients. As long as an aerial root is still silvery-green or creamy white, any cut is like an amputation. Only when a strand is completely dry, hollow and brown can it be removed.
Repotting is better than cutting
With many aerial roots, the orchid signals a lack of space in the pot or a depleted substrate. Show your flower diva that you have understood the non-verbal message and repot the plant into a larger pot with fresh orchid soil. Please choose a date outside of the growth and flowering season. How to do it right:
- Dip the root ball in lime-free water to make the aerial roots supple
- Unpot the orchid and remove the used substrate
- Cut off dead aerial roots with disinfected scissors (€10.00 on Amazon)
- In the new pot, create a 2-3 cm high drainage on the bottom with expanded clay
Insert the flexible roots into the transparent pot with a twisting motion. Then fill in the fresh orchid soil in portions. To ensure that the coarse components are distributed evenly, tap the vessel on the tabletop from time to time.
Tip
An orchid with many aerial roots is perfect for tying to a branch. Use durable wood with damp moss as a base. A nylon stocking cut into 2-3 cm wide strips is suitable as a binding material. When hung in a room with high humidity, the orchid feels right at home.
