Help! Our roots are out of control.
December 17, 2014 12:53 AM Subscribe
We have some orchids next to the window and each one has roots growing out of the pot.
The roots are getting out of control and spreading everywhere. It doesn't look very attractive. Is there a way to limit this? Can I trim them or remove some without damaging the plants?
The roots are getting out of control and spreading everywhere. It doesn't look very attractive. Is there a way to limit this? Can I trim them or remove some without damaging the plants?
You should repot them and in doing so bury the new roots in whatever medium you are growing your orchids in, whether it's bark or sphagnum moss or a combination. That will depend on what kind of orchids they are. Do you know?
Get some sharp pruning shears to trim off any dead or dying roots, replace all the growing medium (and potentially the pot, if it's a clay one that's absorbed a lot of salts from your water - it'll have a white film on it), and set the plant firmly in the pot with some metal pins if you have them.
If they're not flowering the culprit is probably not enough light or not enough of a temperature swing between day and night. Orchids like to feel about a 20 degree drop at night to prompt flower production.
posted by lydhre at 5:20 AM on December 17, 2014
Get some sharp pruning shears to trim off any dead or dying roots, replace all the growing medium (and potentially the pot, if it's a clay one that's absorbed a lot of salts from your water - it'll have a white film on it), and set the plant firmly in the pot with some metal pins if you have them.
If they're not flowering the culprit is probably not enough light or not enough of a temperature swing between day and night. Orchids like to feel about a 20 degree drop at night to prompt flower production.
posted by lydhre at 5:20 AM on December 17, 2014
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posted by pipeski at 1:22 AM on December 17, 2014 [3 favorites]