Are the roots of your orchids spilling out of the pot? Find out what to do
Anyone who has grown orchids for some time successfully, knows that they are epiphytic plants, or plants that in their natural habitat grow close to others. In particular, orchids grow on trees, without sinking their roots into the soil: on the contrary, their roots are aerial and therefore capable of capturing the humidity present in the air, which is necessary for their survival.
In reality, the root itself is a much thinner tube than what we see, which is inside the visible part, hidden by all the "spongy" cover that stores the water and lets the roots absorb it slowly. So what do we do when the roots grow too long and spill out of the pot. Out of the pot, they are no longer find water to draw on, since our homes do not have the same humidity as their natural habitats.
First of all, you need to check the condition of the roots: if they are white or light green, turgid (swollen) and hard, then they are healthy and nothing needs to be done immediately. If you cut them, you will damage the plant and probably also introduce viruses.
If they are dry, flat, yellow or brown and lifeless, then you can cut them. But be careful every time you make cuts - even on the dead part of the plant you need to use scissors (or other cutting implement) with well-sharpened blades that have been sterilized. You can do this with alcohol, disinfectant or even with the flame of a lighter. You can also use a solution of water with a very small amount of bleach and wait for the cutter to dry thoroughly before using.
The second thing to do is to determine if the roots have come out of the pot because there is no more space in it: since pots are a means that we use for convenience but which does not reproduce at all the conditions of freedom in which these roots develop in nature, an abundance of roots that spill out of the container perhaps indicates the fact that there is no more space left in the pot and therefore it is time to repot the plant.
- Take a preferably transparent plastic pot, one or two sizes larger than the orginal, but no more.
- Make holes in the sides, well distributed, so as to facilitate the drainage of water and the passage of air.
- Soak the substrate you will be using for repotting overnight.
- Fill a basin with 2 liters of water and dilute 60 ml of bleach into it.
- Immerse the pot you will use and the tools in this solution for at least 15 minutes, then rinse them off thoroughly.
- When the substrate is soaked with water, put it in the pot, then insert the orchid being careful to insert the roots as well, but without breaking them.
- Water again and leave the pot to drain completely.
At this point the plant is ready to be returned to its favorite place!
