Broke air roots on orchid

Question

Hello all!✨ I got gifted this #orchid and it came with some broken/dry air roots. I’ve read that one can cut them where the break point is and apply some hydrogen peroxide to it, and that should be all! But I wanted to hear from all the #OrchidLovers here 👂🏻👀 what should i do?
Also, do you think it needs a bigger pot?

Thank you all! 🩷 #PlantsMakePeopleHappy #HappyPlants

@MotherOfOrchids · Accepted Answer

Beautiful orchid! The only way to tell if you need a bigger pot is to assess how many roots you have, which involves unpotting and repotting. Phals love being rootbound as this mimics their natural growth pattern (they grow roots closely packed together to anchor themselves to their tree and their roots like gripping and exerting pressure, which they don’t get if the pot is too big). That said, your pot does look a little small for an orchid that size so I would consider going up a pot size! Whilst I would always recommend a repot if it’s a new orchid, it’s always best to wait until the blooms have finished. Just before the blooms have finished, phals switch into a vegetative period of growth, where they make new leaves and roots and this period can last for several months, and it’s this stage that they cope with a repot much, much better. A repot is beneficial for new orchids because they usually come with a sponge nursery plug that encases the inner roots and this can lead to no end of problems as the orchid ages, making it more likely to develop root rot or even stem rot (root rot is treatable, stem rot is fatal). So it’s always best to remove the plug. A repot also allows you to use fresh media as you don’t know how old the existing media is (it’s usually as old as the plant) which can also cause problems. But, do enjoy the blooms first! In answer to your question,   It’s really normal for air roots to snap. It could have happened in transit or in the shop - sometime they dry out and snap because of a change of humidity (in the nursery, the humidity would have been controlled perfectly, but in shops and our homes it’s impossible to recreate that). I would leave it. The danger of cutting into live tissue is that you create a cut that could invite infection or bacteria in. Any roots that are not potted, I wouldn’t push into the pot. Each individual root has adapted especially for the environment they are in, so if you put a root that’s adapted for air into the pot which is much more moist and humid, it’s very unlikely to survive. It’s really normal for orchids to have aerial roots - it’s not a sign that they are growing out of their pots. In fact, all roots are actually considered aerial roots! In their natural environment, all roots would be in the air, anchoring themselves to the tree or in the air picking up humidity. We just keep them in pots because it’s easier to keep the roots humid and hydrated! Because orchid roots are air roots, they need a wet/dry cycle between waterings (this mimics rainfall - it rains, the roots get wet, the bark of the tree slowly dries and then it rains again). Water when the media is dry/almost completely dry and the roots are silver for them to stay healthy!

@HeyNicePlants · Answer

I would sooner plant in a slightly larger pot than cut roots, unless they were in really bad condition. Yours seems happy, it has great coloring and plenty of flowers. Well done!

I’ve also started using an orchid fertilizer spray recently and found it’s been a huge help in getting a second set of blooms off my larger orchid.

@sarah10orio · Answer

Hi, Marina! It's okay if it's broken.  It happens sometimes.  As long as there are more (and it looks like there are!) the plant will not miss a beat.  😁

@Seymour · Answer

@MotherOfOrchids wow Debbie, if you keep this up youll end up with RSI 😂 
Love seeing your answers 😻 thanks for much for sharing your knowledge 😀👍

@Seymour · Answer

@Mng23

Broke air roots on orchid

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