Roots

by Ruby
(K.C.)

Will it hurt to cut the roots back that have sprawled outside the pot?

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Sep 23, 2013
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Cable's Reply
by: Cable Thompson

Roots growing outside the pot is normal; most tropical orchids are epiphytes, meaning they grow up on the bark of trees in nature, to get closer to the light and avoid being crowded by other plants. The roots expect a lot of air, and obtain some of their water from humidity. They also soak up a lot of water each time it rains, and gradually deliver it to the plant.

So yes, cutting off roots that have grown outside the pot hurts the plant. If most of the new roots are growing out of the pot, either because the old potting mix is starting to decompose or because the plant has outgrown its pot, that can indicate it's time to repot. (And if some of the roots aren't shaped conveniently to fit into the new pot, that's OK; they don't all have to be forced into the potting mix and can continue to stick out into the air.)

For many orchids, the health of the plant as a whole is largely determined by the health of the roots, so please don't trim them off!

Jul 10, 2015
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