Did you know that if you do this procedure once a month, you can get abundant flowers and roots from your orchid? Let’s find out what the process is and how to do it!
There is a procedure that allows you to get abundant flowers and roots from an orchid if you apply it once a month. What is this process? The procedure applies to aerial orchid roots , which must be treated in the same way as potted roots. Let’s find out what to do to have abundant roots and flowers!
Because the orchid produces aerial roots.
The aerial roots that orchids produce is a completely normal process for these plants , in fact they inherit this trait from genetic factors specific to the species they come from.
These roots have the function of absorbing water and nutrients and further strengthening the soil of the plant, in addition to contributing to photosynthesis , albeit minimally. The behavior does not change when the plant is in a pot.
Orchid roots seek water and support from multiple sources to ensure their survival . Let’s say that they behave this way instinctively, naturally, and it’s good that the orchid no longer creates roots, because it feeds on aerial ones.
Generally this happens because the soil is not suitable for orchid growth and therefore root production is concentrated outside the pot.
What to do with aerial roots of orchids.
The aerial roots of the orchid should not be cut, but kept moist if possible to encourage growth. So that they do not fall to the ground, it is advisable to place the flower pot in a larger one , so that it is higher, and place the aerial roots in a plastic cup with water. Once the water is absorbed, fill the jar to give them the food they need.
As we mentioned earlier, you should never cut orchid roots that stick out of the pot, except when they are dry and dead. These roots add charm to the plant and indicate its good health. In fact, if the orchid has aerial roots outside the pot, it is very likely that it has not suffered from water stagnation, so it is definitely healthy.
Avoid planting aerial roots in a pot as there is a risk that they will not adapt to the bark and therefore die. Another trick is to spray water on the aerial roots to keep the plant hydrated.
When to Transplant Aerial Orchid Roots
If you don’t want to see these roots outside the plant, transplant them but don’t cut them. Before transplanting, however, it is necessary to accustom the aerial roots of orchids to higher humidity than they find in the soil. How to do it:
- Wait for the right time to transplant the orchid;
- 2 weeks before transplanting, spray aerial roots with water;
- Be careful not to wet the stem and leaves;
- Spray water 2 times a day and then increase to 4-5 times.
The roots will thus get used to higher humidity and root well in the substrate .
Get more orchids from aerial roots
You can also buy other orchids with aerial roots. If there are a lot of them and they are healthy, cut the orchid from the stem part with sharp scissors and separate it from the root . Plant the aerial roots in a separate pot and add a spoonful of ground cinnamon, making sure it ends up on the cut part to disinfect it.
At this point, place some clay balls to plant the second orchid, place it in the pot and add soil. Leave it in hydrogen peroxide for half an hour to soften the roots.
Place pine and moss on top to nourish the plant and allow for maximum growth and development . You will see that your orchids will grow luxuriantly and produce many beautiful and also abundant flowers! As you can see, the aerial roots of an orchid are very important and you can cut them only when necessary!
