Stop Cutting Orchid Roots! Most of Them Are Still Alive

An orchid's root system can reveal many important things about the plant's condition, but have you correctly understood these signs? Silver, green, or brown roots all reveal important signs about the moisture level and health of the orchid. But many orchid growers make the mistake of assuming that brown roots are dead roots, while green roots mean the plant is completely healthy. Today we will learn how to identify healthy roots, when an orchid needs water, and when damaged roots should be removed. Many people often focus on the leaves and flowers, but the root system can also tell us a lot about moisture, drainage, and the plant's condition. The wonderful thing is that you don't need expensive equipment to get started. All you need is a transparent pot, suitable lighting, and a little patience to recognize important changes. Let's start with the color that often confuses many people the most, silver. You may have noticed that many healthy roots are often silvery white or light gray when dry. This happens because the outer tissue of the root called velamen changes its appearance when it absorbs water. However, don't rely on root color alone to decide when to water. Also check the moisture of the growing medium and how quickly the roots dry. If the roots are still moist and the bark has not dried, you may need to wait a little longer. Remember orchid roots need moisture but they also need air to grow healthily not to stay wet all the time next are the green roots when phalaenopsis orchid roots absorb water the outer tissue becomes more transparent revealing the green color of the inner tissue healthy roots are usually firm with an intact outer layer of tissue the roots should not be mushy or have their outer layer slip off when touched gently some roots may still be green even though other roots in the pot have already been damaged don't just look at root color or water on a fixed schedule, check the plant's actual needs. By looking at the plant as a whole, you will understand your orchid better and make more appropriate care decisions. Now let's move on to the colors that worry many orchid growers the most, brown or black, but don't rush to cut off every brown root you see. Some older roots may turn light brown or yellowish brown due to aging or staining from the growing medium. If the roots are still firm and intact color alone is not enough to conclude that they are dead severely rotten roots may become mushy hollow or lose their firmness the outer tissue may easily slip off when touched gently leaving only a thin strand inside the roots may also show signs of decomposition and have an unpleasant smell if you find many truly rotten roots gently remove the plant from the pot to inspect the entire root system use a clean sterilized cutting tool to remove root sections that are clearly dead or rotten. Avoid cutting off healthy roots simply because they have a different color from the others. After removing the damaged roots, use a clean pot with drainage holes and a suitable orchid growing medium. The most important thing is not to treat every root problem the same way. The appropriate care depends on the extent of the damage and the condition of the remaining roots. So when should we water an orchid? Here is a simple routine you can follow. First, observe the root system. Many healthy roots turn silver when dry and green when wet. Second, check the growing medium. If the pine bark is still moist and the inside of the pot retains a lot of moisture, give the roots more time to dry out. Third, consider the environmental conditions. Temperature, airflow, pot size, and the type of growing medium all affect how quickly the plant dries out. There is no fixed watering schedule for all orchids. Observe how dry the plant is instead of watering on a schedule mistake number one cutting roots just because they look brown check the firmness and actual condition of the roots before deciding to remove them mistake number two watering on a fixed schedule base your watering on the moisture of the growing medium the condition of the roots and the environmental conditions mistake number three using a pot with poor drainage orchid roots need both water and air a growing medium that stays wet for too long can increase the risk of root rot. By now you know that the color of orchid roots can tell us a lot, but it cannot be used as the only indicator of the plant's health. The most important lesson is to observe the root color, root texture, moisture level, and drainage together. Every orchid has its own characteristics, therefore give the plant time to respond to the care you provide. If you enjoyed this video, subscribe to Happiness Garden to discover more useful knowledge together. You can also use the the super thanks button below to support me in creating more plant care videos. Thank you for watching the video and being part of the Happiness Garden family. See you in the next video.