Under no circumstances should you cut your orchid, otherwise it may no longer produce lush, generous flowers. This is the mistake that many often make.
Orchids are plants that we often find in homes today. In fact, their colors illuminate the environment in which they are placed. There are around 25,000 species in nature, each of which requires specific characteristics. But first, let’s say that for healthy orchids, certain factors must be taken into account when caring for them.
These certainly include the temperature, the position and the light they need to receive. The ideal temperature that orchids should stay at is around 20°C. It is important to place them in a location where they will not be exposed to sudden temperature changes, such as near the heater or an open window.
Another aspect is light. Orchids should never be exposed to direct sunlight, it must be filtered otherwise the plant may die. Orchids often have roots that are not in the ground, but rather so-called aerial roots. It has been realized that someone makes the mistake of cutting them which results in the death of the plant.
Orchid: Never cut off aerial roots
In fact, the aerial roots that come out of the pot should under no circumstances be cut unless they are rotten and we understand that because they are pulled out without scissors. These roots that have grown out of the pot have adapted to such a life, i.e. in the air, and do not cause any problems. If the aerial roots of the orchid are healthy, it means that they are placed in the right place, in a moist place.
Aerial roots, as I said, should never be cut and are not roots that do not fit in the pot. In fact, this condition of the orchid does not mean that the plant needs to be repotted. However, always check the tips of your orchid’s aerial roots. These should be green in color to indicate she is healthy.
Orchid aerial roots
On the other hand, if you notice that the aerial roots are not green, it means that the root is drying out and therefore there is a method to solve this problem before it is too late. What you need to do is really simple and ensures that the aerial roots stay alive and are not prone to drying out.
Simply take a bowl of water and submerge the inactive aerial root in it. The root provides the orchid with moisture and water. In addition, this method ensures higher humidity in the room and thus promotes the growth of the plant. You will immediately notice that it changes from gray to green.
Orchid – Aerial roots in a bowl of water
However, to understand when your orchid needs water, you should not rely on aerial roots. In fact, it is necessary to pay attention to the roots in the pot. If they are green, it means the plant does not need much water and you can care for it. Otherwise you will have to repair it.
In fact, aerial roots are often not green but rather gray, so you shouldn’t rely on them too much. In any case, you can continue with the tray method until the root has absorbed all the water, you can also check this by color. Just try it with your orchid and its aerial roots