Under no circumstances should you cut your orchid, as it may no longer have lush, generous flowers. Here is what this mistake that many often make consists of.
Orchids are plants that we frequently find in homes today. In fact, their colors illuminate the environment in which they are placed. There are around 25,000 species in nature and each needs specific characteristics. But let’s start by saying that to have healthy orchids, certain factors must be taken into account for their maintenance.
Among these are certainly the temperature, position and light they must receive. The ideal temperature at which orchids should stay is around 20°C and it is important to place them in a place where they will not be exposed to sudden temperature changes, for example near the heater or a Open window.
Another aspect is light. Orchids should never receive direct sunlight, this must be filtered, otherwise the plant risks dying. Orchids often have roots that are not in the ground, but so-called aerial roots. It has been known that someone makes the mistake of cutting them, which results in the death of the plant.
Orchid: never cut the aerial roots
In fact, the aerial roots that come out of the pot should in no case be cut, unless they are rotten, and we understand this because they are pulled without using scissors. These roots that have grown out of the pot have adapted to such a life, that is to say in the air, and do not cause problems. If the aerial roots of the orchid are healthy, it means that they are placed in the right place, in a humid place.
Aerial roots, as we have said, should never be cut and are not roots that do not fit into 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, which should be green in color to indicate that it is healthy.
Aerial roots of the orchid
If, on the contrary, you notice that the aerial roots are not green, this 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 keeps the aerial roots alive and not tending to dry out.
Simply take a bowl of water and immerse the inactive aerial root in it. The root provides the orchid with moisture and water. In addition, this method makes the room more humid 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, don’t rely on aerial roots. Indeed, it is necessary to look at the roots in the pot. If they are green, that means the plant doesn’t need a lot of water and you can take care of it. Otherwise, you need to repair it.
In fact, aerial roots are often not green, but turn gray, so you shouldn’t rely on them too much. In any case, you can continue the bowl method until the root has absorbed all the water, you can also check by the color.
Just try with your orchid and its aerial roots.