More Catt Root Understanding

[msrebekahjane]

Read through the Root Porn posts, amazing root masses.
My issue is what to do/not do with the roots that grow outside the pot. I've noticed on a couple of catts I received, it appeared the external roots were pruned.

A Laelia Shelly Huynh I recently received (see pic) had 'air?' roots that appear dried out and dead. Leave them, prune them? Advice and thoughts? If I were to repot this would I attempt to get them into the pot? Thanks, R

[msrebekahjane]

Yes, these roots are green, but have since dried out and are brown.

[Roberta]

For the Catts with roots outside the pot, wait until you see new roots just starting (little bumps on newest growth), then it's time to repot Just shake off old medium, the roots in the pot don't need to be sqeaky-clean, you want to preserve roots!! Then, put the plant into a pot that's maybe an inch bigger you can coax those wild roots into the new pot by rotating the plant sort of "screw the roots in". In general, roots adapt to their medium so the old roots will eventually die, but by that time those new roots that were emerging will be well established in the fresh medium. (That's why you want to time it that way). While all that root-growing is going on, the older roots will sustain the plant. So don't cut any of the old roots - the next time you repot (in a couple of years) you can nip what is really dead because you'll have a strong new batch of roots For this iteration, you need those old roots both for hydration and for stability. It is very, very important that the plant be firmly held in place when you repot... those older roots will help hold the plant in place. (And it's often not obvious what is a good vs bad root... so don't rush to cut!)

[estación seca]

In another post you said your relative humidity is around 45%. Plants grown in high humidity often produce lots of air roots. When we bring them into our homes, these usually die, because the humidity isn't high enough to keep those roots alive. So long as the roots in the pot are healthy, it doesn't prevent normal growth and flowering. If you had a greenhouse or a space with relative humidity 60% or higher, your plants would likely form and retain air roots.

[Louis_W]

I grow in a very low humidity environment so I try not to allow roots to grow outside the pot. If I find strays I put the end back in the media even if I have to snap the root partially to do it.

[Roberta]

A thought when you repot and coax those wild roots into the pot... if you soak the roots for awhile before you do that, they'll be more flexible, and that will improve your odds of getting them into the pot without breaking them.

[msrebekahjane]

I'm thinking this is what I'm looking for that tells me it's time to repot.

[Dusty Ol' Man]

That or even a bit earlier. But yes, time to repot if you are going to do it.

[Roberta]

Indeed! Exactly what tells you "NOW!". Also a tip, that I have posted elsewhere, from Fred Clarke of Sunset Valley Orchids - on the tag, when you write a date, instead of today's date (or tomorrow if you wait that long) write the date 3 weeks prior. Then the next time you repot, you'll know that the new roots will be emerging very soon, and get ahead of them, even better.

[msrebekahjane]

Great info. I'm getting my repotting stuff out now. Will order the Barrina lights. I appreciate the insights and help. You folks are great.