Overhang roots

[Eli Vizsla]

Hi all!

Newbie here and got a new plant. One of the roots hangs like over 2 feet. Should I wrap it around the cork bark or just let it hang. Please see pic.

[Roberta]

Just let it hang. When you go to repot, you can soak it well to make it more flexible and gently wind around the inside of the new pot if it is willing... but don't force it (which might break it). I have found, with Cattleyas especially, that they'll grow slowly until they get to the edge of the pot, then really take off. That tells me that they didn't want to be in the pot in the first place. I now grow most of my Catts in baskets - if the roots escape and run wild, the plant grows better. However, I have the luxury of growing most of my plants outside, so there is room for them to ramble. Since you need to grow inside (at least for half the year) you probably need to be more aggressive in controlling the plant. But any control that you exert is to accommodate your environment... from the point of view of the plant, wild is fine. That's a beautiful flower!

[Paphluvr]

Assuming your humidity is adequate there is no need to fret.

[Eli Vizsla]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Just let it hang. When you go to repot, you can soak it well to make it more flexible and gently wind around the inside of the new pot if it is willing... but don't force it (which might break it). I have found, with Cattleyas especially, that they'll grow slowly until they get to the edge of the pot, then really take off. That tells me that they didn't want to be in the pot in the first place. I now grow most of my Catts in baskets - if the roots escape and run wild, the plant grows better. However, I have the luxury of growing most of my plants outside, so there is room for them to ramble. Since you need to grow inside (at least for half the year) you probably need to be more aggressive in controlling the plant. But any control that you exert is to accommodate your environment... from the point of view of the plant, wild is fine. That's a beautiful flower!

Thank you!

---------- Post added at 10:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:03 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Paphluvr

Assuming your humidity is adequate there is no need to fret.

My humidifier turns off at 75%.

[Roberta]

That is plenty of humidity... My Catts get whatever Mother Nature provides, daytime typically 40-50%, sometimes lower than 20% for a few days. In fact, with humidity as high as yours, you need to be concerned that your Catt has a chance to dry out between waterings. Don't think of repotting until you see new roots start, but when you do repot, you will want to use large bark so that there is lots of air around the roots.

[RoseSD]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Just let it hang. When you go to repot, you can soak it well to make it more flexible and gently wind around the inside of the new pot if it is willing... but don't force it (which might break it). I have found, with Cattleyas especially, that they'll grow slowly until they get to the edge of the pot, then really take off. That tells me that they didn't want to be in the pot in the first place. I now grow most of my Catts in baskets - if the roots escape and run wild, the plant grows better. However, I have the luxury of growing most of my plants outside, so there is room for them to ramble. Since you need to grow inside (at least for half the year) you probably need to be more aggressive in controlling the plant. But any control that you exert is to accommodate your environment... from the point of view of the plant, wild is fine. That's a beautiful flower!

How often do you water your catt?
Humidity is so low here I don't know growing mine outdoor is of any help.

[estación seca]

Looks like a Cattleya walkeriana. They are famous for sending long aerial roots all over the place, just like this. Many people find they do better long term in open baskets rather than rather than pots.

[Eli Vizsla]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Looks like a Cattleya walkeriana. They are famous for sending long aerial roots all over the place, just like this. Many people find they do better long term in open baskets rather than rather than pots.

Yes, it is a C. Walkeriana.