Roots,Phalaenopsis, what to do with outside roots

[annie1931]

1 May I cut off those roots going to the humidifying area?
2 May I trim the rather wrinkly roots at the top? They aren't dead, just thin and tangly.
3 Should the roots aiming upward be redirected into the pot once they are long enough to do so without breaking? At this rate, they may be a metre long before they are bendy enough.
I've made the pics well below the recommended size, but the Kb is higher. Hope I've done this correctly, and not lost my log in besides....

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I don't recommend cutting living healthy roots. It could set your plant back (delayed growth, stunted growth, delayed/skipped bloom cycles, weakening of the plant), if not outright kill it (infections may show up in the wounds even if you think you've disinfected the area properly; cut roots can also die all the way back not just a few inches from the cut).

Repot into a larger pot. Maybe put a mound of vermiculite or perlite in the center of the root mass, under the stem of the plant; then put the bark around the roots of the remaining areas.

More roots = strong plants = reliable blooming + multi-spiking abilities = a very proud and happy grower.

Less roots = weak plant = > probability of disease and other problems = may not bloom reliably = a very disappointed grower.

This is a stretch, but think of it as if you were a growing teenager and someone thought you were getting too tall for their liking and was deciding whether to cut your legs off or not.

I'd be willing to bet your answer would be a resounding "NO!!!"

BTW it's spiking, so the answer to your question is definitely, no don't cut off any roots unless you don't want to see the flowers.

There might even be two Phals in there.

[annie1931]

Thank you! I will leave well-enough alone and hope one day they don't all reach out and grab the next person who enters the sunroom! This one is my pride and joy - I've two others that are persnickety - one I just repotted, poor thing all it's roots were mush in all that sphagnum moss. It has one good root out in the air so we'll nurture that. Thanks again for the advice, I'll be sure to follow it.

[RosieC]

I agree with King, don't cut the roots.

I would add that it might be worth checking the roots in the medium and maybe repotting. It's possible it's growing so many upright ones because the medium is too compacted and so they are growing away, rather than towards it.

But generally Phals like growing arial roots and will pretty much always do it.

[stefpix]

Roots are beautiful!
green or white - wet dry. they are part of the plant!
the more roots the better!
I would just cut the dry / dead roots!