?? Please watch the video??

[Wynn Dee13]

Originally Posted by mattryan

By gosh just read through this whole thread...It is very upsetting watching the video. I don't agree with cutting anything viable off of a phal. If the orchid has rotted roots or yellowing leaves yes. NataliaS you have completely proved what most have been saying all along. If an phal is failing it will let roots die and leaves yellow, there is absolutely no reason to start hacking almost all the viable roots and leaves off to save it. I don't understand why we are comparing bonsai's to orchids that arguement is non-comparable (apples to oranges). Same as different types of orchids you prune differently. What really bothered me was the personal attacks, because some people have different opinions. We all grow orchids from all around the world and what works for 1 might not for others, but there is no reason to get rude and unpleasant about it. Why post this video unless you are looking for an opinion. This thread proves that orchid growers are passionate and really care about them.
I have rescue orchids so I don't lop anything off. It was a cringe-worthy video for me, and my orchids. They not gonna wanna put out any roots after seeing that video.

Actually Shin was looking for an opinion. He is asking if it is really okay to cut healthy orchid roots. And it is okay in most cases. But of course that isn't everyone's belief. I am wondering how many of the people that say it is wrong to cut healthy roots actually have tried it? You shouldn't judge something like this unless you have experience with it or have actually tried it. Like I said before, everyone has their own way of growing orchids. Do what works for you. But if someone has a different opinion that is fine too. And Shin has every right to ask any question about orchids and ask about any orchid technique including what was in this video. This is what the Orchid Board is for.

As far as the bonsai to orchids, people have stated their reasonings for comparing the two.

[mattryan]

Well wynn I do have experience that is why I stated my opinion and it is just as relevent as yours. Same as others who don't share your opinion.

[Wynn Dee13]

Originally Posted by mattryan

Well wynn I do have experience that is why I stated my opinion and it is just as relevent as yours. Same as others who don't share your opinion.

I didn't say your opinion wasn't relevant. I'm glad you have experience and I'm sorry it didn't work out for you. That only proves that a technique might work for some people but it might not work for others. But most of us already know that. That's why we all have our own preferences in how we grow our plants. This is why we discuss these things so we can compare methods and hopefully learn from others and also teach others too.

[mattryan]

What didn't work out, Sorry you've lost me? And who is most of us? Most of the posts on this topic that I've read are from you defending your opinion and being patronizing towards anyone who doesn't share it. I have had great success growing orchids and am always willing to learn...you are not. And I am almost twice your age so I guess you need to learn more if age is the yardstick according to 1 of you previous posts. Anyway this is getting tedious as are you. I wish you great success in your orchid growing.

[FairyInTheFlowers]

I agree with you wholeheartedly, Matt! Here there have been three people that, at the beginning of this thread, pretty much said it is fine to chop off most of an orchids healthy root system, without giving any logical reason why, when to do it, or under which conditions it would work best. The rest of the people that have posted here have presented in my opinion their every post in an understandable way that did not require the rewording or clarification from another individual. It has been pretty much through flogging them that we have eked out some information to hold up your shaky statements. It is now well over 100 posts, and we have begun to see under what circumstances a plant may be able to survive having most of its roots cut off.

But once again, a statement was made that sometimes a plant might not be able to support all of its roots or leaves, but someone responded logically that a plant usually will be able to decide for itself if it can support its own roots and leaves itself. That is why a plant may begin to get floppy leaves after root rot: its existing roots cannot support all of the leaves. But cutting off the majority of the roots, then stripping a plant of its leaves to balance out? I don't think so.

[Wynn Dee13]

Originally Posted by mattryan

What didn't work out, Sorry you've lost me? And who is most of us? Most of the posts on this topic that I've read are from you defending your opinion and being patronizing towards anyone who doesn't share it. I have had great success growing orchids and am always willing to learn...you are not. And I am almost twice your age so I guess you need to learn more if age is the yardstick according to 1 of you previous posts. Anyway this is getting tedious as are you. I wish you great success in your orchid growing.

I meant that I was sorry that the technique that works for me doesn't work for you. I also meant that all of us know that one technique might work for one person but it might not work for someone else. I have not been patronizing towards others. If you read my posts I say several times we all have our opinions and we all grow our plants differently. And that is okay. I am willing to learn. That is why I am here. You don't know me. How the hell do you know? As I remember correctly, there are a few people who absolutely refuse to think anything good could come out of trimming roots. That is what I was refering to as being narrow minded. I was NOT measuring age against knowledge. Actually in that post I said that Cody knows more than most people twice his age BUT we are always learning no matter how long we have been growing orchids. I was not the one who said it depended on how many orchids one has. I do not agree with that statement. I did have a problem though with a statement that someone posted about cutting roots is equal to ripping out a humans intestines. I thought that was a ridiculously, dramatic, and stupid statement. As we all have said we have a right to our opinion. I also have noticed since one other person has commented on the fact that she has had good results with cutting healthy roots some people stopped posting their views on the subject when before they were pretty active voicing their opinions. I don't see what is so wrong with having opinions and voicing them. Others seem to only think theirs is correct. I have never once said it was wrong to never cut healthy roots. You are the one that seems to be mad that others practice different orchid culture and that we don't all agree. There is nothing wrong with not agreeing.

[mattryan]

I am most certainly not mad at anyone as to how they grow their orchids. I simply gave an opinion, because that is what the original poster asked. You can grow your orchids anyway you like it matters not to me. I grow orchids as a hobby and I enjoy it, of coarse we all want to grow them the best and I have gotten alot of great help here. So on that note I've stated my opinion and the reasons for it and I have nothing else to add on this topic.

[Wynn Dee13]

Originally Posted by TheBlazingAugust

I agree with you wholeheartedly, Matt! Here there have been three people that, at the beginning of this thread, pretty much said it is fine to chop off most of an orchids healthy root system, without giving any logical reason why, when to do it, or under which conditions it would work best. The rest of the people that have posted here have presented in my opinion their every post in an understandable way that did not require the rewording or clarification from another individual. It has been pretty much through flogging them that we have eked out some information to hold up your shaky statements. It is now well over 100 posts, and we have begun to see under what circumstances a plant may be able to survive having most of its roots cut off.

But once again, a statement was made that sometimes a plant might not be able to support all of its roots or leaves, but someone responded logically that a plant usually will be able to decide for itself if it can support its own roots and leaves itself. That is why a plant may begin to get floppy leaves after root rot: its existing roots cannot support all of the leaves. But cutting off the majority of the roots, then stripping a plant of its leaves to balance out? I don't think so.

The thing is Cody, every person that has said it was okay to cut off healthy roots (remember we never said all roots or in all situations) has also said everyone has their own opinion and that is okay. We have never said that not cutting healthy roots is bad, but every person that refuses to think cutting healthy roots in some instances is okay has rejected our opinions all together. We except your opinions but you seem to not except ours. Don't you think we deserve the same courtesy? Shin started this thread so he could find out if it was okay or not to cut healthy orchid roots so he could fit his plant in the only size pot he has access to. It is okay that people tell him their opinions on the matter. Then he can decide on what he wants to do. We don't need to argue about it. I am very sorry if I have offended anyone as it was not my intention.

I actually would like to learn a bit from you and other members about novelty Phalaenopsis since I have been getting more interested in them seeing members photos since I joined OB. I hope we can put our differences behind us and become friends. I also hope Bob and the others that have participated in this thread will read this too as it is to everyone. I joined this forum to find friends that are interested in orchids like I am because non of my friends at home are into them like I am. I hope you have a good night.

[Exo]

Well..I'm not really taking sides in this, but I find that..as one might expect, rootloss is generally a bad thing. I've seen lots of plants go into serious shock, ESPECIALLY Phals. I think this is due to the fact that many Phals have roots that won't make new growth tips if they are severed. Orchids that do, like cattleyas, recover very quickly since they can replace what they lost. An orchid treated like the one in the vid won't bloom for a few years after such treatment, at least not in my experience.

From my experience, roots are the most important part of the plant, and the more roots, the more vigorous the plant tends to be, the less water it needs, and the less fertillizer it needs.

These are my observations, and as such, I will never remove roots without a VERY good reason.

[Call_Me_Bob]

Originally Posted by Wynn Dee13

I meant that I was sorry that the technique that works for me doesn't work for you. I also meant that all of us know that one technique might work for one person but it might not work for someone else. I have not been patronizing towards others. If you read my posts I say several times we all have our opinions and we all grow our plants differently. And that is okay. I am willing to learn. That is why I am here. You don't know me. How the hell do you know? As I remember correctly, there are a few people who absolutely refuse to think anything good could come out of trimming roots. That is what I was refering to as being narrow minded. I was NOT measuring age against knowledge. Actually in that post I said that Cody knows more than most people twice his age BUT we are always learning no matter how long we have been growing orchids. I was not the one who said it depended on how many orchids one has. I do not agree with that statement. I did have a problem though with a statement that someone posted about cutting roots is equal to ripping out a humans intestines. I thought that was a ridiculously, dramatic, and stupid statement. As we all have said we have a right to our opinion. I also have noticed since one other person has commented on the fact that she has had good results with cutting healthy roots some people stopped posting their views on the subject when before they were pretty active voicing their opinions. I don't see what is so wrong with having opinions and voicing them. Others seem to only think theirs is correct. I have never once said it was wrong to never cut healthy roots. You are the one that seems to be mad that others practice different orchid culture and that we don't all agree. There is nothing wrong with not agreeing.

i cannot and will not speak for others, but i can tell you that i stopped replying to the thread because i felt that personally my views were stated over and over again. enough that anyone who can read should know where i stand on the issue. and i was tired of hearing the same points reiterated over and over. i think this thread has come to a point where both viewpoints have presented what they think well enough and plenty of times that anyone who stumbles upon the thread (if they can weed through personal attacks) can read and learn and then decide for themselves what they think.

at the end of the day, we all love orchids and i think the only reason cody, mira, wynn, or anyone else who is here, is because we are passionate about what we know and love... ORCHIDS

that being said, i am done. i hope all your orchids grow great! weather you chop out their intestines or kill them by letting their roots grow