Does cutting a root cause it to die?

[plantluvver]

I am reporting some Oncidium (Intergenerics?). I watched some videos on YouTube, but I still cannot always tell if a root is bad. I now realize that I beleive that cutting an orchids roots will cause the root to die, that a root cannot be healthy without a growing tip.

Does killing the tip cause the root to die?

I have attached photos. There are "three" different plants. (The first I worked on seemed to be actually two once I got the roots untangled.) I used a different background for each plant.

I have yet to read up on rescuing a an Oncidium with no roots.

[plantluvver]

I literally ripped apart the third plant. The third peice from the left (Fourth, if you count the tiny new growth I accidentally snapped off) is entirely rotten at the base of the psuedobulb. I think the first peice was the newest growth which I accidentally broke off while trying to arrange it for a photo.

Is anything here even theoretically viable? (More curious than anything else.)

[Dollythehun]

It all looks viable to me and terribly, terribly, dehydrated.

[plantluvver]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

It all looks viable to me and terribly, terribly, dehydrated.

Thank you, but I am still not sure how to deal with the roots. Do you think any might still be alive?

[fishmom]

Agreed that the pieces look viable and need to spend a couple of hours in a bucket of water to begin with.

Regarding the root tips, it is common for roots in a good cultural situation to branch, thus creating a new growing tip. Even if this does not occur, the remaining part of a damaged root can stay alive and function.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

If you are actively cutting the roots, there is a high probability of the entire root dying, particularly if the cutting tools are dirty. If you have damaged the roots by accidentally snapping it off or breaking it and leaving a crack, it is less likely for the entire root to die off.

Why?

When you are cutting the roots, you might be cutting through some of the cells, thus killing the cells.

When you snap the roots, you are breaking the roots along where the cell walls are connected leaving many of the cells intact.

The best way to picture it is to use a chocolate bar that has caramel or fruit syrup fillings as an analogy.

If you snap a chocolate bar along the scored edges, most of the divided pieces of the chocolate bar will be intact.

If you use a pair of scissors and cut the chocolate bar without cutting along the scored areas, you'll be cutting through the divided pieces of chocolate and the caramel or fruit syrup filling inside spills out.

The answer to your question does not have a clean answer. You're dealing with probabilities.

[estación seca]

I just now answered a similar question here:
Oncidium repot question

I can't see... were any of them making new growths? I would not repot an Oncidium unless it were actively making new roots.

[AnonYMouse]

For future reference, you want to stop at picture #5. Looks like you got most of the old media out and still have one intact plant.

When you divide a plant, you want to keep at least 3 pbulbs/growths per division. This way, even without roots, the plant can sustain itself until roots develop.

[plantluvver]

Thank you,

Yes, I tried to leave larger divisions. I could not because the rotted pseudobulb was between two others. I think the other split was because they were not attached at the crown, they merely had very tangled roots. And then my unfortunate snapping off of the one new growth.

---------- Post added at 09:00 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:25 AM ----------

Ugh! I make my best effort and create more problems.This is a real time sink, but I am considering it an investment in my experience with orchids.

I ordered spray bottles last night. They should arrive Friday. I intended to buy cinnamon but forgot to add it to my order. I do have some spaghnum, but I am using sheets of newspaper right now because it will be easier to unwrap frequently and see what is going on with the roots. I hope to be able to get them outsidecsnd into fresh air for short periods, too.

I am doing my best to keep roots moist, but not dripping and make sure that water does not stay in and on the greenery. While I would like for them to have more,air circulation, I don't want to leave them unattended outside. them Let me know if this is the correct management.

Decided that I needed to err in the other direction last night.

I bagged each group or plant in plastic produce bags and let them sit for a few hours. Then dumped the water out before bed. This morning, I brought them outdoors unwrapped and laid them on cardboard to try to dry out.

But it got warm and sunny, so I did not want to leave them. They are still dripping wet, with water between the leaves. I wrapped the root ball in paper, stuck it back in the plastic bag then a pot. Shoved them all into a larger small trash can. This time, I was careful to only wrap the roots in plastic.

I am trying to dry out the greenery by putting strips of paper folded into a "V" between the leaves. I have not finished, I needed to do other things. I have changed my tool twice, from a popsicle stick to a plastic coffee stirrer and now a pointed stick of a more flexible plastic.

They are back in the house again.

I have ordered a glass spray bottle (to arrive Friday) so that I can just wet the roots, not entirely soak them. I think this will accomplish a few things. I will be able to control the amount of water, save time and effort removing the excess water, and also lower the chance of any cross contamination of the plants.

I also have some Epidendrum and Phals that need to be in the plant ICU. Also non-orchid plant issues.

---------- Post added at 09:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:00 AM ----------

Ugh! I make my best effort and create more problems.This is a real time sink, but I am considering it an investment in my experience with orchids.

I ordered spray bottles last night. They should arrive Friday. I intended to buy cinnamon but forgot to add it to my order. I do have some spaghnum, but I am using sheets of newspaper right now because it will be easier to unwrap frequently and see what is going on with the roots. I hope to be able to get them outsidecsnd into fresh air for short periods, too.

I am doing my best to keep roots moist, but not dripping and make sure that water does not stay in and on the greenery. While I would like for them to have more,air circulation, I don't want to leave them unattended outside. them Let me know if this is the correct management.

Decided that I needed to err in the other direction last night.

I bagged each group or plant in plastic produce bags and let them sit for a few hours. Then dumped the water out before bed. This morning, I brought them outdoors unwrapped and laid them on cardboard to try to dry out.

But it got warm and sunny, so I did not want to leave them. They are still dripping wet, with water between the leaves. I wrapped the root ball in paper, stuck it back in the plastic bag then a pot. Shoved them all into a larger small trash can. This time, I was careful to only wrap the roots in plastic.

I am trying to dry out the greenery by putting strips of paper folded into a "V" between the leaves. I have not finished, I needed to do other things. I have changed my tool twice, from a popsicle stick to a plastic coffee stirrer and now a pointed stick of a more flexible plastic.

They are back in the house again.

I have ordered a glass spray bottle (to arrive Friday) so that I can just wet the roots, not entirely soak them. I think this will accomplish a few things. I will be able to control the amount of water, save time and effort removing the excess water, and also lower the chance of any cross contamination of the plants.

I also have some Epidendrum and Phals that need to be in the plant I am. Also non-orchid plant issues. And what about the orchids I bought back in the spring? How are they?

[Dollythehun]

I'm sure I'll be corrected if I'm wrong but, I think you are waaaay overthinking this thing. Are you not able to go to the store and buy cinnamon and spray bottles? It might be cheaper.

I've rescued a few and I would just soak it to plump up the roots and not worry too much about a little water in the leaves. That thought is mostly for phals. Also, in and out and in and out is not good either. Find a method and stick to it. My opinion, worth what you paid for it.