What to do with the old root system?

[chiirioz]

So these repotting vids have got me kind of confused.

I have a Monnierara that is in dormancy with two nubs. This last year, the plant completely filled the pot with a crazy amount of roots that accounts for two growth cycles. (Last year skipped dormancy so I just left it in the pot).

Before the new nubs start growing, I would like to repot.

Seems like in these vids, people are removing the entire old root system!

Is this something I should do? Will they still use the old roots or would it be better to just leave it? What do all of you do?

[fishmom]

From comments from Fred Clarke, I believe that the old roots continue to take up some water, but with much diminished efficiency. I like to leave at least some of them to help anchor the bulb in the new medium. I do strip off the outer layer if the pot is crowded, though. Then they just look like wires but still serve as anchors

[isurus79]

I also keep the old roots as anchors.

[estación seca]

Fred told our club he leaves old roots alone when he repots. When you cut or twist off old, dead, dried up psudobulbs their old roots come with them.

I have seen people advise cutting off all the roots before storing them dormant for the winter. This doesn't make any sense to me at all. Nobody runs around with a knife or clippers and does this in South America to all the wild ones.

Oh, and you can't believe everything you see on the Internet.

[AvantGardner]

If they’re unruly I trim them. But I’ll never strip a plant of all it’s roots.