do "air" roots die if potted

[johnblagg]

"air" roots do not necessarily die if they are covered up it realy depends on how you cover them hydrotron and plenty of drainage they will live ...in rice hulls like I do phals they will do fine also if yo bury them in something that keeps them far wetter than they are used to and they stay constantly wet they will rot most likely bark or spagh for example ...but my equestrious keikis did not lose a single root in spagh that was just dumped in and left fluffy around them not packed at all and I fluff it bak up once in a while...see what I mean,its how much air is in the mix and drainage that are the issue.

[weederwoman]

You are lucky to grow in a climate like florida ( although I could not live there).The humidity is so low in the summer here that I am afraid to grow outside even in the summer. My plants never escape an artificial environment. I find I like my mounted plants and the pots with a lot of roots on top because I feel more in control when I can see the state of the roots so easily. Luckily I like to mist. I like seeing the roots turn from white to green.

[orchids3]

I lived in Carona Ca for a few years. Would have been more likely to bury roots there than I am in Fl..
We do have humidity here and rain and rain and rain.
By the way did I mention that it rains? Oh yes its hot. A slight bruise on a root and you get rot if you bury it here so would rather leave my aerial roots out. Same in the Philippines. I do remember reading in a paper written in the PI about getting the roots to adapt to a change if necessary - Keep dry plenty of air movement until repotting wounds heal. It can be done but why if its not necessary.

[maxwellt]

I’m a believer in burying the roots. Of course, as others have said, the medium you use is very important. You need to use a loose enough media to allow air to get to the roots.

As a note of explanation: The leaf structure of most orchids are significantly different than many other plants. They do no have pores that allow air (CO2 in and O2 out) and water vapour to flow in and out. This is why orchids don’t wilt when they dry out like other plants - like my poor poinsettia The function of respiration is done by the thick roots. Therefore they need access to air and water in order to supply the plant. I use sphagnum for my Phals and have recently started including a bit of sponge rock to increase the air availability. Also, when I water, I water thoroughly and vigorously which serves to flush the old air out and let new air get down to the roots.

[weederwoman]

Do you feel you don't have enough humidity and/or can't water often enough if you have exposed roots? My mother grew up in Stratford and we went back there every summer of my youth to visit aunts and see the plays. I remember being chased by swans. I think I was a bit young for an appreciation of Shakespeare. The swans and the aunts' food were the highlights of my trips.

[orchids3]

How interesting. Have lived in or around Stratford for a lot of years. Worked for an aircraft company that is based there. Most of my 32 year employment was away from there. Lived in the same house as the actor who was King Lear once. Retired now for the past 10 years (oldern dirt) tied a snow shovel to the front of my car and drove south till noone knew what it was - thats where I stayed. Maybe you have something that looks like something good to pinch - to a swan - or to me for that matter. Good luck with the roots .

[Miadunn]

Originally Posted by Bud

That is correct. That is why it is adviced to repot when there are new growth. When the root system has just started the season’s active growth, and new roots are developing. It won’t change what will happen to the roots that are already there, but it will give the plant a chance to grow its new root structure to coincide with the environment you’ve placed it in, and the new root system can take over for the old roots that are going to die off because of the changes. Your plant will suffer the least amount of stress, and it will be ready to bloom abundantly for you once again!

Bud,

If I have recently purchased a Phal that has ending blooming should I wait to repot until I see new root growth? Are you saying that the exisiting roots will die when introduced to a new potting environment be that medium and pot? I currently just brought it home and sat it in a shadier place and haven't done anything to it. I am paranoid because this was an exchange to a healthier plant with tons of roots from a dead one at Home Depot.

I think I will try this one with a mixture of bark I just bought and some moss mixture I had from Repotme...Just wondering if I should hold off or if when I do repot it it will seem to do worse before it gets used to the new environment...

Thanks!