Routine root loss?
 

Hi everyone :)

I have a question; I already asked about whether others ever loose roots after buying new plants ...(whether I repot or not, I guess the new watering schedual may be incorrect for many orchids' roots). But I also find that with some of my orchids (especially Oncidium alliance plants), they loose most of their roots every time I repot. New, healthy roots grow back, and are nice and healthy for the following year.

Does anyone else have this problem?

Thanks! :)

Cam

Are you always changing to another media? Roots grow according to what they are exposed to- if you change the potting media drastically, it's not uncommon for roots to die and new ones that are tailored to that environment to grow.

No, Im not changing to a different media. Actually, I should specify that it is not all of my orchid, mainly two. One is a Odontocidium and the other is a Sanderara. Also, its not so much about changing the media; the roots seem to last only one year; by the time they are repotted they are somewhat unhealthy looking, but a few weeks after repotting, can acutally be pulled off.

I think it's perfectly normal.

Root cells literally tailor themselves to the environment into which they grow. Once they have grown, they cannot change.

Move them into a new home or even into fresh medium, and that root zone environment has changed, so the plant must grow new roots that are right for the new environment.

The bigger the difference between the old and new, the more drastic the loss will be.

A few questions, please. What is your fertilizing routine? What do you use and how often? Also, what is your watering routine, how much and how often? Have you been keeping the plant too dry?