Snapped off a new root growth while potting
 

There it was, a beautiful bright green nubbin and
*SNAP*
its life was taken by the very hands that cared so gently for it from its beginning.
Repotting can be so violent.....

It's ok that I broke off a brand new root growth right? Like, my plant won't go in to shock just from that will it?
I assume this happens often in nature.

The poor thing though... So much life ahead of it. It never even reached the bark :'(

I with every crunch crunch of stuffing the potting mix in (don't worry I didn't go TOO tight but tried to be better about it than the last couple times) I felt like I was killing each and every root.

Will you pray for my plants?
They need it. Lol

You can tell I'm still new to orchids

Btw these were all phals I repotted today.

Just one new growing root? The plant will produce two or more new ones after you repot....just continue the culture and care....

I think that happens to all of us, sooner or later. It won't hurt the plant.

oh good.

Thanks guys

Roots get broken during repotting - the tiny new root nubs especially. But, that's part of the reason it's a good idea to repot when the plant is growing roots - any broken during the repot process are quickly replaced.

Love your post! It will be fine. I'm not new to orchids, but I did the same thing as you the other day. Don't be to hard on yourself it happens to the best of us!

^very true, Nikkik! I've done this myself... I'd suggest holding off watering for a couple/few days after the repot. It will allow the wounds to heal properly ;) Your phal will be perfectly fine, it'll throw out more roots in no time!

The reason some ppl recommend waiting a few days before watering a newly potted orchid, is b/c when you damage roots (scrapes, breaks, etc) during repotting, the wound, or broken "skin" (if you will), opens them up to the possiblity of infection, by allowing all the nasties to enter the plant's tissue ... So, by keeping the roots & media dry for a few days, it gives the wounds a chance to dry out, and heal... As opposed to being moist/wet, which keeps the wound from healing quickly (& we all know how much fungi, and bacteria like moist/wet conditions) ;)

Speaking of broken roots--

Say you have a root that is nice and green the whole way down, but here and there, it is broken and you can see that string in the middle. Cut or keep?
I kept this time bc the one that isn't doing well had a bunch of those and I cut them all bc I thought that any roots showing the string will die.
Some I saw were rotten in spots but green further down. Are they still useful to the plant?
These are on like all of my phals.
(Of course the one in question had those all chopped like I said)

Don't feel guilty about breaking a root, I do that all the time, wait and see how bad you feel when you accidentally break off a brand new pseudobulb that's just starting to grow. That can definitely ruin your day.

I have an (awful) uncanny knack for doing just that on Catts! GAH!