It seemed very difficult or even impossible. Today orchids different types can be found in any flower shop; they decorate many homes. As it turned out, orchids are not so capricious and feel good in our apartments. Caring for these plants is not difficult, but it has some features, the observance of which is guaranteed to bring success, and the orchids will delight you for a long time. lush flowering. It is especially important in care, which differs from watering most indoor plants.

Methods of watering orchids

Excess moisture for orchids is even more dangerous than its lack. To provide the roots with air flow, orchids are planted in a special loose substrate, consisting mainly of tree bark. When watering, water easily penetrates through pieces of bark, but if you water excessively, the liquid accumulates in a flowerpot or other container, which can cause rotting of the roots. That's why the usual way, which is suitable for indoor plants, is unacceptable for orchids. They need to be watered with a thin stream of water along the edge of the flowerpot, trying not to get into the center of the plant, where the growth point is located. After this, you need to drain all the water that has collected in the pan. If water gets on the growing point, it must be carefully removed with a napkin.

It is better to do it by immersion. This method is especially good for orchids growing in baskets or flower pots. The basket with the plant is immersed in water for a couple of minutes, and then the water is allowed to drain and returned to its place.

Orchids can be bathed two or three times a month, which has a very good effect on their general condition and stimulates growth. You can bathe plants under a warm shower. To prevent hard tap water from getting on the roots, the pot can be placed in plastic bag. After taking a shower, the plants are left in the bathroom for a while so that the water drains and the leaves dry. Such bathing replaces watering orchids and cleanses the plant well from the accumulation of dust, microorganisms and pests.

Water required for irrigation

Watering orchids should be done in the first half of the day. To do this, use well-settled water. room temperature. These plants cannot tolerate hard water, as in nature they use soft rainwater. Reducing hardness is achieved by boiling water and then settling. Some use distilled water, but it does not contain any salts and watering orchids with this water can only be done after adding some regular tap water or adding special fertilizers.

For orchids, it is very important that watering is regular, without long dry periods. Of course, plants can withstand not being watered for several days, but this will inevitably affect plant growth.

It is worth mentioning the intensity of irrigation in different phases plant growth. Throughout the entire period, watering should be approximately the same intensity, with a frequency of once every two to three days. Increase watering of orchids slightly during flowering, as the plant requires a large number of nutrients. Transplanting orchids during flowering is undesirable and can only be done for some urgent reasons. During the plant's dormant period, watering is reduced to once a week.

Aerial roots are a kind of modification of the root system and are located in the above-ground part of the plant. With their help, rainwater and oxygen are absorbed from the air. This type of root system can be found in many tropical plants, provided there is an insufficient amount of mineral salts in the soil layers.

General information

Aerial roots perform a variety of functions. In many plants, this version of the root system is a supporting formation and supports the above-ground part.

In epiphytes, a root system of this type develops in order to collect moisture from the atmosphere, which is due to special conditions natural environment habitat of plants and the lack of water in the bark of trees on which they live. The aerial root system is equipped with a special type of spongy cover, which is called "Velamen". This cover is made up of cells that greedily absorb moisture and work on the principle of capillaries. The aerial root system of epiphytes never penetrates the soil layers.

It is interesting that in some exotics the aerial root system is represented by green assimilating roots that perform functional purposes leaves and sometimes taking on a flattened shape.

The structure of orchid aerial roots

The aerial root system is represented by rather thick cylindrical or flat roots, which are covered with spongy tissue. This shell is called velamen, and the principle of its operation is similar to a sponge, which absorbs and accumulates moisture, as well as nutrients. Thus, the plant obtains the necessary moisture from rain and even fog.

On dry days, the shell serves to protect the root system from drying out and is a capacious reservoir for moisture. Under the velamen there are vascular-type bundles that deliver water to the leaves.

Dry velamen can be white or silver-steel. Wet roots have a green tint, which is due to the presence of symbiotes or chlorophyll. Chlorophyll allows orchid roots to participate in photosynthesis.

Phalaenopsis root system

According to her appearance stage can be recognized active growth plant, which is accompanied by a bright green coloration of the ends of the roots. Old velamen has a pale green color.

Periods of rest in phalaenopsis are rare. As a rule, the root system grows constantly. If bright green roots do not appear for several months, you should adjust the care of your indoor orchid.

Rotting of the phalaenopsis root system is the most common problem that gardeners have to face. Typically, root rot is the result of too much moisture in a flower pot. Stagnation of water can be avoided by controlling the watering of the substrate and adjusting the number of drainage holes in the pot. In addition, irrigation water must not remain in the pan.

The presence of several empty or dry roots on an orchid is normal and completely natural. Dried parts of the aerial root system should be cut off and damaged areas should be treated with powdered coal. Pruning must be done as carefully as possible.

Massive drying of orchid roots may be an indicator insufficient level humidity. You can correct the problem by placing a container with wet expanded clay pebbles next to the plant.

How to distinguish healthy orchid roots from rotten ones (video)

Signs of problems with the root system

Orchids are delicate and rather capricious indoor plants that require special conditions and troublesome care. However, even if all procedures are carried out in accordance with the requirements, you may encounter the problem of excessive growth of the aerial root system or drying out or, conversely, rotting of the adventitious root system. Quite often it is necessary to revive indoor orchids. Often those left without aerial roots plants.

The prerequisites for root rot are the following violations of the orchid growing regime:

• abundant and too frequent watering;
• significant volumes of moisture intake at cool temperatures;
• unsuitable or depleted planting substrate, which dries out for too long and retains water at the phalaenopsis root system;
• having a damaged root system.

At the first signs of pathological changes in the orchid root system, measures should be immediately taken to eliminate traumatic factors. If the disease has become too severe and advanced, then more radical measures are required to restore the healthy state of the indoor plant.

Treatment of aerial roots

If it is noticed that the root system of an indoor tropical plant has damaged areas with rotting, they should be removed with sharp scissors or a knife. The instrument must be disinfected using alcohol-containing products or ordinary boiling water, after which it must be dried. It is allowed to heat the instrument over an open fire.

Using a sharp and clean instrument, the dead tissue of the root system should be trimmed as thoroughly as possible, down to unaffected areas. At the next stage, all cut areas are sprinkled with activated pharmaceutical powder, crushed to a dusty state. charcoal.

For several days after the manipulations, it is strictly forbidden to water the orchid. Indoor plant at this stage it should have fully recovered from the pruning procedure. Watering can cause further spread of rot to healthy plant tissue.

It should be remembered that orchids are different high level survivability, and the loss of even almost the entire root system, provided the correct treatment measures are taken, will not lead to the death of the plant.

The only condition is to thoroughly dry the phalaenopsis and plant it after pruning not in a bark-based substrate, but on sphagnum moss. The plant needs to be periodically sprayed with clean warm water from a spray bottle. After some time, the flower produces new roots. When sufficiently strong roots appear, the indoor orchid can already be moved to a regular planting substrate.

Experienced gardeners, as well as those just starting to grow indoor orchids, from time to time encounter problems with the root system of plants.

Orchids: removing rotten roots (video)

To minimize the likelihood of rotting or drying out of the root system, you should follow the regime and volume of watering the flowers, as well as strictly monitor the integrity of the root system and choose the planting substrate wisely. In addition, it is important to comply temperature regime. Drying of aerial roots in orchids is much less common. This situation occurs when irrigation measures are insufficient and can be easily corrected by changing the irrigation regime.

The drying process means loss of stiffness, elasticity of leaves or flowers.

At the same time, the dried part of the plant turns yellow and loses its life-giving moisture. Also in the damaged area photosynthesis stops, there are no vital processes, we can say that dying off occurs.

We talked about the reasons why phalaenopsis leaves turn yellow and what to do in this situation.

It is believed that the plant begins to dry out due to lack of moisture. The statement is partly true, but there are also a number of factors influencing the condition of the plant. We will talk about them in detail below. As for watering phalaenopsis, of course, this is really important.

Why do different parts of the plant dry out?

The beautiful phalaenopsis loses its attractive appearance - a sad picture is created. Of course, dryness is directly related to disruption of biochemical processes, but it is worth understanding the factors, because knowing exactly why leaves, buds and roots, including aerial ones, dry out will help determine how to act to revive the orchid.

The appearance of dried parts of phalaenopsis indicates various types of ailments or natural processes.

The main danger is to react to the first symptoms in time. It is important to provide timely assistance to a sick phalaenopsis, because the consequences are fraught:

• complete drying of the roots;
• deterioration general condition against the background of infectious diseases;
• developmental disorder;
• cessation of flowering.

Help algorithm depending on the cause

Foliage, flowers, roots dry out and fall off. Any gardener can face a similar problem.

Of course, everything is clear with natural processes. As a result of aging, parts of the plant periodically dry out and fall off. But young leaves, buds, healthy roots dry out, there is something wrong with this. Having understood the reasons for this phenomenon, it is worth looking for ways out of a difficult situation.

Overheating of roots

Orchids come from the tropics, so it’s not surprising that they love warmth. However, everything is good in moderation. Do not leave the plant in direct sunlight, near the heating radiator in winter time, or under a stream of hot air from an air conditioner.

Measures taken:

1. Remove the orchid from a warm place.
2. Let cool for 2-3 hours.
3. Afterwards, water a little and spray the leaves.
4. The plant can restore water balance up to 5 days.

Too wet content

Excessive moisture - serious problem for plants. Phalaenopsis damaged by rot begins to lose foliage. The leaves become soft and dry out.

Measures taken:

1. Remove the flower from the pot.
2. Leave to dry overnight.
3. Replant the orchid in new soil with a good drainage layer.
4. Water only after the soil has dried.

You will learn how to save phalaenopsis from rot and what to do if the roots disappear.

Stress

A sudden change of residence for orchids is a bit of a shock. After all, at the same time, lighting, temperature, and air humidity change.

Plants immediately respond to such changes. At first, the flower may stop blooming and shed its buds, but then everything will get better. It takes time to adapt.

Measures taken against stress: optimize comfortable parameters for keeping phalaenopsis at home.

The substrate needs to be changed regularly, and the plant needs to be replanted every 2-3 years. During this time, the soil is depleted and its structure changes. Natural components begin to decompose, salts accumulate, and drainage holes become clogged.

The root system begins to hurt and dry out, as a symptom - dry leaves, buds, aerial roots, peduncles.

Measures taken to change the substrate:

1. Remove the flower from the pot.
2. Rinse the roots under running water.
3. Remove damaged areas and treat sections with an antiseptic.
4. Leave to dry overnight.
5. Transplant the orchid into new soil enriched with minerals and a good drainage layer.

Replanting and replacing the substrate in an orchid.

Hypothermia

Quite often it occurs as a result of cold air entering the leaves. For example, when transporting a plant from a store to home, when the foliage comes into contact with glass, when it is -16ºC outside the window.

Hypothermia also provokes the release of buds. But do not despair, this phenomenon is short-lived.

Measures taken in case of hypothermia:

1. Dried leaves and flower stalks cannot be treated. They definitely need to be eliminated.
2. The plant does not need replanting. Just move it to a warmer place and don’t forget about regular moisturizing.

Phalaeonopsis – shade-tolerant plant, but this does not mean that he absolutely does not need sunlight. As a result of lack of lighting, leaves, aerial roots, and completely unformed buds dry out. In the absence of light, the process of photosynthesis slows down.

Measures taken:

1. Move to a more illuminated place.
2. If necessary, equip additional lighting.

Thermal burns

Sunlight should be in moderation. Phalaenopsis does not tolerate intense lighting.

Direct rays of the sun upon direct contact cause burns on the leaves. Not chosen correctly artificial lighting, less than 20 cm distance between the lamp and the flower provokes thermal burns.

Measures taken:

1. Remove the damaged sheet.
2. We transfer the plant to more comfortable place accommodation.

Thermal burns on an orchid.

Over- or under-nutrition

Fairly frequent use mineral fertilizers does more harm than good. This process is reflected in this way: the leaves, peduncle, roots dry, and the buds fall off during the flowering period. Lack of nutrients negatively affects the development of the plant.

Measures taken:

1. We take the plant out of the pot.
2. Soak the roots in warm, clean water.
3. We replant it in new soil and place it in a well-lit place.
4. You can fertilize after 2 weeks with weakly concentrated preparations.

Bacterial damage

Dangerous causes of damage to phalaenopsis are bacterial infections. The disease occurs in some parts of the plant, while not affecting others. As a result, the disease is quite difficult to recognize.

Measures taken:

1. Creating optimally comfortable conditions for phalaenopsis.
2. Move the diseased plant away from healthy flowers.
3. Remove damaged areas of the plant.
4. Spray the orchid with an aqueous solution of fungicide.

Leaves, roots dry, flowers fall off - as a result of infection of an indoor orchid. In particular: aphids, scale insects, whiteflies, mites, scale insects. Insects are located on the reverse side of the leaf and feed on the sap of the plant.

If pests are detected, you should:

1. Move the infected plant to another room.
2. Remove insects with a cotton swab.
3. If necessary, prune affected areas.
4. Wash the leaves with warm soapy water.
5. In case of severe damage, treat the plant with an intoxicant solution.

Moisture deficiency

A lack of fluid can occur in the complete absence of watering.

The plant vitally needs a minimum volume of water, which dissolves minerals, located in the soil, and nourishes the root system.

Measures taken:

1. We remove the orchid from the flowerpot.
2. Immerse in a basin of water until the earthen lump becomes limp.
3. Please note that water should not get on the leaves.
4. If necessary, place in a new pot.

What to do for prevention?

For full development, beautiful bloom and prevention from, the orchid needs competent care.

• Maintenance comfortable temperature in summer: +22-25ºС, in winter +16-18ºС.
• Lighting is required diffused, with a daylight duration of 14 hours.
• Humidity within 50-60%. Be sure to regularly ventilate the room.
• Orchids need to be fertilized 2 times a month, especially during the flowering period.
• It is better to spray phalaenopsis up to 5 times a day.

Houseplants, like people, need love, care, and attention. For this attitude, orchids will reward you with lush, bright, excellent flowering. AND long years will the best decoration your house.

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Orchids have aerial roots: is this a problem and what to do about it?

The aerial roots of orchids look a little predatory; what to do with them, and whether it is possible to make any manipulations with them at all - these are the main questions of amateur flower growers. You can answer them only by finding out the reason for the appearance of aerial roots.

Orchid roots can easily do without soil.

Aerial roots: disease or normal?

First of all, it is worth noting that the abundance of aerial roots is not a disease. The secret of their appearance lies in their habitat and care. As is known, under natural conditions, orchids, in particular phalaenopsis, which most often develop a large number of aerial roots, live on tree trunks and even on rocky rocks in crevices. This explains the presence of aerial roots of the orchid, because it is through them that the plant receives nutritional moisture, including from the air.

Orchid roots in wild conditions entwined with nearby trees.

Is it good or bad if phalennopsis has a lot of aerial roots? A lot of aerial roots is neither good nor bad, but only a reason to pay attention to the conditions of the plant and the irrigation regime. If the orchid is very hot, this stimulates the growth of aerial roots. In our small apartments We are used to using space as rationally as possible, so the window sill is almost the only place that is completely given over to flowers. But there are heating radiators under the window sills. In the cold season, orchids do not like this proximity: radiators heat and dry the air, there is not enough moisture for the plant, so the aerial roots grow in different directions, stretching in search of a source of moisture.

How to deal with this phenomenon? The simplest thing is to move the flower deeper into the room, away from the heat source. At the same time, it is important to remember that orchids are light-loving plants and require a lot of diffused light. In the depths of the room, the light may not be enough, and it is necessary to take care of an additional source of lighting - a phytolamp.

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Choosing the right filler for planting

Another common reason for the appearance of aerial roots is the wrong mixture for planting orchids. Phalaenopsis should be planted in specially prepared bark and moss; under no circumstances should an earthen substrate be used. Soil is a very dense substance for phalaenopsis roots, so they do not grow into the ground, but shoot up. Those who had experience of planting orchids in an earthen substrate could see from their own experience that the roots of the orchid rot in the ground.

This is it real reason for concern. You need to act immediately before the plant is completely destroyed. To do this, the rosette of the plant along with the roots must be removed from the pot, the roots must be thoroughly washed, disinfected, and blotted excess moisture and carefully remove rotten root shoots. After all the procedures performed, the plant must be planted in a new transparent flower pot, filled with fresh bark prepared for planting orchids.

Immediately after transplantation, phalaenopsis can be watered for some time only with purified water without adding fertilizers, so as not to burn it mineral solution weakened roots.

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Darkening of the roots

Sometimes dark (dark gray or brown) areas form on the roots of the orchid, including the aerial ones. This is also no reason to panic. Such spots appear as a result of watering plants with a solution of mineral fertilizers. As a result, salt deposits appear on the roots ( brown spots) or minor burns if the solution is very concentrated (dark gray areas). Such darkening does not threaten the health of the plant. But in the future the concentration of the solution can be reduced.

An orchid is one of the few domestic plants that has two types of roots at once - underground and aboveground, which are visible. Through them, the flower receives nutrition and moisture from the atmosphere during periods of drying out of the soil. And by their appearance, you can determine the health status of the entire plant. Orchids of the genus Phalaenopsis have the largest number of superficial roots.

Interesting!

The upper shell of aerial roots is similar in structure to a sponge, capable of absorbing (and even accumulating in some quantities) rainwater, carbon dioxide and oxygen from the air.

Superficial root shoots, which have a greenish tint when moistened, sometimes begin to wrinkle and dry out. At the first alarming symptoms, you need to find out why this is happening and eliminate the causes.

Causes of drying roots in orchids

Water shortage

The outer roots are the first to suffer from insufficient watering. Do not rush to cut them off - the shoots that appear dry may well turn out to be alive. But if they do not straighten out soon after heavy watering, it means they are dead.

Chemical burn from hard water and fertilizers

Even tough tap water can cause a burn. Water the orchids with settled, boiled or melt water. An increased salt content can be determined by its appearance: a brownish coating on the roots (deposits appear on them when water evaporates) and white on the top of the soil in the pot.

An overdose as a result of improperly diluted fertilizer also leads to defeat. Observe the proportions strictly. Feed strictly according to the schedule acceptable for this type and age of the plant.

In both cases of chemical burn, it is better to transplant the orchid into fresh soil, rinsing the root system in soft, warm water.

Low humidity

More often, the humidity in apartments decreases in winter, when the heating is on, from normal 30-60 to 20%. This is a critical number. Especially if the plant is located near heated radiators and begins to dry out.

The problem is solved by removing the flower pot away from heating and timely spraying. Moss, which is used to cover the drying shoots, helps a lot; it is only important not to moisten it too much and not to let it dry completely. Wet air It will help to make expanded clay (or a similar porous material) moistened with water, located next to the pot.

Injuries

You may not even notice how the root was injured during transportation or transplantation. The broken shoot, deprived of nutrition, will gradually begin to dry out.

Infectious diseases

The main danger is fungus. If it appears on aerial roots, then there is a possibility that the orchid:

• systematically waterlogged;
• contained at too low temperatures;
• has mechanical, even the smallest, damage to the root system;
• Contained in soil that is too dense and retains water.

Root restoration methods

Dead roots are completely removed down to living tissue with a sharp instrument, carefully observing that there are no lesions left on the sections, then sprinkled with cinnamon powder or wood ash (you can grind the tablet activated carbon). You cannot wet the wounds; they must dry out. It is better to refrain from watering for several days.