What to do if an orchid's roots are drying out

Root drying is a common problem when growing orchids. What causes this phenomenon, and what can be done to resolve it? The root system plays a vital role in the orchid's life cycle, determining the overall health of the plant, the quality of its foliage, and the duration of its flowering.

Reasons why orchid roots dry out

If improperly cared for, the orchid begins to suffer, primarily affecting its root system, where the roots begin to dry out. Some of the orchid's roots are submerged in the loose soil, while others remain exposed to the air. Sometimes, a blooming orchid can be seen with dry roots. However, even if the plant appears completely healthy, this is not always the case. To check the condition of the roots, remove the flower from the pot, free the roots from the soil, and visually inspect their condition. Below are the most common causes of root drying in butterfly orchids.

Signs of dry roots

Water shortage

The most common reason why a strong phalaenopsis root may dry out is lack of water, and the first visible sign of this is the increased growth of aerial roots in various directions. Green, springy roots indicate a healthy root system. However, if the roots have a grayish tint, are soft, easily pressed, or hollow, they urgently need watering.

The method of watering also plays an important role. Orchids are watered by thoroughly submerging the flowerpot in a container of water, so that the liquid level is level with the top layer of the substrate. Leave it there for 5-10 minutes to saturate the soil and roots with nutrient-rich moisture, then remove it and allow the excess water to drain.

Chemical burn from hard water and fertilizers

When growing orchids, it's important to ensure the plant is properly moisturized. When watering, it's best to use only settled, soft, or filtered water, such as rainwater or melted snow. Mineral salts found in hard tap water can burn the roots. This is indicated by dried-out roots, a brown coating on them, and a white coating on the soil surface.

When fertilizing a phalaenopsis, it's important to strictly adhere to the correct fertilizer concentration, first dissolving it in water and only then immersing the flower in the nutrient solution. A gardener's golden rule regarding fertilizers is: it's better to underfeed a plant than to overfeed it with beneficial micronutrients. Avoid pouring pure fertilizer directly onto the plant's root system. Burning the roots with fertilizer can permanently damage the orchid. This can kill not only the aerial roots, but also the roots inside the pot.

Low humidity

Since orchids are native to the tropics, they prefer a humid environment, but this doesn't mean they need to be constantly overwatered. The plants themselves often increase air humidity, as 97% of the water they receive evaporates through their leaves. Monitoring the substrate's moisture level and root conditions is the best approach.

Phalaenopsis aerial roots dry out sooner, so they require regular misting. This ensures moisture reaches both the leaves and the surface roots. After this treatment, it's important to wipe away any droplets of liquid in the recess of the rosette with a napkin to prevent rot.

Another solution is to create an artificial tropical environment for the plant. To do this, place the plant and its pot in a slightly larger container and place it in a warm, well-lit spot. Water as usual, periodically misting only the inside of the larger container. This way, the vapors from the phalaenopsis will remain in the larger pot. This process is not quick, but it is effective.

Injuries

Careless handling can cause injury to the plant. Damaged plant tissue becomes a weak point through which fungi and microbes can infect the flower. If a part of the orchid is injured or infected, it must be removed along with a piece of healthy tissue to prevent the spread of infection. Removal is performed with a hot instrument, and the cut is treated with a fungicide.

Infectious diseases

Orchids can sometimes be affected by infectious diseases. This can be caused by infection from another plant, or by external factors such as sudden temperature changes, drafts, overwatering, or excessive fertilization.

The appearance of dark or light-colored bumps and spots on the plant indicates a fungal disease. It is crucial to isolate the affected plant from others to protect them from infection. Damaged orchid leaves can be treated with tetracycline diluted in warm water. You can remove the infected leaves and treat the cut area with activated charcoal. However, saving the plant is very difficult.

When black spots appear, the plant is infected with black rot. Saving the flower is virtually impossible. When the growing point rots, the neck of the flower is affected, causing the leaves to turn yellow and fall off, and the plant dies.

If the leaf surface becomes covered with brown spots, it's called brown spot. Then, ulcers with oozing sap appear in the area of ​​the spots. If treatment is delayed, there's nothing left to do.

Powdery mildew, a fungal disease, causes plant leaves to become covered with a white coating. Unfortunately, treatment is not guaranteed to be successful.

Rust is very rare and is characterized by the appearance of brownish-red spots. The plant grows poorly. Affected leaves are trimmed and treated with Fitosporin.

In case of all these diseases, it is better to destroy such a plant so as not to harm the others.

Methods of root restoration

If an orchid's leaves are wilting and dried roots are discovered upon inspection, the plant needs immediate resuscitation. Several methods are used to restore phalaenopsis roots.

• Dried roots can be revived by soaking them in warm water for several hours. Then, let the pot dry for a few days, and repeat the process as often as necessary until the roots return to normal.
• If the flower has completely lost its roots and the leaf has lost its elasticity, then restoration should begin with nourishing the leaves with nutrient solutions. For this, use succinic acid, wiping it on both sides of the leaf blades.
• To revive the roots, create nutrient cocktails: solutions of 1 liter of water with 1 teaspoon of glucose, sugar, or honey added. Soak the roots in the resulting mixture for 6 hours. Repeat this process every 2-3 weeks.
• They use "Kornevin" - a biological product that stimulates root growth.
• One option is to transplant the flower into a new substrate.
• Good results are achieved by fertilizing with potassium-phosphorus fertilizer once every 15-20 days.

The recovery process lasts from 3 weeks to 6 months, until new roots appear.

Strict adherence to all growing conditions and an individual approach to each specimen will allow the orchid to thrive and delight those around it with its luxurious flowers.

Reviews

1. I received a beautiful Phalaenopsis orchid for my birthday, but I have no experience growing it, as it's my first orchid. I examined the pot from all sides, and everything seems fine, with plenty of blooms. Thank you for the article; I hope I can avoid the problem of dry roots.

2. I'm really worried about my flowers right now. I opened the window to get some fresh air and forgot to close it when I left the house. It seems like I froze them; they're completely wilted, and one even lost a few petals. I don't know if they'll recover or if I should give up hope.

3. I'm just admiring orchids from the sidelines for now; I think they're so difficult to care for. I really like the Phalaenopsis and the Blue Vanda.