what to do when the stem and the roots get too long?

[OrchidNut555]

Hello!

I am new to growing orchids, so i don't know a lot yet.

I do have 2 questions:

-A mature orchid will keep producing leaves. I can imagine that after X amount of years, you'll have a very long orchid stem with a lot of leaves attached to it. I'd like to shorten the stem back someday then, when it gets too big and large for my liking. I'm not sure how to do this, but i have seen it being done on youtube in one video. The top portion that was cut off had a single root attached ans survived and bloomed. So if you do this i would assume you cut off a top portion which has some (most likely) air roots and keep those moist, while waiting for media roots to grow? is this correct? or how would i need to go about this? do i place it in sphagnum moss after or in media? How would the methods be different for a phal and let's say, a dendrobium?

-I can also imagine that the root system in the media will become larger and larger over X amount of years as well. i can imagine you'd eventually have to place the orchid in a very very large pot someday then, and that it will still keep on growing more roots and keep on needing bigger and even bigger pots. I don't really like the idea of having the roots become so big that i need a massive pot for it and that the roots then keep on growing still. i'd like to prune these someday, to keep it all a bit manageable. I know people don't advise this, but i don't exactly feel comfortable with a never ending root system that never stops taking up more space. How would i go about pruning all of the roots back to a good length, without having to leave some of the giant ones intact as they'd be in the way for what i like?

I hope my questions don't sound too dumb or idiotic. I'm very new and this is quite a concern for me, as i don't know what to do at all.

Thank you for reading, and thank you in advance
have a lovely day <3

[Roberta]

Welcome to the forum.
Remember, orchids grow very slowly compared to most other plants. I think you are referring to Phalaenopsis (mompodial), which gets taller rather than growing along a rhizome like a Cattleya or Oncidium. To get one that is so large that you have to worry about the size, could take quite a few years. (By that time, you will be in love with it, and probably have lots more orchids) So this would be a high-class problem. I think, worry about this when it happens. But rather than trying to cut a Phal down to size (which will probably kill it), maybe better to find a new home for it and buy a smaller plant.

[OrchidNut555]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Welcome to the forum.
Remember, orchids grow very slowly compared to most other plants. I think you are referring to Phalaenopsis (mompodial), which gets taller rather than growing along a rhizome like a Cattleya or Oncidium. To get one that is so large that you have to worry about the size, could take quite a few years. (By that time, you will be in love with it, and probably have lots more orchids) So this would be a high-class problem. I think, worry about this when it happens. But rather than trying to cut a Phal down to size (which will probably kill it), maybe better to find a new home for it and buy a smaller plant.

Hi, thank you!

I was thinking the same thing. it's just the video i saw gave me hope and i would prefer to not have to find a new home for it, but i would still keep it as an option but more as a last resort option

they cut it and the lower part got a keiki and the upper part got new roots and bloomed. i also agree this is a problem years from now, but my autism (asperger's) tends to make me worry a lot about the future.

what about the root system?bc i was worreid about both the stem and root system both growing gigantic.

thank you for your quick response

edit: this is the first video of the successful cutting, in case you'd like to see:

[Roberta]

It can work, but most of the time it doesn't....they won't show you the unsuccessful ones.

So relax, enjoy your orchids in the moment. Orchids teach patience, since they do everything so slowly.

[OrchidNut555]

ah ok

i just thought it would be possible as some other growers told me the oldest parts of the phal die at some point and the plant has new roots in the newer upper parts then?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by OrchidNut555

ah ok

i just thought it would be possible as some other growers told me the oldest parts of the phal die at some point and the plant has new roots in the newer upper parts then?

Indeed, the lower parts do die, and when they do they can be trimmed. Which will keep the plant under control. But this takes place over quite a few years. It is also possible, in that time, for the plant to produce new plants (basal keikis) that will spread horizontally. Depending on parentage, the plant will employ various strategies to perpetuate itself. Part of the thrill of orchid growing is to observe the plants and see what they do.

[OrchidNut555]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Indeed, the lower parts do die, and when they do they can be trimmed. Which will keep the plant under control. But this takes place over quite a few years. It is also possible, in that time, for the plant to produce new plants (basal keikis) that will spread horizontally. Depending on parentage, the plant will employ various strategies to perpetuate itself. Part of the thrill of orchid growing is to observe the plants and see what they do.

This is great to know! this solves my worry about the plant becoming too big!

thank you! orchids are beautiful.

ps: i do indeed plan to have quite some orchids! dendrobium, oncidium, and others are on my list

[Arizona Jeanie]

Hello Orchid Nut!
I'm not an expert, but here's my experience with Phalaenopsis orchids. As they grow up, they do tend to lose the lower leaves, and can develop a stem (not the flower stem, the plant itself) that's difficult to fit down into the pot when re-potting. My space is quite limited, so I have to keep them contained. I've now trimmed off the bottom of the stem on several orchids in order to keep them in the container. The stem is surprisingly tough and woody, I had to use heavy garden clippers to get through it. The cut end calloused overnight, I repotted into fresh media, and they just kept going with no problems. I discarded the cut-off end, in my case it has been rootless and leafless.
I find the roots don't seem to live forever, new ones grow and old ones die. Also the humidity is very low where I live, the aerial roots tend to die back during the hot and dry summer season. I've never had to prune roots, the plant itself seems to keep them in balance.
I think that to some extent, every container-grown plant will have the same problem. If it does well, it will outgrow its pot, becoming top-heavy and root-bound, and the potting soil will become nutrient depleted but full of accumulated salts. So to keep container plants healthy, they need to be repotted from time to time. With succulents and houseplants, I tend to restart them from a division or cutting every few years. I just don't have room for huge pots. I have some plants that I've had for over twenty years, there's no need to discard them for getting big. I often end up with several plants, I'll keep one and share or donate the others.
Having over-grown plants is a good problem to have!
Happy gardening

[camille1585]

I agree, it takes a long time for a Phal to grow so big that you have to start thinking about cutting it, and the ' legginess' of a Phal can depend on its genetics. And when it does, don't wait for it to reach the state its in in the video. You can already do some "housekeeping" when repotting. I repot my Phals every 2-3 years and when I do I take the time to assess the plant. Often there is a portion of stem in the pot, at the very base of the plant, which is dead and has no roots, or a few very poor roots. By cutting that off, the plant can be set lower in the pot when repotting. I've generally done this on my older Phals, ones that I've had for more than 5-6 years.

As to root mass, also talking about Phals, its not too often a problem. There are always old unhealthy roots to trim when repotting, and if you soak the roots before repotting, the plant can often be coaxed back into the same pot. I've rarely needed to put them in a larger pot until I've had them for many years. For other orchids, it depends a lot on the type. Cattleyas like to wander, and it's more the growths rather than roots which are problematic. Oncidium types tend to develop massive root systems, and monster pots can be inevitable for some (Onc Sharry Baby is a good example)