?? Please watch the video?? - Page 6 - Orchid Board

Wynn Dee13 · #51 04-22-2012, 08:29 PM

Cutting roots is nothing like ripping a persons intestines out! Come on! Orchids aren't human! They are plants! They can't feel there roots being cut off. I think that statement is a little too dramatic! You guys act like orchids are newborn babies or something. They are strong vigorous plants. If they were not then they wouldn't be the biggest flowering plant family there is. Let's be a little more realistic here. You are comparing cutting orchid roots to murdering someone! That is ridiculous!!

All my orchid books recommend cutting the old leafless stem off when repotting a monopodial orchid that is growing that way. I didn't make that technique up I learned it while reading about orchids. I'm not someone that just bought their first orchid and doesn't know anything about them. I have been growing orchids for years and I am not the only one that has said that this is a perfectly fine thing to do. Everyone has their own way of growing orchids. If you don't like my way then don't grow your plants like I do.

Leafmite · #52 04-22-2012, 09:12 PM

Okay, did some research. This isn't recommended for all monopodial orchids. If you have Angraecums, it is typically better just to leave them be. There are others, too. Certain vandas/vandaceous orchids never grow roots along the stem. Some species phals that are very slow growing or are not as hardy are also not good candidates. Before doing this to your orchid, a little research is always recommended. But, for a majority of monopodial orchids that vigorously grow roots along the stem and are tough, this works very well and is a good solution. Again, do research first and make the judgement based on the growth habit and hardiness of the orchid.

Wynn Dee13 · #53 04-22-2012, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leafmite

Okay, did some research. This isn't recommended for all monopodial orchids. If you have Angraecums, it is typically better just to leave them be. There are others, too. Certain vandas/vandaceous orchids never grow leaves along the stem. Some species phals that are very slow growing or are not as hardy are also not good candidates. Before doing this to your orchid, a little research is always recommended. But, for a majority of monopodial orchids that vigorously grow roots along the stem and are tough, this works very well and is a good solution. Again, do research first and make the judgement based on the growth habit and hardiness of the orchid.

I agree. I don't think this is for every orchid but for some it works. It depends on the plant. Every plant is different. I never said to do this to all your plants. I just said that it is okay in certain situations.

FairyInTheFlowers · #54 04-22-2012, 09:22 PM

Look, first off, I am the kind of a person to go head first into something that I like; when I first starting getting into orchids, I read approximately two dozen books front to back on orchid culture in a few weeks, and I NEVER read anything about cutting back a leafless stem that contained most of the roots on it. In all my Phals, a very large proportion of the roots come out of the bottom section of the plant were there are no leaves, so if I were to cut the part of the stem off without any leaves, every time I repotted them, I would be cutting off a large amount of healthy roots, and setting my plants WAAAAY back.

Secondly, the reason I am meeting you with so much resistance: I, as well as most other people, first get into orchids with a Phalaenopsis, and most of the times the plants bought from a grocery store already have problems. This forum has always contained a large proportion of people new to orchids, and speaking from a commercial point of view, with today's economy, the orchid hobby is in a precarious position. I myself want to begin breeding with Phals soon, and eventually hope to become a commercial sized seller. So, I am going to ensure that someone who is first starting to grow orchids does not come and see this thread, see this horrific mutilation and someone who has misinterpreted information condone what is done, then go out and do this to their perfectly healthy orchid. More likely than not, the plant will die, or if not, suffer extreme setbacks, and then there is a good chance they are put off of orchids, or at the minimum, phals. So I am protecting people and their plants by saying that this is THE MOST inappropriate thing to do with a sick Phalaenopsis.

Leafmite is correct, there are some monopodials, mainly just Vandas and close relatives, that can handle this, as they prolifically produce roots and grow quite fast, which means that it is quite easy for a leafless, rootless, section of stem to develop. Phals on the other hand, produce leaves quite slowly and much closer together than vandas, so most of the roots tend to be right behind the bottom leaf.

And Wynn, I don't think you ever happened to mention when a situation would call for measures such as this? If this is such a good method, is there any reason for us to believe that the woman in that video knew next to nothing, and was just another misled novice? Once again, I am protecting the novices, someone might come along, and not getting a clear answer, go ahead and follow through with it and kill their plant.

Bud · #55 04-22-2012, 09:49 PM

It took me years to grow those roots to that fat pencil like and long length...judging by what she cut it must be 4 years of growth...the leaves is best left alone til it falls off; the plant processes its food in the leaves no matter how limp it gets...
I would buy a pot to fit my roots not to cut the roots to fit my pot...or I will make one(from plastic food take outs to old glass vase)
I am not even bothered by old dead roots...it will just disentegrate on its own; not unless its a wet decaying mess attracting bacteria and fungus then I will cut it off.
Whoever taught her to repot a Phal must be a hedge cutter...
of course we see other videos that are properly done...
This video is definitely wrong and a bad influence to newbies.

*its not a repotting method its "bag and revive" your phal technique...less leaves and almost no roots left=the next step is to sphag and bag it

Leafmite · #56 04-22-2012, 10:10 PM

I have quite a few orchids with climbing roots. This has prompted me to do quite a bit of reading. Wow.

Mira-Claude · #57 04-22-2012, 10:18 PM

I think my problem here is not the technique itself. I can live with drastic. Heck I have to take pretty drastic measures in stride at work.
My main problem here is the advertisement of it.
It's like telling someone: you are in pain? Here's a miracle med! But without giving any pointers as to the dosage, times, side effects and restrictions.
This technique helped me save a sick vanda a year back. The orchid is still alive, barely. It would be dead without major cutting. True. But hell would I do it to a healthy one.
Roots absorbs water and nutriments, leaves process and store. Take it off and you just added damage to a beautiful SLOW and INTOLERANT plant. Yes orchids are hardy plants, but most people seem to forget; they don't grow in trees, on rock and in hard to reach places for nothing. They grow there because they do not tolerate competition. It makes them one of the only plant worldwide to thrive that way which allowed it to have such a wide variety.
Cutting should be done in a very clean way, and the plant should be left to dry or be clogged with cinnamon, peroxide or physan. Pots for novice should be chosen less randomly. The tightest post for the roots and if possible with more airflow. Most plants bought in superstore are over potted. Using the same pot again might not be the best idea there is mostly after that many cuts. And the medium should be rinsed.
And as for the amount of roots. That is what my Purple Martin put out in a year. She currently sits in a 5'' with nearly no medium and she is flowering, pregnant, making a leaf (her 11th) and growing more roots. Next year I'll have to over pot again. Bring it on!

FairyInTheFlowers · #58 04-22-2012, 10:28 PM

Ooo, off topic, but your Purple Martin is pregnant? I didn't know you were interested in breeding Phals! Who's the father? Lol, maybe we can continue this conversation in a PM?