Can air roots be cut?

[greenpassion]

I have a phal that has a mass of long, fairly old and some funky (bent and girdled) roots. It's been in S/H for a long time, is doing well, and also has a great deal of new plump air roots. I would dearly love to cut or at least shorten some of these roots. They are quite cumbersome every time I have to take this plant to my kitchen sink to flush and add new water to the resevior. Would it hurt it to cut these roots off?

[Island Girl]

If you have plenty of roots in the media (enough roots that'll be able to sustain the plant on their own), then yes you can cut them if you want to.... You might lose a bottom (older) leaf or two...

Btw, "air roots" are the same as the roots down in the media.. They are just adapted to different conditions

Edited To Add: Personally, I am not sure I'd be able to stomach cutting healthy roots! Lol... But I've heard of experienced growers recommending to cut all (healthy) roots down to a third of their original amount, every time they repot (not just in s/h culture either, & its been recommended for a lot of different genuses too)... They say it encourages new (root) growth (but I'm not so sure this method would work for Phals.. But I dunno... As I've never been able to go thru with it! Lol)... I guess what I'm saying is, if it works for you, in your conditions, then by all means, do it!!

[tucker85]

I agree, I prefer not to cut healthy roots, but if it's necessary, it won't harm the plant much. If it's a healthy orchid it will just grow more roots. The newest roots on your plant are the healthiest so it might be best to trim only the older roots.

[Ray]

First, I think that roots should be idolized, not removed, but if they break, so be it.

As the plant is already established in S/H culture, you might consider putting it into a really big pot. These days, my phals go into pots about the same diameter as the leaf span.

Because the LECA medium wicks so uniformly and stays airy throughout, there is no fear of root-suffocating soppiness in the middle of the pot, AND I have found that the plants sink those so-called 'aerial" roots down into the medium.

Based upon that, I have concluded that in addition to being a means of water and nutrient uptake, those roots - usually emanating from somewhat higher on the plant's structure - provide mechanical support to the heavy upper part of the plant perched on that narrow base. Think "guy wires on an antenna tower".

[greenpassion]

Ray, how deep are your 'really big pots' ? I am surprised I guess, because I was under the impression that when phals are 'over potted', they end up spending a ton of energy trying to fill the pot, rather than putting out top growth and spikes. I unspotted a phal (planted in S/H for over a year) that just wasn't thriving, and found there were few roots down into the media. I put it into a smaller container, (using the same leca) and within 2 months it's started sending up spikes. At the moment, it has 2 spikes about 6 inches tall, and branching. Prior to this, nothing. I assumed it was due to the huge container it was in. ?? As far as the phal in question with all the air roots all over the place, the specific roots I'm questioning are not plump or vigorous as this plants newer roots are. The newer ones are fat, bright green tipped, no sign of dehydration, no 'girdled' appearance. Those I would never consider touching.

[Ray]

I have put phals from 3.5" pots into my 8.5" pots, which are about that tall.

The plant does not have to fill the pot with roots to be established - one in nature does not completely cover the tree with roots, does it? It DOES, however, have to feel properly anchored, and in my experience, once the roots reach the pot's sides, that's good enough.

Of course, the bigger the root system, the bigger the plant it can support. I find the plants alternate growth between the two...