Orchids

[Mags22]

Missed the answer to question yesterday - I'm new to orchids and wonder what aerial roots are? I have three ' things' growing out of the pot that aren't stems as I would know stems, so what do I do with them? ought I to re-pot to bigger pot? Thanks for any help and Merry Christmas

[atalanta]

Leave them alone. Orchids don't actually need pots. If you ever visit the orchid farms of Thailand, you will see thousands of plants hanging above your head from a nylon-mesh "ceiling" with nothing but a framework round the roots which look like a bunch of lolly-sticks. They get sprayed with water/fertiliser from time to time, and they flourish.

[Mags22]

Thanks Atalanta

[hammerman]

There are two types of Orchids....terrestrial which need soil to grow and include most of our native orchids and epiphytic orchids which use a host to cling to and get their nutrients and moisture from the large aeriel roots or taken in through the leaves.

Most supermarket orchids such as Phaelenopsis (moth orchid) produce thise big aeriel roots. Don't cut them off but give them a mist every so often. I wouldn't pot it either...most orchids like having their roots squashed up a bit.

have a look at this website http://everything-orchids.com/