How the roots look like in an orchid
How the roots look like in an orchid
Often, beginners do not know how to distinguish the dead roots of orchids from living and how to maintain this plant. Orchid is an epiphytic plant, and the conditions of its maintenance are special.
Instructions
1
The main task of the root of any plant isabsorb moisture from the environment, along with the nutrients and minerals contained therein. The plants living in the ground absorb the moisture directly by the entire surface of the root, and therefore their root system looks quite different from that of the orchids. In natural conditions, orchids, like all other epiphytes, settle on tree trunks or on rocks, and their roots are constantly in the air, open to all winds. In connection with this, their structure is different than that of the roots of an ordinary plant. The roots of the orchids are very thick, and are in a peculiar cover, which protects them from drying out and is called a velaman.
2
In the natural habitat, the cyclist on the rootsorchids easily absorbs moisture draining from the trunk of the tree and stores in the right amount. Together with water, he stores both minerals, and products of rotting organic matter, the necessary orchid for development. The root of the orchid often grows moss - this unique synthesis helps to retain and absorb moisture. The root shell is 70% of its volume - the root itself is small and is inside. As the moisture from the velaman is pulled out by the root to feed the plant, if the new one does not arrive, the shell around the root falls off, wrinkles, the root itself becomes brown instead of white-green.
3
Broken brown orchid roots are notsigns of non-viability of the plant. To know exactly, the root is dead or alive, it is possible only after the orchid has lain in warm water for a while. Live roots will be straightened, inflated and white, filled with moisture. Therefore, after buying a new plant, you should not cut off everything brown at once, considering it a source of rot and infection. Those roots that remain brown and wrinkled after an hour in warm water can be safely cut off as dead. But most of the brown and dry roots will be saturated with moisture and will take the usual volume and the usual white-green color.
4
The root of the orchid is not able to absorb moisture fromenvironment with little or no access to oxygen, as is the case with conventional plants. That is why an orchid is planted in a mixture of sphagnum and pieces of bark (in our latitudes it is taken most often pine, as least susceptible to decay). In the process of decomposition of the bark and moss orchid gets some of the nutrients it needs, but in general the bark is not food for orchids. In special nurseries, orchidariums, these plants safely develop completely without supports, tied with string to the column, and its roots look much more healthy than any growing on the windowsill in the orchid pot. If the plant likes the conditions, it will not slow it down by showing the growth of new roots, which will look even better than the old ones. The growing tips of the old roots have a bright green color and brightly shine.
