Orchid Root Care: Keep Your Orchid Roots Healthy

If your orchid looks fine above the pot but isn’t blooming, the roots are the first place to check. Healthy orchid roots are firm and plump, with a green or silvery outer layer called velamen. Bad roots become brown, soft, and smell rotten. This page gives practical, no-fuss steps you can use today to check, fix, and protect orchid roots.

How to spot healthy vs damaged roots

Carefully slide the plant out of its pot and look at the roots. Healthy roots are firm, often green when wet and silvery when dry. Aerial roots (the ones growing in the air) are normal and help the plant absorb moisture and nutrients. Rotting roots are soft, dark brown or black, and fall apart when touched. If more than one-third of the roots are mushy, the plant needs action.

Also check the potting mix. Old bark that stays wet for days causes rot. If the mix smells sour or looks slimy, it’s time to repot. A clear plastic pot makes root checks easier — you can see moisture level and root health without disturbing the plant.

Fixing root rot and repotting step-by-step

1) Remove the orchid from its pot. Gently shake off old bark. If roots stick, soak the whole root ball in lukewarm water for 10–20 minutes to loosen debris.

2) Trim rotten roots with a clean, sharp pair of scissors. Cut back to firm tissue. Sterilize scissors between cuts with rubbing alcohol to avoid spreading disease.

3) Let the trimmed plant sit in fresh air for a few hours so cuts dry. This helps prevent new infections.

4) Repot into fresh medium — chunky bark, charcoal, or a mix made for epiphytic orchids. Use a pot with good drainage and a size that fits the roots without crowding. Place roots gently and work medium around them so air pockets remain.

5) Water only after a couple of days. Give the plant a good soak and let excess water drain away. Avoid leaving the plant standing in water.

Optional: a mild fungicide or a dilute hydrogen peroxide rinse can help if rot was severe. Use these carefully and follow product instructions.

Aftercare tips: Keep humidity around 40–70%, give bright indirect light, and feed with a balanced orchid fertilizer at half strength during the growing season. Water frequency depends on medium and environment — usually once a week in bark mixes, less in cooler months.

Trim dead roots during regular checks and repot every 1–2 years to refresh the medium. If your orchid has many aerial roots, you can leave them — they’re doing the job. If they dry out, mist them occasionally or increase humidity.

Final quick tip: small changes make big differences. Swap old bark for fresh mix, sterilize tools, and adjust watering rather than overhauling everything. Healthy roots = happier orchids and more blooms.