What to do if orchids do not grow new roots or seedlings (orchids do not grow new shoots after a few months of planting)

An orchid lover asked: My orchid never grows new roots and the seedlings that sprout don’t grow either. What should I do?

If the orchid never grows new roots and the seedlings that sprout do not grow, there is a problem with the orchid's roots.

We should repot the orchids in time, check the root system of the potted orchids in detail, find out where the problems of "not growing new roots" and "not growing seedlings" arise, and then we can figure out how to solve them.

Some orchid lovers who are new to orchid cultivation find it difficult to grow orchids well because they don't quite understand the habits of orchids. Either the orchids don't grow new roots, or the seedlings that sprouted before don't grow.

The reason is mostly due to orchid root rot. As the saying goes, "To grow orchids, you must first take care of the roots." If the orchid's roots are good, the leaves will be vigorous and the flowers will be fragrant. The main reasons for root rot are as follows :

1) The cultivation material lacks water filtration and air permeability

A very important point is that orchid roots need to absorb oxygen from the gaps in the planting material in the orchid pot to breathe. If the planting material in the orchid pot does not drain smoothly and contains too much water for a long time, water accumulation will occur .

If the gaps in the planting material are filled with water molecules and lack oxygen, the orchid's roots will be deprived of oxygen, and its respiration will be blocked, leading to suffocation. Over time, the root system gradually loses its function.

At this time, if harmful bacteria invade and multiply, the root system will rot. If the roots are rotten, new roots will not grow, and the seedlings will not get nutrients and will not grow again.

2) The water quality is unclean or the pH is not suitable

The water for watering orchids must be clean and pollution-free, and its pH value should be between 5.5 and 6.5.

If the pH is below 5, it is slightly acidic water, which will limit the absorption of major elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The orchid seedlings will lack major nutrients, and the roots and leaves will stagnate and become stiff.

Moreover, the acidic environment is conducive to the growth and reproduction of pathogens of soil-borne diseases such as root rot, which harm the root system and cause orchid roots to rot and die.

If the pH is higher than 8, it is alkaline water, which will hinder the absorption of trace elements needed for orchid growth. The orchid roots and leaf buds will not be nourished by trace elements and will gradually wither, even turn yellow and rot.