Do I need to repot my orchid to bury the roots?

[MushroomTree]

I repotted it less than a year ago and since then roots have grown out the top. Do I need to do it again to get them under the soil?

I'm sure I remember reading that you should only repot them about every 2 years or so.

Picture of roots attached in case I haven't explained well.

No, orchids do grow some roots into the air and extract some moisture from the air. It looks in a good state - I would leave it for now.

There are quite a few websites and videos online about reporting and caring for orchids.

I think orchid roots also photosynthesise?? Or they like seeing light anyway, so they need to be in a clear pot. So I would take it out of the ceramic pot you have.

My DH (whose passion is orchids) says it looks fine and to leave it.

If you're on Facebook there is lots of info on the following group.

m.facebook.com/groups/633457433716551?ref=bookmarks

m.youtube.com/watch?v=kSkEWB1-kYY

Thanks everyone. I had a look online and there's almost too much advice and a lot of it conflicting.

@perhapstomorrow what does your DH say about watering them? I've read about putting the pot in water once a week/fortnight but also that you shouldn't water them too often.

Joining in as I love orchids (and am getting better at keeping them alive).

I have had the most success by soaking the bottom half of the pot in water for at least six hours, or even overnight, once a week. Then drain well.
As a pp said, orchid roots need light so you need to take it out of the ceramic pot and buy a glass one - this reduces the number of roots that grow upwards.
By doing these two things and nothing else I've had orchids with masses of flowers and very few of those ugly straying roots.

@MushroomTree my MIL is obsessed with orchids and she gave me her watering tips and I’ve now got quite a few healthy orchids.

She says you should water them with cooled boiled water. Put the water between the inside and outside pots and leave it there for 2 - 3 hours. Then tip all the remaining water out. Repeat every 2 weeks. She was a bit vague about how often to use fertiliser so I only do it once every 6 months

@MushroomTree I kind of agree with the pp- you need to put the inside plastic see through pot inside a decent fitting outside pot but mine seem fine in a normal ceramic outside pot

Thanks everyone.

I'll try the new watering method.

It's in a clear plastic pot and then inside a ceramic one. I'll see if I can track down a glass pot to put the clear one in.

I'll see if I can track down a glass pot to put the clear one in. That's not necessary. But they'll produce a lot of surface roots like yours have, and those need to be allowed to get to the light. If they're plump and a pale silvery green, then your orchid is in good condition.

@MereDintofPandiculation I gave it and my other smaller one a good soak yesterday and now have both pots sat on saucers rather than in ceramic pots. The surface roots are as you describe so I assume that means they're healthy

Hopefully they'll flower this year. The mini one lost its flowers late autumn and I can't remember the last time the big one flowered.

I would love to get an orchid, what type of conditions do they like? I have a small wc that is bright, dry but never warm - would this suffice or do they need heat?

@housinghelp101 I think they just need to be at a normal room temp. My MIL said they shouldn’t be in midday sun so mine are on a windowsill that only gets the summer sun from about 3 onwards and they are flourishing

Do they need a normally heated room? Not to hot or cold and no draughts?

@ppeatfruit yeah I think just a normal temp room altho my kitchen varies between 19 degrees in the winter up to 30 degrees by the middle of summer (I’m not in the UK) and they are thriving. My MIL said no draughts but we’ve had a fan going in the kitchen at times and they seem ok

Thanks ComeOn Mine has just lost its buds, my kitchen temperature is also variable. Do orchids need damp air ?

What I’ve come to realise about orchids is that I’ll never really understand them but if I water them like I said above every 2 weeks they seem to flower for a while and then are dormant for a while but there’s no rhythm to it

Me too Comeon I GET most houseplants and garden plants but orchids beat me!