Can a Phalaenopsis orchid survive if only its aerial roots are left?

Phalaenopsis is an evergreen variety in the orchid family, named for its flowers that resemble butterflies with spread wings. But Phalaenopsis is an epiphytic plant that grows aerial roots, and its root system consists of fleshy roots, so it does not need to rely on ordinary soil to grow. Moreover, using ordinary soil actually makes it hard to keep the plant alive, let alone grow it well, since ordinary soil tends to compact and does not have strong air permeability.

Because the fleshy roots of Phalaenopsis prefer a loose, breathable substrate, and the substrate only serves to anchor the plant's roots, it does not necessarily need to be very fertile. If the substrate lacks nutrients, you can supplement nutrients through topdressing, and the aerial roots exposed outside the pot also have a strong absorption capacity, able to absorb quite a lot of nutrients, water and air from the air.

Recently a friend asked: ? Perhaps this is also a question that many friends doubt. In fact, the aerial roots of Phalaenopsis are also aerial roots. Not only that, all of its roots are aerial roots. Moreover, these aerial roots generally grow axillary buds at the nodes, and the plant's propagation often depends on these axillary buds.

And in several articles shared earlier by the editor, it was mentioned that Phalaenopsis can be propagated using aerial roots with axillary buds. So even if a Phalaenopsis only has so-called aerial roots left, it can often continue to survive, since these aerial roots are all aerial roots. On the contrary, without these aerial roots, the plant is not easy to keep alive, and at least its growth will be poor.

Phalaenopsis can not only use aerial roots to propagate, but its aerial roots can also carry out photosynthesis to form nutrients, and these aerial roots can also absorb the substances needed for growth from the air. So if someone's Phalaenopsis has only aerial roots left for various reasons, there is no need to worry; as long as it is managed with scientific care methods, it can continue to survive. Moreover, the axillary buds on the aerial roots will also sprout and grow, and can still send out branches and leaves.