Should Phalaenopsis aerial roots be tucked into the pot or left to grow outside it?

Growers of Phalaenopsis orchids have probably all faced this dilemma: those aerial roots poking out of the pot - should they be tucked back in, or just left dangling outside?

Phalaenopsis aerial roots are different from the roots of ordinary plants; they were never meant to work buried in soil. Wild Phalaenopsis orchids grow on trees, with their aerial roots directly exposed to the air, where they can grip the bark to anchor themselves, absorb moisture from the humid air, and breathe through tiny pores in their surface. So genetically speaking, aerial roots love "freedom" and dislike being stifled.

So the question is, is it better for aerial roots to grow outside the pot or inside it? The answer actually lies in the state of the roots. Look at those plump, white aerial roots with crystal tips - even if they stretch half a foot out of the pot, they are healthy, which shows they are comfortable outside, able to breathe fresh air and get enough humidity, so there is no need at all to tuck them back. If you force them into the pot, over time they will surely turn yellow and wrinkled, or even rot.

But if the aerial roots are growing perfectly well inside the pot, don't disturb them. Some Phalaenopsis aerial roots will burrow along the pot wall and root into the sphagnum moss or bark, which is also normal. As long as the medium in the pot is loose and breathable, these roots can both absorb water and breathe inside, so just let them stay; there is no need to deliberately pull them out.

So when do these aerial roots need attention? Two situations are worth noting: one is when the aerial roots inside the pot grow too messily, tangling into a ball and lifting the medium away. At this point the medium cannot hold water and the roots are prone to being stifled, so you need to repot into a slightly larger pot, gently separate the tangled roots, re-lay the medium, and let some of the roots stay outside to breathe.

The other is when the aerial roots outside the pot are badly dried out, with wrinkled skin and darkened color. This is not because they shouldn't be outside, but because the air is too dry. At this point, don't tuck them into the pot; instead, use a spray bottle to mist a little water around the roots every day, or place a basin of clean water next to the pot to raise the air humidity, and after a few days the roots will plump up again.

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Phalaenopsis aerial roots can stay outside if they want to, and if they are comfortable inside the pot, leave them alone. There is no need to stuff every root into the pot. They like airy, humid conditions; no matter where the roots grow, as long as they are healthy, just let them be natural - that's how the plant stays vigorous and blooms even better!