They grew roots that gripped firmly onto the tree bark, about ⅓ of the height of the tree. · the roots of your orchid grow not only in the substrate, but also further and further beyond the pot? Most orchids will have aerial roots reaching out into the air, rather than digging down into the potting media. These roots absorb moisture from the air. I’ll explain in this post what such aerial roots are all about and how to tame them. · if some of your orchid ’s roots are beginning to grow above the surface of the growing medium, your orchid has air roots. As seeds, these orchids attached themselves to trees when they were floating through the air. Other reasons can be to anchor itself, especially if the orchid has been leaning on one side. Some people refer to them as aerial roots , and the sight of these above-soil roots may make you worry that your orchid has outgrown its pot or that youve neglected a basic orchid plant care practice. · aerial roots are able to store water in their vascular bundles, allowing the orchid to utilize it during periods of drought. What makes orchids have roots that pertain to air are that orchids don’t grow in soil —at least the epiphytes don’t. Orchids draw nutrients from water, air, and by interacting with fungi in symbiosis. · why does an orchid grow so many roots outside the pot? Do not trim off these wandering roots , just let them do their thing. · unlike parasitic plants, orchids don’t hurt the tree because the humid air and the surrounding environment provide all the plant’s necessary water and nutrients. It is natural for epiphytic orchids , especially phalaenopsis, cattleya, oncidium, to grow aerial roots in different directions. These roots are looking for a tree branch to attach to. In this article, we will explore the beneficial nature of aerial orchid roots and their care in greater detail.