Question
QUESTION: Hi Wayne,  I have what appears to be three individual root masses coming out up on the main plant. Is it possible to separate these and plant them?
Jane

ANSWER:  I would determine whether those root masses are from the main plant. You may have to unpot and repot the plant to make this determination.  While you are at it, if the plant hasn't been repotted in a while, repot the plant in fresh orchid potting mix.  New growths do not arise from roots in orchids.  Sometimes, you can have two or three separate plants in a pot and the plants may have died leaving only the roots.  Unless these roots have meristemmatic tissue at their point of origin (ie this is tissue from which leaves emerge), these separate root masses are unlikely to produce new plants.

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QUESTION: These look like roots and they are all from the main stem. One is up the stem about 4" another 8" another at 12 or so. Do you think that these are leaves forming? They surely look just like the roots you can see in the pot. I do know I am going to have to repot soon though.

ANSWER: There is a good chance that they are aerial roots.  These plants, in nature, have their plants hanging in the air so they like air exposure in humid climates. When the in-pot roots become crowded or the pot environment is not favorable (eg too wet to too little air movement) roots will often grow upward into the air.  As you repot, you will need to wet these roots thoroughly and work them into the new, fresh orchid potting mix.

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QUESTION: I still don't think I have throughly explained the situation. These roots are up on the stem where it is impossible to put them in potting soil. They have grown from the stem, the base of what would be the root ball is  attached to the stem and then there are several leaves growing from each root mass. I agree they are aerial roots but what do you do with them? You can't put them in soil unless you lay the whole plant in a trough. Thanks for returning with answers until I understand.2vmy4

Answer
Jane, thanks for the clarification.  I don't recall what type of orchid you have.  It sounds as if you may have a dendrobium where the roots are originating from nodes (joints) on one or more canes. This could also happen at nodes on phalaenopsis flower spikes but, when that happens, the root growth is accompanied by leaf growth as well.  I had erroneously assumed it was the latter.

What you described as a "stem" is called a cane when the type of orchid is a dendrobium.  Dendrobiums grow on upright canes. Dendrobium canes can reproduce in the manner you described.  In nature, the canes may form roots on the canes (especially on the New Guines type of dendrobiums) and when the node with the root mass comes near a tree or the ground, it can take root and form a new plant.  If that is what you have, you may have to experiment a little.  Try this: stake the upright cane to a bamboo stake using twisty ties.  Then, using a bit of moss, wrap the moss around the plant so it nearly covers he base of roots and secure it in position by tying it tightly with string or twisty ties so it stays in place. You may do that with the node about 4 inches up the cane.  You could do the same with the node 8 inchesup the cane or, if you want to experiment, you could cut the cane just below the node where the roots originate and tie the upper part of the cane to another bamboo stake and insert the stake into moss or potting mix so the roots are near or just into the potting mix or moss. If successful, after a while, the roots will form new canes and you will have one or to new plants.  If new growth occurs at a node, when it is 2-3 inches long, you can cut it from the cane and pot it up.