For most plants, seeing roots growing out of the potting soil and in the air instead would be a cause for alarm. For some types of orchids, though, this behavior is perfectly normal. Air roots help keep your orchid healthy and allow the plant to have access to the air and nutrients that it needs to thrive. Trying to repot an orchid with air roots may seem intimidating, but the process is not much more complicated than repotting an orchid without air roots.