A huge benefit of potting when the plant is just starting to root is that the new roots will happily adjust to the new medium. The old ones won't die off suddenly... they'll continue to hydrate the plant while the new roots are getting established. They very likely will even produce new branches off the old roots, which will be act like new roots and make themselves at home. Old roots die off eventually anyway, but by that time the new ones (with new growth) will be taking care of business. So bark for sure. The most important thing is having lots of air around those roots. Also, leaving any stuck-on moss (and generally not being aggressive with the older roots) will also ease the transition. In a couple of years, it's going to need repotting again, and then you can clean up dead roots and back bulbs, by that time it'll be well established (and probably climbing out of the pot again.)
Also, some of those relatively new roots (long but with green tips) need to be handled as gently as you can. When you pack the bark with thumbs, press in areas that don't have new roots (the older part of the plant). There are plenty of older roots there to get the plant stable, without the risk of accidentally mooshing those fragile growing ones. (A good use of older roots that may not even be very good.. they help anchor the plant)
Last edited by Roberta; 10-22-2019 at 02:54 AM..
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