Dead roots????

[VickiC]

Hi everyone,
Over the past several months, I have REALLY TRIED AND TRIED and SERIOUSLY TRIED SOME MORE to recognize dead roots from live roots, and so far, I have done a dreadful job! All of you have been very patient and have been wonderful teachers, but the problem is ME.....I just CANNOT get the hang of knowing which is which.....be it Phal, Catt., Onc. or whatever. I will definitely not give up, though....I shall overcome! lol

Ok, here is a picture that is?/was? my Mtssa. Dark Star. A leaf started turning yellow several days ago, and then progressed to all yellow, then fell off. THEN a second leaf went through the same process. I know what you're thinking...."what was SHE thinking....did she not have a clue something was wrong?!.....apparently not". I guess I was just waiting for it to "get well" on it's own. lol Who knows how my mind works....or doesn't, for that matter?!. Anyway, this morn. I pointed the poor plant out to my husband and he asked me if the thought had possibly crossed my mind to unpot it and take a look at the roots (quite sarcastically, might I add lol). I thought....what a brilliant idea! lol Sooooo, that's what I did this afternoon. Will someone please tell me what I have here....roots that are dead or alive??
I'm guessing that they are ready for the grave....correct?
I would appeciate any help!
Vicki

[whygreenberg]

Hi, Vicki! Those roots don't look so good to me, but the best way to tell the difference between good roots and bad are by feeling them. Because sometimes, even still-viable roots can become discolored from bark medium, etc. So, if they are firm, they are still good. If they are mushy, and the outer part comes off leaving just the stringy root from inside, they can be gotten rid of. It can be hard sometimes to tell from just looking, so I usually do a little gentle pinching to make sure!

[(..._...)]

Vicki, I also found that whenever I buy a plant that is not a phal, the roots die no matter what I do. I just keep the plant in its pot for about a month, and then repot. Normally I loose all the old roots, but they grow back nice and health, in the new growing environment. The new roots will look nice and plump, a while or cream colour.

Cam

[VickiC]

Thanks for your help, everyone!
Vicki

[Blueszz]

Hi Vicki, I'm by no means an expert on this but when I have to repot a plant with this type of roots I pull a bit on the roots after I soaked the bare root plant for 30 minutes. Bad roots easily come of, leaving only the string. Gently I tug on the roots to decide which are good and which are bad. Good roots are still firm after being soaked. Bad roots can be tucked away (leaving the string) or are so soft that you can press water out of them without using a lot of force.
Nicole

[VickiC]

Hi Nicole,
Thanks for your help! I have one more question...I hope you don't mind. Is the root always dead even though the outer covering is mushy and easily slides off? I've wondered that many times.
Vicki

Originally Posted by Blueszz

Hi Vicki, I'm by no means an expert on this but when I have to repot a plant with this type of roots I pull a bit on the roots after I soaked the bare root plant for 30 minutes. Bad roots easily come of, leaving only the string. Gently I tug on the roots to decide which are good and which are bad. Good roots are still firm after being soaked. Bad roots can be tucked away (leaving the string) or are so soft that you can press water out of them without using a lot of force.
Nicole

[Blueszz]

Originally Posted by VickiC

Is the root always dead even though the outer covering is mushy and easily slides off? I've wondered that many times.
Vicki

If I understood well, the root is always dead if the covering slides of.
The outer covering is the velamen, the part that takes up water and nutrients and the inner part is the part that has to transport it to the plant. So far what I've understood in todler language

If it can't take up water/nutrients, the root is useless.

Please other readers, correct me if I'm wrong!

[VickiC]

Hi Nicole,
Todler language.....how funny! Actually, it's not really that funny because that's MY level of understanding, so I can relate, unfortunately.

Thanks very much for your help.....you answered a question that I've been wondering about a lot. It makes perfect sense now that you've explained it.....the velamen absorbs the water and nutrients for the root inside.....Duh me!
Thanks again,
Vicki

Originally Posted by Blueszz

If I understood well, the root is always dead if the covering slides of.
The outer covering is the velamen, the part that takes up water and nutrients and the inner part is the part that has to transport it to the plant. So far what I've understood in todler language

If it can't take up water/nutrients, the root is useless.

Please other readers, correct me if I'm wrong!

[Blueszz]

Originally Posted by VickiC

Hi Nicole,
Todler language.....how funny! Actually, it's not really that funny because that's MY level of understanding, so I can relate, unfortunately.
Thanks again,
Vicki

As long as our plants survive, tolder language, or even better 'todler talk' is OK for me

I learned (just by doing it) that pre-soaking the roots helps me to make a difference between good roots and the bad ones.
If I'm in doubt or get tiered, I soak them for a longer time and take a coffee break A 'fresh eye' will help me to finish the job.

Nicole

[nenella]

Viki I agree with what Nicole has told you above. I pinch & soak too to find out when I'm not 100%.
Best way as far as I am concerned!
Another thing you can do is to soak in rooting hormone to provoke new roots eg: KLN