Newb help with root rot and lighting...

[tazmania]

Well, another update: there are 3 new roots growing and the flower spikes are showing signs of producing flowers.

I have two questions.

The leaves look dehydrated (in other words, leathery), and I just checked the roots yesterday and they didn't appear rotten. Can I assume that I have just been underwatering it for the number of roots the plant has? (the new root growth never did head "underground").

Speaking of roots, I had mentioned some aerial roots growing, assuming that the plant does make those. Now, I'm wondering if I should have forced those roots that did form into the bark so they absorb more moisture?

I don't really want to water more often as the reason the plant suffered initially was because of over-watering.

I would show pics, but my camera recently broke so will have to describe as best I can.

Thanks for any and all comments!

[RosieC]

Well if it had root problems previously and the leathery appearance of the leaves developed then, I don't think they will ever loose that leathery look however much you water... and as you said you want to be careful not to overwater.

I think if the roots seem to be doing well then keep an eye on any new leaves it produces. I had one which has been in recovery for a few years and it's old leaves stayed leathery, the first new ones (when it still had only a few roots) were thin but not wrinkled, the newest (now the roots are getting better) are large and firm and wide and look really good.

I think you should keep doing what you are doing, as it seems to like it.

As for the arial roots, I try and encourage the tips of those I can to point down in to the medium, but if you can't without breaking them then don't worry. Roots which have grown in the air do not do so well in the medium so apart from encouraging the new growth downwards I would otherwise leave them be.

[tazmania]

Thanks RosieC, I keep hoping that the leaves recover and lose the leathery look, but I think they are going to stay that way.

A while back the plant produced 2 new leaves and they were looking good, but the tip of the largest one looks a bit wrinkled now and they seem to have stopped growing. The plant looks okay otherwise, no major rot that I could find.

I'll just keep doing what I'm doing and hope that my move in 2 weeks doesn't disturb it too much.

[RosieC]

How big are the new leaves. They can often be smaller on a plant recovering from root loss, but should have grown to more than just the size of new leaf points. The first two leaves to grow as mine recovered also had wrinkled tips but the third and fourth were larger and no wrinkled tips (and there is another growing now).

I let my recovering one spike several months back and it has just opened it's first flowers since it lost the roots. (Previously I kept removing spikes to conserve it's energy). As the spike was growing it lost the last of it's leaves from before the root loss and as the first flower opened it lost the first of the leaves grown since the root loss, but I am not too concerned. The roots are still small, through all actively growing, and the new leaf coming through looks good and strong. Maybe I should have removed this spike as well for the sake of the plant health but I think it will cope fine.

[tazmania]

The new leaves are larger than just points, but perhaps about 1/4 of the full sized leaves. It appears that there might be another small leaf bud growing, or I'm just imagining things.

The plant had 2 flower spikes when I got it, I left them on as I guessed that the plant would take energy and moisture from the spike if needed. They eventually withered and I cut them down to just above the alive part. Since then, 2 new spikes are growing from the highest bud on the original spikes. One of the new spikes actually has flower buds on it, which surprises me.

I will continue to water as usual then and not be too concerned about underwatering. I better find a skewer to make this decision-making easier!

[RosieC]

I think the leaves are probably just small while it recovers then. Good luck, it sounds like it will recover eventually

[tazmania]

thanks for the advice, will keep doing what I'm doing and keep the fingers crossed! cheers!

[nenella]

Hi Tazmania,
I am not an expert but grow indoors like you. My thoughts in reading through this thread are that :-
1. as you found out moss was staying too wet in your conditions and you got rot.
You rightly repotted and have new growth..
2. But you are still getting wrinkly leaves... which to me says "not enough water"
If it was my plant I would add a bit of spagh to your medium and why not add a layer at the top? ( make it airy-so it dries fast & you don't rot the top roots- & ones you try to put into pot)
This way you don't change your watering which you don't want too & the plant will benefit from a bit more moisture.
Just my ..
PS: get that skewer & make sure you put it through the centre of the root ball/pot.

[tazmania]

Nenella,

thanks for the advice as well, that sounnds like a good idea. I'll pick up some sphagnum moss and add some to the medium and see how it goes.