Roots dying from the plantbase down?

[estación seca]

My understanding is Phal. gigantea is harder to grow than most other Phals, until you figure it out. It is not as easy to grow in typical home conditions as the supermarket hybrids are. It seems to like a lot more warmth and humidity, likes some drying out at the roots, but not much.

[D_novice]

Originally Posted by estación seca

My understanding is Phal. gigantea is harder to grow than most other Phals, until you figure it out. It is not as easy to grow in typical home conditions as the supermarket hybrids are. It seems to like a lot more warmth and humidity, likes some drying out at the roots, but not much.

Yes, this may well have been a mistake for my conditions! However, as I haven't killed it yet, I'm going to hold onto it, fingers crossed.

[Ray]

Heat is never a problem for most phals, especially if shaded. Cold on the other hand...

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by D_novice

Yes, this may well have been a mistake for my conditions! However, as I haven't killed it yet, I'm going to hold onto it, fingers crossed.

I have one too, and have not found it to be particularily difficult. If anything, it's an easy grower. Mine is potted in pure bark, growing in a south facing window (note that I'm at a very northernly latitude, in the Netherlands!), and I water when the roots I see through the pot are completely dry. I try to let it dry out completely unlike my other Phals. Lowest temp it gets is 65F in the winter, at night. I was getting 2 new leaves a year on it this way, getting larger and larger. Sadly I'm probably going to trash it soon, some pitting disease has decimated my Phal collection, gigantea included. A shame, even seedling plants are expensive and I've beem growing it for 4 years, and see a spike nubbin starting.

[D_novice]

Originally Posted by camille1585

Sadly I'm probably going to trash it soon, some pitting disease has decimated my Phal collection, gigantea included. A shame, even seedling plants are expensive and I've beem growing it for 4 years, and see a spike nubbin starting.

My Phal collection has gone from ~20 to about five, and I'm not buying anymore. A disease ran through many of them. If I had to buy another one, it wouldn't be a species plant either. So I feel you.

[Gthumbz89]

If they are firm and change color to green when wet then it could just be staining. You use bark and charcoal both of which can stain healthy roots with tanins and other compounds.

That being said your Ph could be off as others have suggested. I use aquarium ph tests to test the water that comes out of the pots when i fertlilize.

Cheers!