Preferred Medium

[JennS]

Whew...that is alot of information! Now, I am wondering whether I should move them outdoors or keep them indoors. I have everything else except for Phals outside, and the only reason they are inside is because they had root rot )well 2 or them anyway.

I took at look at the roots last night..good news and bad news. The good is that the newer Paph (The Raisin Pie one) looks very good. It has thick long, strong and hairy roots! I never really looked at the roots on the other one before they were nearly gone, so I am happy to see how good they can look. I always imagined they were a bit frail but they aren't at all!

Bad news...the "other" Black cherry x Red Prince is not doing good! I will post some pics I took of the roots, or should I say, non existent roots? Also, during the photo process the one root that was the fattest and longest disappeared... i guess I knocked it off!

So, any ideas on how to get the sickly one to re-root? I just put them both back in the spag for the time being, but started soaking some bark, charcoal, perlite, and a little spag to move them over to. Do you think I should move the sick one? Should I try a spag and bag? It only has about 2 or 3 really tiny roots left now...

Also, on the healthy one, should I remove the burnt section of leaf? It hasn't been spreading so I just left it. One last thing...could the green moss on the healthy one be alive? Is it just overwatered? Thanks for any

[JennS]

#1 non existent roots

#2 side by side comparision (left is the older, rootless one)

#3 overhead shot

#4 Possible new growth?

#5 live spag? Overwatered?

[shakkai]

The sphag (the green stuff) on your older plant looks like algae is growing on the top to me. Live sphag is really nice a fluffy. If these were my plants, and given my growing conditions (I tend to be able to do quite well with growing in sphag) I would leave your older plant in sphag - but give it fresh sphag so it doesn't stay sopping wet. Those little roots will soon grow if they are not shocked by being put into a completely different medium. The newer plant, I would go ahead and repot into the bark mixture you're preparing, as it looks like it can establish in new growing medium.

For the older plant, I would also be inclined to put it into a smaller clay pot. Try to fit the pot to the roots, not the leaves. This would mean it would dry out quicker than a bigger pot, so you may need to check it more ofter to see if it needs watering. But in the end, the roots will thank you for the extra attention.

Your pic #4 does indeed look like its starting a new growth! Congrats!

[JennS]

Yippee a new growth! I will try extra hard not to kill it or hurt it while repotting!

I was thinking a smaller plant might be in order for older/smaller plant. I will move it down, I have some that should be perfect. I think I will leave it in the spag (but fresh spag) too because it will dry out during the days as I am gone for 15 hours some days!

Thank you for all of the advice and help!