found fungi on paph roots

[smartie2000]

I was checking out the roots on my paphs. I'm glad all my roots are healthy...I think I check my roots too often on my slippers even though they're always healthy and getting longer lol

I found some egg-like things in the media of one of my paphs maudiae types. First thought was insect eggs but there are way too many of them.

They are probably the fruiting bodies of whatever type of fungi it is. (sorry I'm not a mycologist, i might find out what type of fungi it is in my botany text book) Looks like the a fungi that is growing both in the media and on the paph roots...I dont know where it came from since I haven't been using humus and they aren't on my other paphs. Maybe it has already spread to the other maudiaes around it which I haven't unpotted.

I'm not sure if this is a beneficial fungi or a mycorrhizal fungi. Or if it's just a pest to have around

[smartie2000]

My camera makes the mycelium (fluffy white stuff, I think) look more apparent than it is with the naked eye. All I could see with my naked eye were the round balls. I see the mycelium is all wrapped around the roots and the medium looking at the photos.

[Helen]

Fren, it looks like something layed eggs on your roots!
Spider? or some other bug?
Good luck with it!

[esungirl]

I had that exact same problem with alot of my plants. I got some ideas of what it was but never a straight answer.

[Lagoon]

I don't know what it is either 'cept some form of fungus. I've seen this on my wooden skewers too, after leaving it out for awhile, the white stuff just disappeared

[Shadow]

I don't know what it is, but it looks so scary.... I would change that medium.

[smartie2000]

was a bit shocked when I first pulled it out of the pot!

This is the only slipper I have potted in mainly coconut husks and chucks. The medium is now holding more water than it did when I first started potted it in it.

Good thing this plant isn't a valuable one to me. It is on the free paph list when I need to do a clearance. Someone else might love this bloom more than me.

However I do want to find out what the fungus is....
If it's bad I hope it won't spread and definitely it will be repotted.

[Helen]

Smartie, I know you think I'm crazy, but I really do believe these are insect eggs...I've seen this exact thing in my outdoor flower gardens, on leaves, etc. I really think your plant is okay. I'm being very optimistic here. Are you going to try to replace the medium?

[Mahon]

Fren,

I agree... those look to be eggs of some bug. Could be those tiny spiders that like to hang out in media. I wouldn't think that the mycelium would be THAT large for tiny fungi bodies... if you aren't too concerned about the plant, then place it in a clear pot and watch what it does.

-Pat

[smartie2000]

...ok then now they might be bugs . I'll have to unpot the plant again later then.

I've never heard of spiders that hang out in the media...That would be interesting

I can't get a straight answer for this one...

Someone even suggested mealy bugs, but I think that is off because the cottonlike bits aren't the same texture of a waxy mealie bugs nest.

And some say its the fungi that grows on bark and is not detrimental and someone in asia said its a fungus that kills