roots or lack thereof

[chilipepper]

I have a noid phal which lost its roots about a year ago. I cleaned it up and repotted it and waited. Yesterday I took it out of the pot and all it has are big fat root stubs about an inch long. Any suggestions?

[RandomGemini]

How often do you fertilize?

[billc]

Get rid of that white stuff. Scale? or mealy bugs?
You're OK with root nubs, when it starts getting warmer or if you put it on a heat mat they will start to grow. Maybe give them a shot of kelp, seaweed extract or KLN.

Bill

[chilipepper]

I fertilize about every 2 weeks.
As for the "white stuff" I'll give it a good physan soakdown.
It went through all last summer with pretty much the same root configuration it has now so I don't know.

[quiltergal]

I think the more you mess with it the more it's going to pout. You are just adding stress to an already stressed out plant. Repot it, put it in a warm spot and leave it alone. It's going to take a while for it to get back on track. KelpMax will help with root growth too.

[silken]

Physan is an anti-fungal/anti-bacterial. It is not meant for bugs like scale and mealy bugs. You need an insecticide, or for now wipe the fuzz which looks like immature scale and it looks like a round scale on the left leaf in the picture too, It may not be but it looks like it. You will need to treat it repeatedly if it is scale or mealy bugs.

[chilipepper]

Originally Posted by silken

Physan is an anti-fungal/anti-bacterial. It is not meant for bugs like scale and mealy bugs. You need an insecticide, or for now wipe the fuzz which looks like immature scale and it looks like a round scale on the left leaf in the picture too, It may not be but it looks like it. You will need to treat it repeatedly if it is scale or mealy bugs.

Wipe the leaves with what? I've read alcohol. The texture of the spots aren't fuzzy, they're almost just flush with the surface or slightly indented.

[silken]

You can use alcohol. Check to see if there any fuzzy white critters elsewhere which could be mealy bugs. Or small round beige or brown dots on the leaves-often underside and in crotches. Those are scale. Very hard to get rid of. They start out looking like that white stuff in your pictures-almost like white mold. But if it does not come off and is sunken in, then it must be something else. Some alcohol should disinfect it at least if is something else.

[chilipepper]

No not fuzz, here are some follow up pics that may help.

[silken]

Originally Posted by chilipepper

No not fuzz, here are some follow up pics that may help.

OK, it could be mechanical damage. Just got banged around or scratched and then it sort of heals over. If the leaves are clean and free of anything raised that can wipe off, then just worry about getting it to grow some roots. Some seaweed, as preciously mentioned works wonders for stimulating roots.