Foam plug in Zygo

[RoseSD]

Repotted this good boy today and was surprised to find the plug was made of dense foam. Imagine a toddler growing up with only polyester turtleneck to wear? It was truly a pain to remove the foam. Fortunately only three pieces of bad roots to rid of. Now it is in fine bark mix and hopefully feels better soon.

[estación seca]

It doesn't cause any problems and root damage from removing it does.

[Shadeflower]

ES I see your words of wisdom so I will add mine, those plugs certainly cause problems long term. In the nurseries they are cultivated in them with plenty of ventilation. They are not meant to be potted up to block all their airflow.

In a european climate that will always lead to long term problems.

No grower here uses those plugs. Removing them is the only option.

[RoseSD]

Are the smaller psudobulbs oldest in this case?

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by RoseSD

Are the smaller psudobulbs oldest in this case?

It looks like it to me. When I get a plant that still has the plug from its infancy attached, I don't worry about it... the oldest (baby) growths will tend to eventually lose leaves and die back anyway but by that time the plant has matured and doesn't even notice. (The "baby growths", with or without pseudobulbs, will eventually have their water, sugars, tisue and chlorophyll absorbed by the plant anyway and end up as a husk.)

[RoseSD]

The problem with this one is new growing foliage turning black and dried up. The barks on the outside and surface dry normal speed while this plug was soaking wet and smelly with bad roots in it. In this case, the plug needed to be out.

[Roberta]

Yes, soaking wet and smelly is not good...especially the latter...

[SADE2020]

That plug or sponge doesn't follow the dry cycle along with fresh medium, I agree it should be remove it if you are repoting anyway. It does decompose into a nasty paste and make more harm than good.