Pleurothallis restrepioides root rot

[Jasonmc89]

Hi everybody, I have recently acquired a Peurothallis restrepioides that came bare rooted. It had a a huge healthy root system when I got it and I quickly potted it up with a bark and sphag mix but it seems like all the nice healthy roots are dying. I am watering it as it approaches dryness but is still slightly damp to the touch and giving it a weak feed every week or so. Drainage and air circulation is not a problem.

Should I expect to see some root dieback when re-potting a plant like this?

Or could it be that I've been letting it dry out too much in between waterings?


Would appreciate any advice!


Cheers!

[Leafmite]

I had hoped that someone who grew your orchid would answer you but here goes....
I have heard that some of the Pleuros can be sensitive if the water isn't pure and they are fertilized too often (or not flushed well between being fertilized). If the roots are sensitive, the fertilizer can quickly become too concentrated and burn them.
Good luck! Hopefully someone else will chime in, now.

[Jasonmc89]

Ah, that's good to know! I have been feeding every other watering as there is a new leaf coming up and it is producing new roots so I thought it needed it.

I'll ease back on the fertiliser from now on then! See if that makes a difference.


Cheers.

[Leafmite]

I wish I could give you better advice but I only have the Pleurothallis rubella and a few close relatives.
I have been using my goldfish water (i fill the tub with distilled water) to water them with the occasional addition of a Cal-mag solution and seaweed product. I think that using a very dilute solution and flushing the medium is probably going to work well. I have read of others doing this and having good success growing Pleuro's. I was hoping that someone who grows many of these would weigh in and give you good advice. :|
I have found that there isn't much clear information on growing this group other than the temperature ranges.

Good luck!

[Jasonmc89]

You're right, there isn't much information about this genus on the net. From what I remember contutions vary a lot between species too, so there isn't even a "ball park" culture for the Pleurothallis genus.

Thanks for your tips though! What is seaweed product?

[estación seca]

A lot of cloud forest plants are adapted to being soaked with dew all the time. Many of them appear intolerant of water with high mineral content, and people advise against using much fertilizer for many miniature cloud forest plants. I don't know anything about Pleurothallis, or other American cloud forest species. But, I would use rain, distilled or RO water only, and fertilize hardly at all, until the experienced Pleurothallis growers come here and offer better advice.