Repotting Phrag. Cardinal needs help, leave in s/h or go with a bark mix?

[Becca]

Hi Everyone,

It's been a while since I have posted anything on here. I'm hoping to get some help with my Phrag. Cardinal. I have attached a couple of pictures. I have had it in s/h since I have had it which is about 4 years or somewhere around there. Anyways, the growths never seem to do so well but the roots seem to be great in the s/h. I admit, I am horrible at fertilizing and I went for about a year, maybe a little longer without fertilizing my plants, but even before that, this one just seemed to be ok. It did bloom for me a couple of times, so I guess I can't complain to much. I'm just wondering if I should leave it in s/h or if maybe it would be happier in a bark mix? I did clean up some rotted roots, but as you can see it has a decent root system that does not equal the size of the growths it has. Also it always seems that the tips of the leaves are turning brown which I don't understand with the lack of fertilizing and I use RO water. Please let me know your opinion, or if you thing something else might be going on, perhaps to much light?

Edit: Sorry I forgot to rotate the pictures before posting them!

[WhiteRabbit]

[billc]

If it was me, I would leave it in S/H.I don't know if the root mass would transition well if you were to put it into bark, unless you watered the heck out of it. You probably just need to train yourself to feed it once in a while.
It's actually pretty amazing that the roots have grown so well in a sterile environment like S/H with RO water only.

Bill

[Becca]

Perhaps I need to put it in a larger pot of s/h, the roots do fill the pot pretty well, and the new growths are no longer sitting on top of the potting medium because the tend to climb so they have a hard time establishing I think. Maybe the lack of fert is really just my problem.

[Ray]

Becca - feed at a low rate, but you HAVE to feed!!!

There are some elements that are translocatable in a plant, but others that are not - calcium being a major, critical nutrient that isn't. Most folks can get away with not feeding for a long time because calcium, magnesium and iron are common in the water supply, and the plants can share what they already have of the others with new growths, but as you're been using RO water, you ain't been givin' them nuthin'.

Personally, I recommend the MSU RO or K-Lite formula at 50 ppm N at every watering.

[Becca]

Thank you Ray!

[Auger]

I'd leave it s/h but your going to have to water more because the the big new growth hasn't grown new roots. Or you can cut off the big new growth and put it in bark, and leave the small new growth in s/h

[Becca]

Originally Posted by Auger

I'd leave it s/h but your going to have to water more because the the big new growth hasn't grown new roots. Or you can cut off the big new growth and put it in bark, and leave the small new growth in s/h

No roots on the larger growth is a concern of mine, however if the roots are not close to the potting medium and to get it to the surface would mean I would have to bury the part that has the smaller growth on it , would additional watering help since it is in s/h and the roots are not near the potting medium surface? I hate that it is crawling upwards. If I separate it, I'm afraid it will die as it won't have any roots to support it's self.

[DelawareJim]

I agree. Leave it in S/H and fertilise lightly. Mine were on death's door until I moved them to S/H and watered the heck out of them; almost daily. My Jason Fischer is finally blooming after 3 years.

Also don't forget you'll have to periodically replace the media if you go back to bark.

Cheers.
Jim

[Calbears]

Originally Posted by Ray

Becca - feed at a low rate, but you HAVE to feed!!!

There are some elements that are translocatable in a plant, but others that are not - calcium being a major, critical nutrient that isn't. Most folks can get away with not feeding for a long time because calcium, magnesium and iron are common in the water supply, and the plants can share what they already have of the others with new growths, but as you're been using RO water, you ain't been givin' them nuthin'.

Personally, I recommend the MSU RO or K-Lite formula at 50 ppm N at every watering.

Ray, would you do any pH adjustment, or RO + fert (@ 50 ppm N) and good to go?