Root Training
 

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As Hakumin stated in another thread, mounding a Neo on sphag permits relatively easy training of roots into the sphag.

There are many reasons for this training in addition to helping the root find what it is searching for. It reduces the chance that the root will be damaged mechanically, makes the pot easier to relocate, and just looks more tidy.

If you grow in bark, there is something you can do which takes some practice to avoid partial cracking of the root which will eventually heal but will always show the damage. This method will take many times to master and even then there will be times where partial cracking will occur.

First find a root which is long enough for graceful bending to have its tip enter the inside edge of the pot at a downward angle. Then remove a portion of the media where the tip will be placed.

Turn on your faucet and adjust temperature to hotter than lukewarm but not hot enough to be uncomfortable to your finger. Soak the root to be trained for several minutes to make it more pliable trying to avoid as much as possible the water entering the pot.

Finally very slowly bend the root with no sharp turns so that the tip ends up against the inside edge of the pot in a downward angle where you excavated being super careful not to scratch the tip against the top edge of the pot.

Good tip, and not just for Neos! Very handy for taming rogue air roots on Phals as well.

The problem I have with one Neo is that it's sending all it's new roots out upwards, and I don't think there's going to be any way to train those down into the sphag mound, without breaking it.

Camille,

U turns are possible but difficult without partial cracking. Chances of success improve with experience.