Medium and roots going black

[roymoore]

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3 — imgbb.com

[fishmom]

In the picture that came through, it doesn't look like there is an overgrowth of algae, nor a fungal infection from what I can see. I see a little green algae forming on top of the LECA, but it is not enough to matter. The roots I see look light colored and I see green tips growing--good signs. I see one dark root on the surface. Honestly, if that is all the dark, I would take a wait-and-see approach.

[Ray]

What photo?

[fishmom]

The second photo listed worked for me.

[roymoore]

Fishmom and Ray. I am very sorry but I still cant work out how to post pics so I am going to wait till my 12 year old granddaughter comes to do it for me. So Sorry.

[Ray]

Hah! I thought that was all one link.

Frankly, I don't see anything wrong in that photo.

[WaterWitchin]

Links had me also fooled; thought same as Ray... all one link.

Looks just fine to me as well.

[headbanger333]

Two weeks ago I transferred 20 phallies into S/h. The leaves and roots looked wonderfully fat and healthy at first and I was thrilled. One week later I saw that a surface root on one plant looked brown and was squishy. I checked all of the rest of them and was horrified to find 80% of them had completely rotten roots and they, of course, died. I was so shocked I cried. What on earth happened?

[CZF]

Originally Posted by headbanger333

Two weeks ago I transferred 20 phallies into S/h. The leaves and roots looked wonderfully fat and healthy at first and I was thrilled. One week later I saw that a surface root on one plant looked brown and was squishy. I checked all of the rest of them and was horrified to find 80% of them had completely rotten roots and they, of course, died. I was so shocked I cried. What on earth happened?

I am not an expert by any means, but I've been watching some vids on converting to S/H and what they said was that that is a totally normal process.

The old roots aren't used to being "submerged" in the water and that they tend to die off, but the new roots will adapt to the new system. That you should convert them when they are in an active growth cycle.

Their theory (I don't know if it's scientifically true) is that roots are what they are (air roots can't adapt to being wet, roots grown in bark etc). So the new growth should be able to adapt to the S/H, but the old roots struggle and many die off.

This guy is sharing his S/H journey and I personally have enjoyed his videos and might try it with maybe some new orchids that I'm not emotionally attached to yet, in case they don't adapt well.

[IngieBee]

Michael is the reason I'm trying orchids again. I tended to fuss too much, and with SH I can't overwater....generally, LOL. I'm sure I could find away but so far I've had a bunch of plants survive since March (my start). I've been worried about the eventual hot summer temps, and instead I have super cold weather which never happens here

Originally Posted by CZF

I am not an expert by any means, but I've been watching some vids on converting to S/H and what they said was that that is a totally normal process.

The old roots aren't used to being "submerged" in the water and that they tend to die off, but the new roots will adapt to the new system. That you should convert them when they are in an active growth cycle.

Their theory (I don't know if it's scientifically true) is that roots are what they are (air roots can't adapt to being wet, roots grown in bark etc). So the new growth should be able to adapt to the S/H, but the old roots struggle and many die off.

This guy is sharing his S/H journey and I personally have enjoyed his videos and might try it with maybe some new orchids that I'm not emotionally attached to yet, in case they don't adapt well.