Roots Roots Roots

[EmoryG]

My plants had been neglected for a while (getting engaged/moving really took time away from staring endlessly at my plants), but I recently started getting my plants back after 6 months of someone else taking care of them and gave them a bit of love.

I repotted all my Neos and started treating them with kelp and fertilizer. They are definetly responding to the increased care (and it seems the right time of year, too).

Here is my 'Yaegoromo' bursting with new roots, there are more tiny root tips emerging on the other side of the fan as well.

I hope everyone else is enjoying all their lovely new roots and flowers.

[Shoreguy]

Emory,

One of the primary purposes of the OB is to give advice when requested. However I believe that even when not requested, it can be appropriate to give advice when not asked for, especially if one sees something they feel strongly about which can result in greater success to the grower to whom the advice is given.

You stated that you just repotted your neos, yet I see in your picture the dead leaf bases still attached. At the time of repotting is when these should be carefully removed thereby granting emerging roots easier access to the growing media. Also by so doing, it looks better. Trying to do this when the plant is potted is more difficult and can result in damage to all roots from the disturbance.

[EmoryG]

Thanks for the advice. I had not been in the habit of removing old leave bases, but have recently started (and clearly not all of my plants have them removed).

This was after I had repotted my plants, which as you point out, is much more difficult when they are potted. In some cases I was a bit afraid of damaging the plant by tugging too hard, in those cases I just tried to shred the woody bases, to make it easier to pull off, or at the very least, make a more open/bright/airy situation for the new roots and new growths.

Hakumin told me that it may be easier to remove the leaf bases before they get totally dry and woody. As mentioned, this is something that I'm still new to, so I definitely have some learning to do. I look forward to practicing the next time I repot... before they are potted. Any/All tips tricks and wisdom are welcome.

[camille1585]

That's an impressive number of roots! I don't think I've ever seen that many new roots at once on a plant.

I only learned last year about the importance of removing the dead leaf bases, and spent quite a long time last summer with tweezers, removing them all. It was a big job since they need to be split into 2-3 strips that pull off more easily, and the plants were all potted.

[Shoreguy]

One helpful tip in removing the dead leaf bases is to pull simultaneously on leaf bases on directly opposite sides of the stem.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Do they shed them in nature? I hate to prune or clean my plants.

[Shoreguy]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

Do they shed them in nature? I hate to prune or clean my plants.

I have also often thought about this. Perhaps the answer is shown by one of my plants which was carelessly overlooked by me and accumulated a stack of dead leaf bases which eventually killed that growth but newer growths previously created by it continued so that is how the plant can perpetuate without sex. It really is sort of sad. A lot of pictures I have seen of plants in situ appear really ratty so a lot of things go on among plants in the wild far from what we would view as ideal.

[DirtyCoconuts]

I agree shoreguy, or at least with the conventional growing. I struggle to find the medium between making the plants bend to fit my environment and trying to give them the environment they crave in situ

It is where I disagree with the ‘orchid show’ perspective about the form and appearance of a plant. I kind of like ratty. Death is part of life. These are really colonies more than individuals

Just my perspective

[Shoreguy]

Just a photo related to my last posting made last night as I do not have a light system for photos.

Dirty Coconuts, have you ever seen pictures from the international orchid shows in Japan?
You must have quite a reaction to the artificial images. No connection to the real world.

I believe in greater balance to reality but I do believe in removing dead leaf bases. I also believe in root training which of course is a departure from reality but is a practical necessity and good for the plant. Obviously it’s not reality for the plants to be growing indoors in a plastic pot so I will do within reason to promote as well as I can (taking to account my needs as well which preclude winter nighttime temperatures in the 50s to promote flowering) anything I can do for the plants' health.

[DirtyCoconuts]

it does not offend me by any means...i just don't like it for my style