Oh no!!! my roots!!!

[irrka]

so i was all excited to move my phal into S/H. just received my supplies in the mail and everything. i unpot my baby and here's what i find:
Picasa Web Albums - Irene - plants

there's ONE!!! (1) root that's actually plump when at it's attachment point to the plant. ONE!!!!
I wrapped that bottom misery in a paper towel that i soaked with the water the hydroton has been soaking in and put the whole thing in a ziplock.
So my question is....
1) is there any chance in hell that those lovely root bottoms are doing anything for the plant at all, considering they're attached by big fat nothing? i'll need to nix them, won't i?
2) should i just run with my one short root and try to pot it into S/H anyway, or let it hang ot in the ziplock until some more roots are on the way?

[Ross]

I'd say yes there is a chance. But they are too wet! I'd back off the water a bit and let them heal. The "thread" through the center is the actual root. The green stuff is called Velemin and should turn to white between waterings. It's purpuse is to soak up wat and transfer to the root. But the problem here is the velamin is too wet and rotting.

[irrka]

Ross- so do you think i should just try potting it into the S/H straight away the weird +/- rot roots and all? How do i get them to heal?

[Ross]

No! The existing roots are NOT adapted for S/H. I would leave things be for now and just back off the water for a while. Not sure what your watering regimin is, but it seems too much by looks of things. Try just holding off water (I water every 4th or 5th day) till you see the roots turn white. Then soak the whole root ball. Then hold off till roots turn white, then do it again. You may see new green root tips forming.

[irrka]

I've taken the roots out of the paper towel so now the whole plant is just sitting in a ziploc bag with a wet paper towel on the side for humidity (poor thing, it's probably never seen this much humidity the whole time it's been with me!).

[quiltergal]

Don't beat yourself up Irene. We've all been there with phals before. Definately don't move it to s/h until it's putting out lots of new root growth. I moved one of mine in similar condition to yours with no new root growth showing and I nearly lost it.

[irrka]

So then you just have it hang out in just a plastic bag for a while?

[Ray]

Actually, assuming you can provide sufficient warmth and a bit of shade, moving it into S/H culture no is not such a bad idea. Think about it:

1) Current scenario - in warmth and saturated humidity - courtesy of the wet paper towel - to prevent desiccation while it grows new roots. Once it does, you then have to pot up the plant, and acclimate it to the new root environment. The current root - if it survives - is of no value.

2) Alternate scenario - pot it up in S/H, put it in the bag, and using the saturated medium as the moisture source, keep it warm and in a saturated environment. The plant starts growing roots into the medium. Lo, and behold! It's already growing into its new environment.

[irrka]

How warm are we talking about? stove pilot light or full on radiator? and there's no shortage of shade. i'd trade some of it for more sun.

[irrka]

Thank you all for your awesome fast responses. I ended up going with Ray's advice (i had the media all soaked and was just too hyped up to go to not do it ) Now the thingie is shooting off what looks like REGULAR plant roots: you know, those tiny almost hair thin ones that you get if you put a leaf in water? not the nice fat bulbous ones that i've seen my phal make. Is that normal?? i know, i'm probably putzing too much, but it looked like it needed some extra ventilation... from me. or something