Media got wet, roots stalled

[mook1178]

The media for one of my plants got wet and the roots stalled for about a week and a half. The roots that were not wet have begun to grow again, while the roots in the media seem to have lost the green tips. They probably stalled for good.

My question is this. The roots that are growing, seem to be growing away from the media. What can I do to train them to grow towards the media?

Btw, the media is dry again.

[Ray]

You can guide root by placing plastic barriers to redirect them, but I think they'll seek the medium without that.

However, I don't see the "wetness" of the medium, per se, as being a reason roots stop growing. That is what they are meant to seek, after all.

It makes me wonder about the chemistry of the medium+wetness combination, or if they were reacting to a dry surface of the wet medium.

[mook1178]

I'll have to get creative then!

I'm pretty sure the stall is due to the roots getting wet to soon. They were still less than 2" at the time. I wasn't paying attention when I was watering my plants and it got a good shot of water.

[Keysguy]

Mook--- had you already re-potted that for this year?

[mook1178]

I have already repotted for this year. However, I got some much better moss than what is in there now. I also feel like I may have repotted it to high. I was planning on just letting it go for this year since the roots had started to grow.

Would a repot help? I could definitely get it lower with a repot. I just did not want that small pbulb to end up rotting.

[Keysguy]

It's a little high and I suspect the roots will eventually find their way to the media. The only concern I'd have is "tippyness" or the possibility the new bulb could pop off at some point or that you'd have to re-inforce and support it somehow.
I think I'd just start over and re-pot. I don't think you'll hurt anything.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by mook1178

I'm pretty sure the stall is due to the roots getting wet to soon. They were still less than 2" at the time. I wasn't paying attention when I was watering my plants and it got a good shot of water.

Mook - what was the estimated growing temperature there? And just how wet was the media (on the surface, and underneath)?

And what sort of catasetum is this one?

This is time for gathering details. Substantial details.

As for roots growing in an upward direction. I have seen this in catasetum that came by mail/post. It is/was no problem. The bulb was big. The orchid was in the middle of growing. Lots of those 'air' roots, all growing upwards - like a beautiful curtain.

Also ----- we have to think about it. If in the wild - an 'unexpected' or 'expected' rainstorm came along early ----- and all roots stalled for catasetum coming out of dormancy. It would wipe out a large number of orchids if this stalling thing were part of the behaviour. That clearly doesn't happen.

Roots are supposed to be able to handle a little bit of water - regardless of whether they're large or 'small'.

[mook1178]

The temps are in the upper 60s for a high and probably lower 60s at night. The amount of water was enough to keep the media wet for a good 36 hours, but not enough to fatten the pbulb up. That may be due to cutting a substantial amount of last years roots during repot.

I decided to repot to lower the plant base, which is now below the top of the pot. While during this, I noticed 3 or 4 roots growing in the media that had not stalled.

I can say that after that shot of water, the new growth stalled and has since recovered.

---------- Post added at 02:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:41 PM ----------

Oh, the plant is FDK After Dark 'SVO Black Pearl' FCC/AOS

It is a complex hybrid and one reason I think it has recovered quickly.

[SouthPark]

Nice details mook! Thanks for that. Also good to hear that a few roots didn't stall too, and that your SVO Black Pearl is recovering again. Sounds like back in action again. Nice work.

Also ----- update --- just to show what I meant ..... one photo here ----- which shows roots growing upwards. That's not the one I'm talking about though. Another one which was out of the shot was a much more spectacular case ---- like a curtain of roots. This is a photo from last year, not this year.

[isurus79]

Its pretty common for roots reaching out to stall and die when they hit wet media. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

The plant is a bit high, but instead of repotting you can build a little patch of long fiber spag around the new growth. Be gentle though! You don't want to hurt anymore new roots!