The Official Semi-Hydroponics Forum

[Kemist]

I pottted up an intergeneric hybrid orchid in April, 2008. It went from Semi-Hydro directly into a bigger pot with SH. I didn't disturb the very dense root ball - just lifted out of one pot and into a bigger pot with new PA in the bottom and around the sides. Recently, several leaves of the plant started turning brown at the tips, and expanding down toward the base. I decided to unpot it to see if there was something going on at the roots. When I pulled it from the pot I found that the root ball was still entirely in the "old" PA, as if it had just been transplanted. All of the new stuff was loose - no roots in it at all, even though it had several half-grown new growths. Apparently, all of the new roots were growing into the old root ball, and not out into the new (now a year and a half old) media - it looked like I could have just put the plant back into the old, smaller pot. I also noticed that the new growths are not very vigorous. In fact, two of them broke off as I was handling the plant. I put the plant into a new pot with some new PA that was soaked in KLN, which is my normal practice. But, I'm not confident that'll help!

Has anyone seen this before? What can I do to stimulate this plant to put roots out into the new media? I'm really worried that I'm going to lose the plant. I'm afraid if I try to remove the old PA I'll end up ripping the roots up, since they are very densely woven into the old media. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!