Old Topic, But Can't Find the Threads.

[Anton]

As mentioned in the thread "Floppy Leaves" my Phal has droopy leaves, but is throwing some new root buds.

I took it out this morning and repotted it in a mixture of sphag, coir, perlite and some fine bark mix (home made concoction).

The main roots were rotted and I had to cut them off as they were hollow, hence the droopy leaves. But instead of the 2 new root buds I saw on the surface, it is infact throwing about 4 or 5 under the old mix.

My question is : What is the element needed to bring on root growth, I can't remember?

Does anyone have any little tricks to promote root growth, as I feel this is why the leaves are droopy, they are not getting enough nourishment, so anything I can do to speed it up will be appreciated.

Boy, what a steep learning curve, just when you think things are going well and you are on top of things, a curve ball comes your way and brings you back down to earth.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Well, indol-3-butyric acid is supposed to be a rooting hormone, but I have found that it inhibits rooting on the base of new growths in sympodial orchids, those that grow side ways, not Phals. Haven't anything to say about Phals, because they don't have the same seasonal root growth as sympodials.

[Anton]

Is there another name for it Cynthia ?

That seems a mouth full to ask at the garden suppliers.

[pikevi]

In Canada Wilson sells it under the name 'Roots'. It is in liquid form and contains an anti-fungal agent as well. I am sure it is better than the pure crystals for our use.

I think if you ask for 'rooting hormone' , you will get it but may be under another trade name.

I use it when I take 'cuttings' from woody plants( Hibiscus).

[Anton]

Thanks Pikevi, I'll ask around a few places here.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

I'm sure rooting hormone is a good enough name as Pike suggests. But, if it were me, I would limit its use to dusting or spraying, depending on form, on to the current roots to get them to grow more, not the base of the plant. Then again, maybe you can be our experimenter for monopodials to see how rooting hormones work on them. If you put it on the base of the plant and the plant starts to produce basal keikis, let us know.

[Anton]

Love a challenge Cynthia, will let you know.

Just have to see if I can find it here first.

[Anton]

OK, the local garden supplies has the dusting powder, so I'll get that and let you know what happens.

(cont) OK, the powder is on, what sort of time span am I looking at to get some results Cynthia et al ?

I am documenting it so I can keep tabs, but need some sort of rough timeline.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Could be as short as a week. Sometimes a lot longer. If you get no action, and watering washes it off, you can probably add more, but try to get it where you want it so you don't get too much washed into the pot. I am not sure what too much on the roots in the pot would do. Sometimes and excess works a little differently.