The correct method and steps for repotting potted plants and examining the roots

Repotting and root examination

1. Roots that are short with bamboo-like nodes are caused by insufficient watering. The reason is a lack of water caused by watering cycles that are too long during the growth period.

2. When only the skin of the roots remains and they look as if they are still alive, it is caused by planting in dry potting medium at the time of repotting and watering too few times. Therefore, watering thoroughly so that the medium and the pot absorb enough water can prevent this.

3. When the roots are very sturdy but only the tips turn black, it is due to overwatering during root growth, which causes breathing problems at the root tips, or to fertilizer that is too concentrated.

4. Roots that stay pressed tightly against the pot wall and do not come away are caused by too little watering. This happens especially often with clay pots, so when watering, give plenty of water starting from the edge of the pot.

5. Brown and black spots appearing on the roots are caused by overwatering or by fertilizer that is too concentrated; reusing potting medium or medium that is too fine can also trigger this phenomenon.

6. The area below the bulb turning black is caused by overwatering, too little top-dressing soil, or planting too deep.

7. The bulb developing a stepped, downward-growing shape is caused by insufficient watering or potting medium that is too coarse. This is seen often in clay pots, which dry out easily, and rarely in plastic pots.

8. A bulb that has not formed properly is caused by insufficient ventilation and sunlight, or by planting too deep or top-dressing soil that is too fine.

9. A bulb drying up and dying occurs when the stress of repotting or division is too great and injures the bulb, and nematodes eat the sap at the wound site, leaving the inside hollow.

10. When seedlings grow only in a single-file line, it is caused by a poor growing environment or poor cultivation methods; in a word, it is caused by poor growing conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to check whether the growing environment and cultivation methods are appropriate.

11. Roots exposed above the surface of the top-dressing soil are caused by potting medium that is too fine or too heavy, which makes the medium press against the root tips and prevents them from extending normally. In this case, use coarser medium and adjust the amount of watering.

12. Roots that get thinner the deeper they go are caused by using coarse medium at the very bottom, which due to poor water retention or insufficient watering prevents the medium from absorbing enough water. When the medium is too dry, water thoroughly so that the medium can absorb enough water.

http://www.koreanorchid.com/ko_xe/?mid=growingtip&page=2&document_srl=96870