Why do some new roots fail?

[jje10001]

Originally Posted by snowbell

My Schilleriana was growing two new roots into the media, but one of them suddenly shriveled up entirely. The other keeps growing fine.

This is an issue with my schilleriana as well; for some reason, its root tips can occasionally fail and shrivel up, and it seems to prefer sending out new roots horizontally in the top layers of its medium (even though the medium is practically brand new).

I am getting the message that it really does prefer being mounted over being potted...