White Fuzz on Phal roots
 

Hi, a newbie with another question.:) I recently repotted all of my phals, about a month or two ago. One (phal x intermedia) has developed a white fuzz on two very healthy growing roots. All of the other roots are fine. I have treated it (and all of the other phals to be on the safe side) with Physan, running it through the media. This was about a week ago. However, the fuzz is still there. Is this something to worry about? The roots are a wonderful green and growing fast. Should I retreat in a few weeks? Should I repot? Should I leave it alone? Is there something better to treat it with? It is growing in a bark / cork / spag media, heavy on the chunks, lite on the spag. For me, its a happy medium between all bark and all spag. I water every 3 to 5 days, depending on the weather (overcast vs sunny) and what the roots tell me. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks Cindy

Cindy,

What I am think you are seeing is actually part of the root, but I can't be certain without a good photo.

Yes, sometimes normal roots have a bit of fuzz. A photo would help.

Susan

I tried to get a good photo, but it is fuzzy, so its really not any help. I guess that I'll run with the notion that it is "normal". As long as the roots are green, plump, and actively growing, all is good, right? Like I said, I'm still a newbie and still learning. I'm used to the roots being green or white and smooth. Since the roots are right against the side of the clear plastic pot, it is easy to see the fuzz. There is no fuzz in the media, just on two of the many roots. Thanks again for all of the help, Cindy

I've seen a white fuzz on newly forming roots as well. I've seen it several times and it's not seemed to have caused a problem for me.

Have you ever noticed how some phal roots will "cling" to things, like bark and hydroton. I have no proof but that fuzz as well as the gray/white-looking stuff on the root itself seem to provide the ability for the root to anchor itself to stuff, perhaps to secure it in its spot? Hippeastrum do something similar.

The gray/white outer layer is called velamen. It is a layer of dead cells that captures moisture for the root to use. I have never seen roots on a Phal. that are fuzzy, but it seems that if it is not something normal or natural, it would have to be a type of fungus.

I agree with Pilot. My Phal roots have done that when they are growing vigorously and attaching themselves to things. Yours must be very happy!

(I'll bet that's a pretty car!!)

Maureen