I have had 4-5 'plug plants' that seemed 2 b fine when I bought them & then they just weren't. When I checked the roots, looking 4 root rot, I found the plugs. I did pull off the fabric from around the plug & repotted the plants but they just never recovered & died. The last few that I have found plugs in, I not only pulled the fabric but discovered that the plug was almost sponge-like & I, knowing that the others had died, carefully broke the spongey plug apart b-4 I repotted the plants. 1 of those plants I ended up breaking almost all the roots off & had 2 try to propagate in water. The roots on the water propagated plant were thicker by @ least 3×'s what had been coming out of the plug. I'm happy 2 report that all of the 'plug plants' survived the removal of the spongey plug. I have not had 2 repot them again as of yet, so I can not tell u what the roots look like. Although, I find myself really, REALLY wanting 2 take a peek. I honestly think that that spongey plug doesn't allow the roots 2 grow normally. In my opinion, that plug promotes the growth of those fine roots because that's all that can penetrate the plug. I can't swear 2 it but in my experience, that is the theory I have come up with. Tell me if I have jumped 2 the wrong conclusion please? I have also found that all of the Agleonema's I have bought, maybe 5 or 6 varieties, were fine when I bought them & just like the 'plug plants' they just began to wilt & turn brown & get soft & mushy. 2 or 3 just up & died. When I started checking the roots, I found those slotted pots they use 4 Hydroponics. The roots had grown thru the slots & because the Agleonema's have hearty thicker roots, they were being cut or strangled as they got bigger. So with the roots loosing everything over 2 inches in length, they were unable 2 use the water I was giving them. I'm an under-waterer, I always have been. But I was essentially drowning my Agleonemas. I have had 2 down-size my pots & try 2 get them nursed back 2 health. It's a long, slow process! I did go back & check the Agleonemas that had died & sure enough, there were those slotted, Hydroponic pots around the roots. I have learned 2 check my Agleonemas when I bring them home 4 those pots so I can remove them. Yes, I'm running the risk of killing an un-acclimatized plant but if I don't check & those have the same slotted pots on the roots, I WILL loose that plant b-4 it can acclimatize anyway. Right?
I unfortunately recently discovered two of my Alocasia were plugs too. Thankfully they both still had a decent amount of roots, one to the level that I didn't have to down pot it, but the other one I had to down pot from a 6" pot to a 4" pot. I was able to remove the fabric and plug substrate from one of them with no problem, but the other I was going to end up potentially breaking the plant. So on that one I tried to gently just dig as much of the plug substrate out as I could, and, yes, it's very 'spongy'. For the most part the plug substrate is going to consist of peat moss or coco coir due to the fact that consistent moisture is needed for seedling plants to develop, and peat moss and coco coir retain moisture well. But that's exactly what ends up causing the problem further down the line. That is the first I've ever heard of what you're talking about regarding the Aglaonemas. Were the slotted pots inside a regular nursey pot?
I always pull the fabric off from the plug when I find one. I pull it off in tiny pieces with my fingers or with tweezers. It is laborious! But I feel better about the plant having more space to stretch out its roots! I hadn't been thinking about the difference in medium between the plug and the rest of the pot--thanks for the information!
I had a orchid that was in a plug and the plug ended up strangling the plant. Good news is I treated it with peroxide, put it in damp spagnum and i have the beginning of new roots. I alway check new plants now for plugs.
I think it is also a good idea to take cuttings, if you can, when messing with the root. Root the cuttings in water. This way you can develop a new plant with healthy roots.
This video has me thinking about the strange behavior of my Homalomena'Selby'. I bought it as a slightly dehydrated clearance (Kroger) plant 11/17/22. I watered it and treated it with a homemade spray. There were a few mushy leaves but I wasn't concerned until 3 days ago. Several leaves turned yellow and although firm, easily separated from the base. The roots look excellent and are actually circling the pot. My MO is to let a plant acclimate 2 weeks before making changes. However, I suspect a cage. The soil is still wet for something watered 10 days ago. The potting mix is very peaty, but also has tons of perlite, and smells "woodsy" - a pleasant organic smell. So I'm really conflicted about what to do. Am definitely grateful for this video. It's clear and makes sense. I can use everything you've covered here. But my 'Selby' is a mystery right now...
Those cages are the worst. If it was me, I’d just go ahead and take action now. Homalomena is same family as Aglaonema and my Aglaonema handled it pretty well.
TFS Drea...yes very helpful video indeed. I see you only soak the plant in peroxide for a few minutes or so. I was soaking mine too long and not using the right ratio, but now I know thanks to you😊
My euphorbia leuconeura that I have since it was a tiny baby has got the same issue I think. It's gotten like 40 cm tall and then suddenly started having droopy leaves.. 2 years ago or so? I guess I overwatered it at one point and I repotted immediately to save it when I realized the roots even though white and healthy were flimsy and the root-ball itself was just way too small for that size of a plant. Looks really odd in comparison to the plant...I literally have to stake it so it doesn't fall over. :D Everytime I check the roots they look the same. White, firm. No odd smell ... nothing...but the plant has these droopy leaves and looks just so sad! I can only imagine it not getting enough water with these few roots. Will definitely try the hydrogen peroxide now the next time I repot!
My exact same plant with the exact same issue. I did go way too long to notice though, I’m new to the plant life but have just dived in head first and love it so much. I was repotting because it’s grown huge! But when I was repotting it there were hardly any roots at all! Yours might have even had more than mine did and mine was three times larger. Glad I had the instinct to realize this was odd. The soil in the pot was soaked of course, without me realizing it. Mine didn’t have a plug likes yours. I’m going to put it in a much smaller pot and maybe cut back the plant quite a bit and try to propagate the clippings?..? So weird my exact same plant had the exact same issue. How is your plant doing now?
Mine lost its two oldest leaves shortly after the video but that’s all. It is taking it’s sweet time to fully perk back up but that’s just because it’s focusing all it’s energy on developing new roots. Sounds like yours was just overwatered with no plug. You can certainly propagate it but I would leave at least a few nodes and leaves on the original plant.
Becoming more and more common. All of my Alocasia were plugs, every Aglaonema I see nowadays has the plastic cage plugs, my Begonia maculata was a plug, my Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma was a plug, and I’ve heard from other people about many other varieties of plants they’ve bought being plugs too
All the roots were growing outside the plug at the point I made the discovery so not necessary at that point since all the ones inside the plug were gone
Those darn fabric plugs!! I just ran into that same problem. The plant just wasn't growing so I was going to put it in better soil. The roots were minimal and mostly coming out of the top of the plug. I don't think it will make it. So if just ordered a new one. Ficus triangularis. By the way, can you cut the fabric off? I did just cause I was so mad. Either way it is more than likely going to die
I have a dwarf umbrella plant and I started noticing leaf drop, and curling so I thought I probably overwatered it and have root rot. Is there any possibility of saving my plant? I’m a new plant parent so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
