Test of Today - Root Rot

Salam.

Root Rot.

If you’re not a plant owner, you may not know what root rot is. If you’re a superior plant owner to me, you may never have encountered root rot before.

I’ve kept several plants alive over the years, and I’ve had some success with orchids over the years, which are notorious for being difficult. The reason for said difficulty has nothing to do with the plant itself but with the soil and where it lives - aka its environment. If you were ever gifted an orchid and followed all the care taking instructions, only for your orchid to still wither away and dry out, you’re not alone.

As with many new skills I picked up over the years, I learned from TikTok creators who became experts. Creators like Ian Caroll, who are now leading the fight in the war on information and transparency against the corporate conglomerates and oligarchs who exploit us all. While I didn’t learn about root rot from Mr. Caroll, I learned plenty and continue to learn about the ways in which, we as a society are often taken advantage of.

Orchids are beautiful and require very little, but like any living thing, they have their own special needs. Orchids thrive off indirect sunlight and hate being overcrowded or overwatered. Unfortunately, grocery stores and many retailers of orchids, provide the exact opposite. Why?

The answer is simple - so you can buy a new orchid. Most people, including myself, have no understanding of what orchids or any plants needs are other than water and sunlight. We trust that the people providing us with these plants, ones that we hope will last and survive longer than their freshly cut counterparts from the farms, will be given to us in their best condition, including the pots they’re purchased in.

Sadly, these orchids are most often stuffed to the pots brim with moss or some other filler that acts in place of soil. The roots don’t get the proper aeration they need or the sunlight they are so desperate for.

It wasn’t until I learned through a TikTok creator that the orchids we buy, are not made to last. Does anyone get told that? Is anyone warned to look out for signs?

I know it might seem trivial to many of you, but orchids are often expensive. They’re given in place of flowers that would otherwise be thrown out. They’re given with the intention that if cared for, they will bloom again for a lifetime.

I love my plants, and I remember each one that was gifted to me and when. Not to sound like a crazy person but I believe in energy in all things, in plants, in our actions, and especially in how and where we exert our own energy. That theory solidified this year.

On my birthday last year, I was given two orchids. One survived and one did not. I put the same love and attention into them, watered them and placed them in the same light. The only difference was their initial environment. The one that died was held in a mixture of moss and wood-like chips or rocks, and in a silicone planter with no drainage holes. The other, I had to repot because it got so large.

Today, the same orchid that had been thriving, needed some extra care and attention. I noticed that the roots had started whitening last week and I’ve been somewhat restless about her since. I took the plunge today and I emptied the pot to find that it was much moister than it should have been. The moss mixture that it was originally planted in worked for a while, but the roots had grown so much, there was no more room in the pot for it too breathe.

The orchid and I are similar. We both find ourselves battling our environments. The difference is, I can make changes, and the orchid is helpless without me.

Despite my fear of what might be inside the pot, I took the orchid out today and gave her a good clean. I am going to try a tip I learned from the plant lover community and treat the roots with some hydrogen peroxide, let it dry out for the day, and I will repot her in a new comfortable home tomorrow.

I’ve known that I could or should do this to my plants for months, if not years, so why did I wait?

The same reason I waited to take time off of work or to see a specialist about my pain; I didn’t want to believe that there was an issue at all. The more obvious reason was that I was scared there might be fungus gnats (God forbid) or that the damage would be too far gone (and gross) to repair. I’m very proud to say that with gloves I was able to empty and clean the roots and I’m hopeful it might work!

As with most consumers buying the orchids, they don’t want to believe that these retailers are intentionally selling a product destitute and made for the trash. Oh, the disillusionment. While I don’t think that orchids would be the catalyst to the capitalist revolution, I do see the parallels between root rot and societal discontent.

Academics have been warning us for years that we’re on the verge of recession or world war, and the only reason that hasn’t become a reality, is that no one wants to admit we might already be there. The wars haven’t stopped, not ever. The economy never recovered, the wealthy just found new ways to do the same thing they have always done, take and hoard. The wealth gap is the largest it has ever been, and the victims are regular people, not to forget to mention, the entire plant.

When you see signs of root rot in your plants, don’t wait and hope they will recover. Take the plant out, snip off the rotted roots, and give your plant baby a chance of survival. Not every plant will show the same signs, just like humans, they all have slightly different needs and personalities.

Therefore, just like in humans, our plants need a little bit of tender love and care. Take some time today and give yourself some TLC too, I’m sure you deserve it. Don’t wait for the roots to rot, give yourself a chance to breathe too.

Salam friends, chat tomorrow!  

Disclaimer: I don’t use AI to write, research, or edit my content. I like to use dashes so please don’t fault me for that!

Birthday Orchid 8 months later - this baby grew NINE (9) whole flowers that were the size of my palms. The petals were shimmery like they were sprayed with glitter and they bloomed all summer, it was incredible. I stared at her for hours a day.

The rot was mainly on the inner roots where the moss had become so compacted around the base of the plant. I snipped off the weaker/mushy roots and kept the ones that were plump and firm. I rinsed the roots off with warm water. I am spraying the roots with 3% hydrogen peroxide today and will repot her tomorrow in new orchid soil with a better pot and holder.