NABAT · THE ILLUSTRATED GUIDE

Good care begins below.

A closer look at the materials, air spaces and moss that make a place for roots to grow.

Watch & understand

Different materials, different behaviour

Fibres, particles and whole watering systems behave differently. Start with what each material does.

How it works A potting mix must store usable water while keeping air around roots. Ingredients change that balance through their particle size, absorbency and how tightly they fit together.

HOLD SOME WATER

Coir gives roots a moisture reserve

Fine coir fibres hold water between waterings. A moisture-retentive component is useful, but a dense blend can keep this plant’s root zone wet for too long.

Three components demonstrate different jobs, not a measured recipe. The finished blend, particle grades and container determine how it behaves.

A closer look

Potting blend: match the whole structure to the plant

Mineral systems: follow their watering and nutrition instructions

Sphagnum: damp, loosely arranged fibres for suitable roots

Watch & understand

The spaces matter, too

Watch water move through the spaces between particles—and see why roots need those spaces.

How it works The spaces in a mix are shared by air and water. Prolonged saturation restricts oxygen supply, which can impair roots’ ability to take up water and nutrients.

BETWEEN THE PARTICLES

Roots need air inside the pot

Roots use oxygen to release energy for growth and uptake. If water keeps filling the air spaces, roots can struggle even though the pot contains plenty of water.

A magnified model of spaces in potting mix. Water movement is simplified; the picture does not measure a real pot’s oxygen or moisture.

Watch & understand

A moss pole that roots can reach

Follow a wet sphagnum pole from preparation to root contact. Keep the pole and the pot as separate checks.

How it works Climbing aroids produce aerial roots from the stem. A moist sphagnum pole provides both support and a place for those roots to establish; it does not replace suitable light or care of the potted roots.

A ROOTING SURFACE

Damp moss gives aerial roots contact

Long-fibre sphagnum holds moisture around roots that grow from the climbing stem. Wet it evenly and let surplus water leave before filling the support.

A sphagnum-filled rooting pole for a climbing aroid. Root growth and later drying are time-compressed; damp moss is intentional, persistent saturation is not.

A closer look

A little more detail

Damp moss is intentional; moisture alone does not prove rot. Inspect tissue if it softens or collapses. Extra pole water can drain into an already wet pot. Check both zones before adding water and discard surplus.

From the story to your plant