Roots
The plant roots did not swirl around the bottom of the pot, searching for food while growing. This shows that the growing medium - simply horsemanure and free draining water, provided all the plant needed.
Root Rot
Nic had feedback from people with root rot.
If you are having trouble with rot in your plants you should look at the following
pointers:
Firstly use a medium to grow the plant in that allows the water to pass
through it easily (like horsemanure for instance!)
Also make sure that the water can drip freely from the bottom of the pots. (don't stand them in a container
that can catch the water.)
Thirdly, (and this may sound odd at first but is very important) make sure you water
enough i.e. daily, especially with plants more sensitive to stronger solutions. With disa
and other plants requiring weaker solution (low E.C.values) if you don't water enough,
the solution that is available to the plant is stronger, and the result
will be that the roots will start to die,
causing rot.
You should water so that
the pot starts to drip every day (you can't really over water them if the growing medium
lets the water pass through easily) then the solution available to the roots will not be too strong, and the plant
will be happy.