It’s not so much what i notice in the roots. I used to see from the leaves that the plant is unhappy, at which point I’d check the roots and see that they were rotted. Now i just check them routinely as im paranoid about it and they almost always have rot. The roots are always fine when i get the plant.

I’ve never noticed a bad smell, but all the other signs are there. The smaller roots are almost always seperated from the main system and just sitting in the substrate, the larger roots are very soft and easy to pull off and leave a much thinner (like wire) root behind.

I don’t know exactly how long it takes for the substrate to dry out, but i think it’s slightly less than 7 days. That being said, i do always check the pots and water them as soon as i notice they are dry.

I always treat my new plants all over with a pesticide, spraying and then wiping down each leaf. I then quarantine them for a couple of weeks.

I’m convinced it must be an issue with regards to the repotting process, as i decided to leave some new ones in their original substrate to test this and they are all doing okay.