Perfect root moisture content

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Rob189

The roots were looking very dehydrated unless i kept misting very frequently.

Orchid has only been in this setup for a week or so now

Rob - I am assuming that your system is automated, or can be automated - as you mentioned that you can 'control' how well the roots get.

I seem to be in an ideal situation where i can control how wet the roots on my phal get, but having it grow on a rock, with no substrate, next to a miniature water feature.

I've been told to mist the roots twice a day, but that doesnt seem to be enough.

If twice a day doesn't seem to be enough, then try just doubling the number of times - such as 4 times a day ...... automated misting of the roots. Keep increasing the number of times per day until you find a workable value.

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[Rob189]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

Rob - I am assuming that your system is automated, or can be automated - as you mentioned that you can 'control' how well the roots get.



If twice a day doesn't seem to be enough, then try just doubling the number of times - such as 4 times a day ...... automated misting of the roots. Keep increasing the number of times per day until you find a workable value.

Nope, not automated yet. I just turn everything thing on in the morning before work. Then turn off before bed.

---------- Post added at 06:43 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:42 AM ----------

Had a look this this morning. Roots are looking a lot happier. Just just need to remove all the spagnum moss that i added and try get some water flowing over a few more roots

Thanks for all the help guys

[SouthPark]

Will the flow of water over roots be pretty much continuous? Or just momentary/periodically? I'm thinking that if continual, then things like slime/algae will grow ..... may or may not affect the plant ... but may affect the appearance of the rock ..... if it matters that is.

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by Rob189

The water pump does get turned off when the lights turn off

The roots were looking very dehydrated unless i kept misting very frequently.

Orchid has only been in this setup for a week or so now

They wouldnt really be completely submerged in water. What i want to do is have the roots touching the moving water. The water will then flow down the roots and end up back in the pool.

The pump gets turned off at night.

My main goal is to have a setup thats very low maintenance. Im fine with misting occasionally, but dont want to be doing it multiple times a day

My laziness to mist the roots

You reckon I’d be fine with about 14hours a day of water flowing over around 50% of the roots.

I’ll have to manually mist the other 50%. Speaking of, would a waterlogged root supply water to a dry root?

Also, i just noticed tat the water in the tank is really cold. Would this be an issue at all? Its winter here in SA currently.

I'm gonna chime in differently, now that you've answered my question... That being, it looks fine, what do you think is wrong with the roots....and the answer, too lazy to mist all the time.

It appears this is a one-shot way of growing a Phal so it adds ambiance to your fountain. You want to not mist all the time. Folks do grow Phals in water culture (not me) doing just what you're doing... letting part of roots dangle in the water. Some can even bloom them, likely depending on the particular hybrid.

You say the roots look dehydrated unless you mist them two or three times daily. I find that very doubtful, especially over a moving fountain of water. Define what you think "dehydrated roots" look like. Or take a picture of what your dehydrated roots look like after a day of not misting.

I've had numerous Phals mounted on wood of some sort. I dunked them in water for an hour or so OR heavily sprayed them. Then hung them back up. No misting daily. If I did it every four or so days, they were just fine and bloomed.

So I think it looks fine. Perhaps you're not understanding what dehydrated roots really look like. Some DO grow in water culture. You've only had the plant in the fountain for a week.

I'd roll with it, mist the roots once or twice a week, and see how it does. Let some roots grow down into the water. The roots you put in the water may rot, may not, but the plant will adapt.

If it starts not looking so great (leaves dehydrated) put it on something that wicks water (short clay pot or cylinder) in the fountain and it will wick its own water. Or do that now (that's what I'd do).

A week's time isn't long enough for dehydrated roots. You're experimenting with what will work,because you want a phal in that spot. If it doesn't work in the long run, replace it with something else, or get three or four more phals and rotate them in and out of fountain every week.

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[DirtyCoconuts]

I think WW is on your something.

I’ll grab some pics of various mounted phal roots I have around the house and they probably will shock you lol

[SouthPark]

hmmmm ..... good points by WW and DC there, about the misting.

Rob ------ could you show close-up pics of the roots for the times when they look dehydrated? - just so that it's clear just how dehydrated they become.

If indeed they become dehydrated - it could then be related to the amount of misting is given ----- such as a couple of sprays of fine mist to just wet the mouth/lips? Or really heavy misting etc?

Maybe if you go with an automated misting system, and just get it to mist the roots at various times of the day ----- then that should sort it out nicely.

[DirtyCoconuts]

all of these are healthy and actively growing roots on plants that have all bloomed, in their current location, within the last year.


i would certainly say that they could use a spritz, but i don't watch or water these so they are acclimated to only getting rain and a TON of humidity

Phal roots by J Solo, on Flickr

Phal roots by J Solo, on Flickr


Phal roots by J Solo, on Flickr

Phal roots by J Solo, on Flickr



Phal roots by J Solo, on Flickr


Phal roots by J Solo, on Flickr



once it is settled in it will be FINE in that tank if you don't do a thing.

[Rob189]

Ok, i may be overreacting a bit

---------- Post added at 07:47 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:46 AM ----------

Sphagnum on the wet side will be removed this weekend



---------- Post added at 07:49 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:47 AM ----------

Heres the dry side

[WaterWitchin]

Yeah, mist the dry side a couple times a week, then watch it for a few weeks. Time to be patient now.

[DirtyCoconuts]

where is my Tom Petty GIF???

the waaaaaaaaitingg is the hardest.....paaaart


all those roots there will likely just end up staying as they are but new ones will grab the mount and be suited for the terrarium.


i cant tell from a still photo but how strong is the flow on the water? one idea i had was to add a small splash element (either a diverted flow or a falling water ) to get some water to occasionally fall into the root zone.