Packing Peanuts

[florianradke]

Originally Posted by Roberta

First, Welcome!

Out of curiosity... what types of orchids do you grow? ... How do you approach the issue?

Thank you for the warm welcome, Roberta. (Once I get the
hang of things I'll set up my profile more fully)

I grow species almost exclusively. Oeceoclades are my primary interest. Which, being terrestrial, are less prone to root adhesion concerns.

But I do have several other plants of mixed genera which are epiphytic, and for those, I usually mount to cedar. But some I pot as well. I like to use a very large diameter (10"+) low, wide pot so that it takes relatively long time for the roots to reach the unglazed surface, and/or, I can catch and repot or mount before they do. This is probably an unorthodox and in most cases temporary solution but it works for my setup and aesthetic concerns. I avoid tearing roots off of things whenever possible.

Now I was given a brassavola in rough shape, and decided to place in an antique unglazed upright pot. I coated the interior of the pot with powdered graphite. My hope is that the graphite will be non-harmful to the roots, but also close and smooth out many of the porous holes in the pots surface that the roots and their glue-like substance grow into, deterring adhesion, while still allowing the passage of water. It's a bit of an experiment.

-Florian

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by florianradke

Now I was given a brassavola in rough shape, and decided to place in an antique unglazed upright pot. I coated the interior of the pot with powdered graphite. My hope is that the graphite will be non-harmful to the roots, but also close and smooth out many of the porous holes in the pots surface that the roots and their glue-like substance grow into, deterring adhesion, while still allowing the passage of water. It's a bit of an experiment.

-Florian

An interesting experiment, for sure. You definitely need to keep an eye on it if you value the pot. Brassavolas tend toward wild roots - I mostly gave up on mounts, put them in wood baskets with little or no medium. (Think of those as three-dimensional mounts) Both roots and growths go wherever they feel like. They definitely like having their roots go "wherever", with lots of air. Where do you live? Do you grow indoors, or greenhouse or??? (I live in coastal southern California, a very benign climate, so grow mostly outside... I am a "What can I get away with" grower.)