Yes, as the individual who is conducting this experiment, I can say I agree with Royal and Anthony the most in their theories of why my roots have struggled even as the plant appeared healthy from the crown up, and the blooms lasted 5-6 months. Growing orchids in glass stones and wire baskets is much more adventurous and off the charts than I initially realized it would be. When I bought these plants, they had thriving green root masses in soaking wet (but brand new) Sphag (that is how the store kept them). Transferring them to my experiment was a polar opposite. However, after 6 months, I simply do not have any NEW root growth on this plant, and therefor I am not confident that this is ever going to work (although half the original roots did survive the 6 months). I will continue some variation of this potting technique, and I still don't like Sphag or bark or any of that- they are great for dry households but in my humid home it is problematic. Even though Sphag is great when it's new, it just breaks down and looses its antifungal properties too quickly, and requires re-potting too often for my liking. My goal was to create a potting technique that would come closest to a natural Phalaenopsis environment for the roots. Which means airflow, light, and the ability to water and dry out in short successive cycles. I realize many of you do not agree with the short drying cycle but I still say this is how Orchids function in nature. My apartment is very humid, and the roots really are supposed to react with air humidity every bit as much as with direct H2O in the pot. I just got sick of the whole concept of keeping roots all couped up in a dark dank pot in direct contact with damp material 24-7. And worrying about how much water is the right amount of water in such a pot- tedious guesswork. Still, new roots are not forming with the system I am experimenting with now, so I think Ray's S/H might be the best solution. I'll still use a wire basket if Ray thinks a basket will not screw up the wicking ability of the S/H potting media. Ray??
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