vase culture

[ryrycochinco]

I'm so excited about the Vascostylis Tham Yuen Hae X Broga Bluebell I just bought. It's a really small plant which is great. Also it has several old flower spikes. I thought vase culture would be a interesting and easy way to grow it. I found a tall curved beer glass that held the plant perfectly. I filled the glass up half way and placed it on a sunny windowsill. A few days later I noticed the roots turned yellowish and after closer inspection saw they were rotted. I read somewhere on here that its good to rap the vase in foil to protect the roots from the over heating. Is that what caused the roots to root? Thanks for your help

[nenella]

Hi, I believe your roots have rotted as these like their roots to be drenched or soaked in water and the roots then left to dry out & become silvery coloured. If you keep it in the plastic pot as in your second pic.I would make some holes in the pot so that the roots dry out quicker... I only grow Ascocendas and Ascocentrums bare root in glass vases - so hope someone who grows these potted chips in.
Concerning your foil question, I have read that some people put foil around the glass vase (growing bare root) so the roots don't get too hot.. I don't. My plants are about 1m (3') from a S facing window, protected by sheer curtains [doubled in summer] & they flower several times a year.
If It were mine I would unpot & cut off all the mushy bits of root; use some cinnamon powder on the tips of the roots to 'disinfect & dry them out' ...
then you need to decide how you want to grow it? Potted : or bare root in a vase? Depends on your conditions and how much time you can allocate to watering?
Also whichever way you decide to grow it, If it has lost alot of roots a soak in some rooting hormone should incite it to grow new roots & won't harm the plant..
Hope this helps a bit. I look forward to seeing what you decide to do and how you get on. Good Luck.

[ryrycochinco]

I think I'll go with the bare root in a vase way and maybe with alittle water on the bottom NOT touching the roots. Also could I mount it? Thank you again

BTW to anyone else with advice please keep it coming!

[Zoi2]

I bought a very small, basically rootless, severely dehydrated Rhynchostylis gigantea at Lowe's last December and stuck it in a small vase to try vase culture. So far the experiment is going wonderfully. The vase is tall so I keep about 2 inches of water in it (for humidity, the roots are not close to the water). I spray the roots daily and soak them weekly. I now have 3 fat roots that are growing and a new leaf. The vase is outside on the east side of a covered side porch getting direct light from about 7:30am to 11:00am.
Joann

[ryrycochinco]

Thank you, great idea.

[vandagirl]

What did you fill the vase with than. I have all my vanda's in vases, and they do perfect. They even make spikes. A vanda does not to stay in water all the time with his roots. So you have to make sure it will dry between watering. Just mist it or soak and let it dry before you mist again.

[Otis226]

Not that I can contribute much to your culture experience, being fairly new to keeping a couple of rescued Ascocendas, (coming along, but SLOWLY). Just wanted to say I really like the color of the blooms on your little plant so good luck with it,
Best,
Tony