Growing masdies/draculas in glass bowls?

[Paul Mc]

Well, I have to report on mine to the credit of RJ. I have not killed another Masdie since I switched to my modified version of this. I lightly packed the Masdie's in sphagnum moss and perlite, cut about 1/2 inch slits in the plastic pot to create a semi/sorta net pot. I even cut those slits into the bottom of the plastic pot. Filled the bottom with water and now every morning I can see condensation in there. However, today I'm going to purchase some zoomed moss and put in lava rocks to see how it works.

Thus far, the one that was dying already has 7 new leaves. The other one has done nothing yet, but it is also a new one and may not have had time to get as established as the other one yet. In fact, the one I almost killed has roots starting to grow outside of the pot!!! YIPPEEE!!!!

Thanks RJ!!!!! All the credit goes to you for this one!

[Vina]

Originally Posted by Paul Mc

............... my modified version of this. ...........

Congrats!
can we expect some pictures? pleeeeease

[Paul Mc]

Sure, I'll take pictures before I add the lava rock and moss, and then some after so you can all see the original modifications I made to RJ's suggestion. We'll see which one I like the most and which way works the best, lol...

[plantaholic]

I'm not seeing the condensation each morning. Course, my house is kept very cool and they don't get any direct son. Is that why there's no condensation? Also, the moss doesn't seem to be staying moist.

[Vina]

plantaholic, I'm not sure, but it seems that you don't have enough water inside the ball, that's all.

[Paul Mc]

I have to say that I decided to not tamper with my current method after some deliberation. Seeing that both of my surviving Masdie's now have a lot of new growth, I figured I should just leave them. I will take a picture though of the variation method I used so you can get a better idea.

I have to agree plantaholic, there may not be enough water in your bowl. I noticed that the more water in the bowl, the better the condensation was on the inside. Of course, this was my method based on this thread - so I'm not sure how it would work given RJ's full method.

[greenpassion]

I just bought my first masdevallia, (it isn't even here yet) and I was directed to this post. Wow. Glass bowls? My first question is what about drainage? I thought orchids shouldn't have wet roots all the time. I love the look of the bowls but I'm still not clear on what net baskets are. Can't I plant mine in a bowl without a net or basket? I know getting it out would be more difficult, but... And I'll get some Angle moss - where? What is the best medium to have these guys growing in? So many questions. I was driven to get one because of the 'ease' of growing them. "Great for beginners" it said....

[greenpassion]

To everyone here who have done the glass bowl thing, do you ...pot the masdie's with moss and what ever in the net pot, then sink that into a glass bowl that has additional angle moss on top of hydroton? I would like to get these things purchased, set up and ready for when my masdie comes to me. I just bought my first one and it's on it's way.yikes:

[Vina]

Originally Posted by greenpassion

To everyone here who have done the glass bowl thing,.............

well, I haven't don it yet, but I'm ready to try. Today I bought a small fishball, I have clay pellets at home, and I have some sphagnum moss.

And a masdie of coarse but the problem now is the net basket... the one I have, is too large!

[greenpassion]

Do you plant them 'bare root' in the net basket, then put that into a bowl with hydroton and moss?