Walkeriana X in moss ?

[ginnibug]

O.K. I know at first that sounds a little odd, but i grow lots of things in moss and they do well.So one of the members of our society told me she grows her walkerianas and related crosses in sphag. I think that our growing techniques are pretty similar, I think that I might be able to get away with it. Does anyone else grow walkerianas or their crosses in this way?ginnibugThanks

[FairyInTheFlowers]

I have a (Flirtatious Okami x walkeriana) that is growing in sphag, and it is perfectly fine. I would say you could grow almost anything in sphag so long as you adjust your watering regime. If you have had success with others in sphag and you know how to properly adjust your watering to the plants needs, I would say go ahead.

[tucker85]

I grow a lot of cattleyas, including walkeriana. My opinion is that cattleyas will grow in or on almost anything. You just have to create the right environment for the root zone. Sphagnum wouldn't be my choice but it's always fun to experiment. Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

[Lagoon]

I've got a couple of crosses that did real well in S.moss and corse rok. Now I have them in coconut, still doing well.

[ginnibug]

Thank you guys. You're right I grow phals, neos,phrags, and I'm sure I'm leaving something out, in moss. Plus I grow tons of stuff in a mixture using a lot of Promix so I guess you can see I'm an underwaterer.

Well I have active root growth so I need to act soon. I was also told that I could divide the plant, which should activate new roots in the back part of the plant. Just don't want to loose any of it. the flowers on this thing are so large and flat. It has such GREAT color and fragrance.

Wish me luck!!ginnibug

[isurus79]

Growing in spag is fine, its just that things can a do go wrong much more quickly, especially with walkeriana in the background that prefers dry conditions. I always tell ppl that spag is for advanced growers, so just know your own growing experience before diving in.

[ginnibug]

Well I'm advanced but I don't know so much about that applying to my growing skillls,maybe it's just that my kids are killing my brain cells!

Didn't get a chance to repot the walkeriana yesterday but I did repot the three Neos in moss (Japanese style) and I redid my three Zygos. One of those went into S/H because I think it needed it. The other two ended up in Promix, but in a S/H type of pot with peanuts in the bottom.And just my opinionI could be wrong. But I think that Zygos and Paphs are a lot alike in the respect to roots. Paphs are more pron to rot if the root system get too dry; I feel that might be the case for Zygos as well. Tell me what you think. I believe it's a terrestrial thing.ginnibug

[orchidsamore]

Sphag has many good features and a couple of issues.

I grow everything in sphag up to 4 inch pots and many in larger pots still using sphag.

Good points -
Sphag stays wet longer and this I feel is necessary for young plants.
Bad -
Sphag stays wet longer and can cause rot if over watered.

Good - rot can not grow in new high quality sphag because the PH is lower than that in which Phythion fungus can grow
Bad - Sphag goes alkalin over the course of about 1 year

good - sphag dries from the bottom up so unlike bark you can feel the top of the pot to determine how much water is in the mix.
bad - sphag can get very hard when dried too much and the water runs down the inside of the pot when watering and the roots do not get water.

Orchids will grow in anything so understand sphag and chose whether to use it in your growing conditions.

[Andre]

I grow various walkeriana clones in sphagnum moss mixed with clay pellets in clay pots. I let them dry out between watering ( takes 2-3 days).


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[ginnibug]

Yes understanding S/M is pretty key. The clay pellets are a good idea but I also have some diatomite sitting around too.I don't know I need to play with it.Thanks everyone.
ginnibug