Is this a BS tip? LEAVE water in bottom of phalaenopsis pot

[Denizf]

Hey all,

I’m on a local houseplant forum and someone provided this sus tip regarding phalaenopsis orchids:

“…put the orchid pot into the cache pot and leave at least .5” of water at the bottom. This will create a fungus that triggers blooms(learned this trick from my Boss that has 18 orchids that are decades old) also the blooms should stay for about 2-3 months 🙂”

I don’t know, but this is counter to everything else I’ve come across. Thoughts?

[Roberta]

Never heard of that. The odds are that you'll encourage fungus alright...the sort that destroys roots.

[Dimples]

Blooms aren’t triggered by the presence of fungus in any species of plant that I’ve ever heard of, and I studied ag/ecology/biology in college. Not saying there isn’t ONE type of plant that does, but that’s completely bunk.

[Grim Tuesday]

Phal blooms are triggered by a colder temperature (like 3 weeks under 55 degs F or something like that?) Perhaps leaving water at the bottom of the pot has the side effect of cooling the plant down by evaporative cooling and is making the plant more likely to bloom in this person's care. Not a good idea in general, though, as has already been discussed in this thread.

[isurus79]

I know quite a few growers who leave some water in the bottom of a small tray with great success! It just depends on your growing conditions, media, and pot type. However, as stated, the whole fungus this is silly. Glad OB could get that straightened out!

[Denizf]

I didn’t want to argue with OP because they said that stuff about it working for their boss, but it seems very counterintuitive to me. Perhaps if they’re in a very dry area they need a bit of extra water, which gets taken up, but that bit about the fungus sounds bogus.

[estación seca]

This is why Orchid Board is the only orchid forum I read.

[RJSquirrel]

"orchids decades old growing in fungus that triggers blooms."

the alien mothership has landed.

[DirtyCoconuts]

this is a great idea if you grow them in only inorganic materials and you live in a warm and dry-ish climate.

if not...dead ass phals are in your future.

Isurus nailed it. its all about the rest of the equation. I dont grow any of my phals like the common grower, all are mounted on wood upside-down, outside under the deepest part of a massive mango tree. not what they show you on youtube....

[rbarata]

Originally Posted by isurus79

I know quite a few growers who leave some water in the bottom of a small tray with great success! It just depends on your growing conditions, media, and pot type. However, as stated, the whole fungus this is silly. Glad OB could get that straightened out!

I'm one of those growers but I don't do it to trigger blooming. It's just to keep some humidity in the medium in my dry environment.