So this is my new thread for 5 posts

[estación seca]

Welcome, Henry!

[Henry]

WaterWitchin What kind of orchid is the one at right of picture?

My wife thinks her's is a Bromeliad.
It had long lasting flowers, but that was before I took an interest in those two older orchids. So no pics.

The one with flowers is just a week from the grocery store.
So...so far my talent lies in grocery shopping!

I just repotted, I wonder if I could do it again with 6" pots
or should I wait a year? They would take up less room.

What about translucent? I haven't seen any looking through the OB?
Is translucent just some hype?

Thank you

[Mountaineer370]

Originally Posted by Henry

Also, I read that the roots like light, so I'm surprised I don't see anyone else using traslucent pots?

Henry, you've asked a couple times about the translucent pots, so I will address that. I can assure you that many of us here on the OB use translucent or clear plastic pots for our orchids. The style I use has holes or slots on the sides of the pots, as well, which provides lots of air circulation for the roots. If a particular plant is blooming heavily and is in danger of tipping over, I would place the clear pot inside a heavier clay pot to protect it.

I like being able to see the roots and see how much moisture may still be inside the pot. It helps me to know when to water. I'll be honest, I tried the skewer method back when I was new to orchids and gave it up pretty quickly. I learned to tell by the weight of the pot whether it was time to water.

[Roberta]

Don't stress about the particulars of the pot. Mountaneer has explained well the rationale for translucent pots. But whatever pot, and whatever medium you use, the goal is the same... Phalaenopsis (and epiphytic orchids in general) want "humid air" rather than "soggy wet" in the root zone. Orchids donj't die from too much water, rather than too little air around the roots. So if you use a medium that is airy, and water so that it flows out of the pot (flushing crud out and pulling fresh air in) you don't water by the calendar but rather by what the plant wants. If you maximize air (big bark or mounted) you basically can't overwater. If you use a more retentive medium (so you don't have to water as often) then use the "weight" approach... water well, let drain, and weigh the pot on a kitchen scale or postal scale. Weigh again the next day. When the rate of weight loss slows down (not much more water to evaporate) then it's time to water again.

[Henry]

Well I weighed my three pots and I've started a goog sheet
with a graph showing water loss per pot.
A bit over the top, but I enjoy messing with excel and graphs.

_______

Also using skewers which seem a bit thin. 3 cm, .120" OD
It feels like touching the upper lip, below the moustache is the best reading.

Thanks for all y'alls hep!
~Henry in France

[Waterdog111]

To me all your plants look happy and healthy!
I was wondering one thing though? Why I dont see any aireal roots on any of them.

[Henry]

Well...I just repotted. The little one is new, but does have a root sticking up.
I'm not sure about their health though as I think I've made a few mistakes already. Ha!
It does seem from photos that Orchids may not be for the tidy minded.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Waterdog111

To me all your plants look happy and healthy!
I was wondering one thing though? Why I dont see any aireal roots on any of them.

Roots go where they get moisture and air (either or both) Sometimes aerial roots develop when there isn't room in the pot, sometimes they develop when the medium in the pot is wet and airless. Remember too that these are recent acquisitions, and if the root system fit in the pot when repotting, that's fine. If the environment in the pot is what the roots want, why go into the air? What the plant does over the next 2 or 3 years, that's yet to be learned.

[Henry]

Thanks Roberta,

They did go into bigger pots, I still had a different kind of plant mentality. In fact I think I went too big. So I might just repot if Gamm Vert gets the 14 cm OD pots.

These two pots are 17 cm OD and were very roomy.

The Phal was in a 14 cm one and I just had the go bigger each time one repots idea.

[Roberta]

Those pots look fine. You definitely don't want to overpot - if a pot is too large, you end up with a wet, airless lump in the middle, and orchids HATE "airless". If some roots escape into the air, that's fine. Remember, in nature these plants grow attached to tree branches or trunks, the roots are evolved to be happy in air. In habitat, the humidity is high and it rains almost daily... we put them in pots because most of us can't maintain that sort of environment. So your goal is "humid air" in the pot. And just let the plants be... once you repot, leave them alone for a year or so unless there is some very good reason to do it sooner.