Kinds of Bark

[Bird Song Farm]

Way cool Kiki. Thanks for the pic. I'll bet that really helps with the humidity!

Al

[Ray]

I don't see any responses on the particular materials- of course I could have missed them, just scanning this thread - but garden center pine bark mulch is typically not usable for orchids, as it contains the resins that the trees utilize to fend off attackers". The typical "orchid bark" we can purchase has been autoclaved and/or thoroughly steamed to extract it. Cypress mulch might be OK.

I prefer coconut husk chips over other organic media, but stick with stuff in the 3/4" size, as that has a much more open structure for air flow.

The disadvantage with any organic medium compared to inorganic ones like LECA, is that they decompose. As they do so, they crumble and get more and more compact, suffocating the roots. If you repot relatively frequently, that's not a particular problem. Another issue I have with the organic components is the particle sizes and shapes, as they can pack to tightly "right out of the box".

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Bird Song Farm

I'll bet that really helps with the humidity!

Actually, I'm not sure it helps all that much.

My thinking is that, yes, the evaporation of the water in the vase pretty much has to go through the pot to escape, but unless you're gone a long time and cannot water, it's probably insignificant compared to moisture trapped in the medium itself.

It certainly does little in the vicinity of the plant, as once that small amount of water vapor seeps through the medium, it is very easily dispersed in the air - and spreads out throughout the room, house, and the earth's atmosphere.

[kiki-do]

You may very well be right, Ray. What I know about this particular plant is that it has a constant beading of water in it's pot now; it has grown by leaps and bounds since I've been doing this (over a year now), and it's been virtually maintenance-free. I use to have to contend with leaves pleating and now I don't have that problem anymore.
I, of course, fertilize/water about every eight to ten days.

[Bird Song Farm]

Have you tried KiKi's method Ray? I believe anything that helps grow a better plant is worth a try.

AL

[quiltergal]

Since these guys really don't like to be too warm I wonder if the evaporation of the vase water up through the pot helps keep the root zone cooler. Maybe that's partly why it's doing so well. It looks great Kiki! Great growing! I know my larger Onc. alliance plants are loving life now that they are in S/H. I think the combination of enough on demand moisture and a cooler root zone is making them really happy campers. I think my next move with the Darth Vader will be to a small S/H pot. It's not loving me right now.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Ray

Actually, I'm not sure it helps all that much.

My thinking is that, yes, the evaporation of the water in the vase pretty much has to go through the pot to escape, but unless you're gone a long time and cannot water, it's probably insignificant compared to moisture trapped in the medium itself.

It certainly does little in the vicinity of the plant, as once that small amount of water vapor seeps through the medium, it is very easily dispersed in the air - and spreads out throughout the room, house, and the earth's atmosphere.

Not only that, but just about every growth is pleated suggesting lack of moisture - not more moisture. Oncidium class crosses exhibit this type of pleating when the roots are not getting enough moisture in their growth-spurt. Just my 2 cents.

[bonsai1504]

get better-gro bark at lowes. don't get the schultz stuff because it is way too fine for orchids.

[kiki-do]

Yes Ross, the pleating was the reason I began doing this method. I was having way too much pleating. I was told that doesn't go away no matter what. The new growths are not pleating.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by kiki-do

Yes Ross, the pleating was the reason I began doing this method. I was having way too much pleating. I was told that doesn't go away no matter what. The new growths are not pleating.

You are correct, the pleating never goes away, and all of us get it on occassion. The secret is to learn how to stop it from progressing. More water. That's the answer.