testing for moisture/dryness

[VickiC]

Hi everyone,
I test my orchids for moisture/dryness by using the stake-method, as I know many of you do, but I'm always afraid of stabbing a root. My plants are all small, so the finger-method is not feasible. I tried testing with a q-tip through a lower hole in the pot, but many of the the fuzzy white threads remained in the medium, which I thought might not be a good thing. ?? I can't make a determination by the weight of the pot, either. I'm waiting too long to water or not long enough because when I unpot a plant that is not doing well to check the root system (floppy-leaf Phals is a good example), I usually find either dried dead roots or soppy rotted ones. I just can't strike a happy medium.

I know this is a common problem for many of us newbies, so if someone more knowledable can give me some advice (maybe another method I'm not familiar with ??), I would appreciate it.

Thanks,
Vicki

[Lagoon]

Vicki,

Keep you're skewer in front of you're ID tag, if you don't have one - make something up and stick it in there ... this way you'll know where to put it back each and everytime without damaging a bunch of roots.

Just don't keep moving around the name tag

[VickiC]

Hi Gloria,
Great idea! Thanks! I have one question about it, though: I assume you mean to leave the skewer in the pot all of the time so that if a root grows in that area, it will grow around the skewer.....correct, or not?
Vicki:

Originally Posted by Lagoon

Vicki,

Keep you're skewer in front of you're ID tag, if you don't have one - make something up and stick it in there ... this way you'll know where to put it back each and everytime without damaging a bunch of roots.

Just don't keep moving around the name tag

[Vanessa]

I'm not Gloria but I keep the skewers in all the time. I think it's a better indicator that way. I wouldn't worry about the roots and the skewers...I've stabbed a lot of roots in my experience and the chids never seemed to mind...they are tough little cookies.

[camille1585]

I use skewers on a few of my plants that I have more trouble knowing when to water. I leave it in the pot all the time so it has it's own place among the roots. I always put it back in the same hole after. No problems and much less damaged roots that way.

[VickiC]

Hi Vanessa,
Thanks for replying! I'll keep the skewers in all the time.
Vicki

Originally Posted by Vanessa

I'm not Gloria but I keep the skewers in all the time. I think it's a better indicator that way. I wouldn't worry about the roots and the skewers...I've stabbed a lot of roots in my experience and the chids never seemed to mind...they are tough little cookies.

[VickiC]

Hi Camille,
I read on an older post that someone else did the same as you and put the skewer back in the same hole each time, so I tried that. I can never find the same hole in the medium, though.....my plants are so small. I'm gonna keep trying, though.

Thanks for your reply!
Vicki

Originally Posted by camille1585

I use skewers on a few of my plants that I have more trouble knowing when to water. I leave it in the pot all the time so it has it's own place among the roots. I always put it back in the same hole after. No problems and much less damaged roots that way.

[ChasWG]

When you say "skewer" what exactly are you talking about? Is it a simple wooden stick or something more techie?

Sorry for being such a newbie, but there are a lot of abreviations and accronyms on this site that I'm just not getting or don't even understand.

[nenella]

Yes Chas you can say it looks like a wooden stick - the ones usually used in cookery - A long pin of wood
(or metal) for inserting through meat or other food to hold or bind it in cooking.

[VickiC]

Hi Chas,
Yes, you are right. When we refer to a "skewer", we are talking about a wooden stick.....a shish-ka-bob skewer.

I've only been growing orchids for less than a year, so I am very much a newbie myself. The members here have been a tremendous help to me.....everyone is very patient and always willing to be of assistance, so if ever you have questions, I know someone can advise you. There are many experts.

There are lots of abbreviations and accronyms that I am having a hard time learning, too, so don't feel alone. I'm often finding that there are many of us "new kids on the block" out there.

Sorry for the long post.....I just wanted to encourage you to ask questions.....goodness knows, I have.
Vicki

Originally Posted by ChasWG

When you say "skewer" what exactly are you talking about? Is it a simple wooden stick or something more techie?

Sorry for being such a newbie, but there are a lot of abreviations and accronyms on this site that I'm just not getting or don't even understand.