Grocery Store Phalaenopsis in Too Much Spangum

[meganreaux]

Hi. I just bought a beautiful NoID Phal from Whole Foods. This is my second purchase from them-- they have large phals for a pretty good price. Anyway, my question is why, oh why, do they (and other places) pack their orchids in spangum moss that is so dense that the roots start rotting? This one had surprisingly good roots once I got all of the spangum moss off, but after another week or two in that medium I feel sure that it would have been in need of some serious help. It's amazing how much spangum came out of that little 4 inch pot. I am certain that there must be a reason for distributors to do this, right? I just don't understand. Can someone enlighten me?

[Zoi2]

I don't know if I can "enlighten" you, but I just figure the reasons for so much sphag is:
1. keeps the roots moist for long periods
2. most shoppers at grocery stores buy the plant as a throw away-after the blooms go, they trash the plant.
3. keeps customers buying the plants
I hope some one else will chime in with specific reasons, as I would like to know too.
Joann

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Easier for the growers in the greenhouse to water without having to do it frequently.

[meganreaux]

Originally Posted by Zoi2

3. keeps customers buying the plants
I hope some one else will chime in with specific reasons, as I would like to know too.
Joann

I like the idea of the moss killing the orchids and keeping people buying more. I mean, I don't really like it, but it is the first thing I've heard that makes sense. I couldn't figure out how priming the orchids for death would be profitable, but I guess it is...

That's sad. But so it goes.

And greenhouse owners not having to water as frequently makes sense. I would think it would have to be a delicate balance with the amount of humidity a greenhouse generates, no?

Any other ideas? I'd love to hear from an actual grower who distributes to the big stores. But I doubt those people are in OB.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I used to work for one. The reason is convenience. Simple as that. Saves time, water, and man power. They're shipped in by the hundreds from Taiwan. They can't be pampered like the ones in our collection.

The nurseries here in the US don't usually produce Phals en-masse like they do in Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan.

[meganreaux]

Fascinating. Thanks for the answer. I didn't realize that my NoIDs were actually foreigners. I'm going to have to watch them from now on to make sure they aren't planning any kind of coup. I don't think they want to go home though. They are very pampered.

[Zoi2]

Originally Posted by meganreaux

I didn't realize that my NoIDs were actually foreigners. I'm going to have to watch them from now on to make sure they aren't planning any kind of coup.

Joann

[MuscleGirl'sHobby]

Oh Megan! That was too funny The coup of the Phalaenopsis!

I hear you on unpacking all the sphagnum though. I've spent soooo much time carefully pulling it all out from around the roots where it's so tightly packed I don't know how the pot didn't explode. When I'm done, there is a mountain of spag there! Thanks for asking the question though, I probably never would have, and now I have the answer. I just re-pot immediately and call it good.

[Angurek]

I hate sphagnum almost as much as my plants do, and a few of my plants were unfortunate enough to have come packed in the stuff (my Degarmoara, Cymbidium, and vascostylis). It may make a nice decorative element, but it makes a horrible potting mix. When I get plants that are growing in the stuff, I just transfer them to more aerated mixes and they do fine. I was able to save the Cymbidium and the Degarmoara, but the Vasco wasn't so lucky.

[Donald]

I have all my "Phals" in sphag and they love it. Never had a problem with root rot or any other bad symptoms. There in clay pots and get watered on the average about every 8 to 10 days.