Dendrobium Nobile curious burn

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

If you guys have water stores, it's much cheaper and you know that it's filtered.

You know, I'm talking about those stores that just sell water and water containers.

Here in the US, $1 USD gets about 4 or 5 gallons.

Bark is the media of choice with many Dendrobiums.

[Syrinth]

Oh wow, that's surprisingly cheap. I'll have to look into that then!

I'll make sure to pick some up at the next meeting then.

How should I tell when the orchid needs watering when it's growing in bark?

Last one, how do you pronounce nobile? Is it no-BILE, no-BILL, no-bill-EH?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

In bark, it turns dark brown when when.

The latter is the way to pronounce it.

If bark is too much of a pain to use, you can switch out to straight up charcoal (the ones used for tropical fish tank filtration, and washed before use of course).

I just thought about the charcoal as I was repotting my Chondrorhyncha. These are by far the most difficult for me to get going using traditional bark media or even straight up moss because of how wet they grow and how easy they rot. I potted one of my Kefersteinia that wasn't doing too well with charcoal and zeolites (Marineland's charcoal and "ammonia removing crystals" blend), and it seemed to stop the rotting. Therefore, I tried it out again on my Chondrorhyncha.

I also thought, I had problems growing a lot of the epiphytical Dendrobiums in pots, so why not use this as a future solution for them! I'll have to find a Dendrobium to try this out with.

I mean if it works for Kefersteinia, it'll definitely work for Dendrobium.

Just a thought.

[Syrinth]

I just get paranoid when I have a hard time gauging water amounts.

So, in general, it's safe to water when the bark is dry and it's dry when it's not dark brown anymore?

*also has a Dend. Kingianum which IS planted in bark, so making sure I don't kill that one which has new growth is also a good idea lol*

Oh yay, I was right on the pronunciation.

Many thanks for all your help, it's been amazing. I'm sorry for asking so many silly questions lol

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

They're not silly questions, you might wanna re-read my previous post, as I added a few things.

Your questions are legitimate! If I didn't know what was going on with my plant, and I felt that people were able to answer, I'd ask!!!

You should read some of the questions I ask! Some people would find me weird! But trust me, there's a logic behind my "madness".

[Syrinth]

Yeah I noticed the above

In regards to that, why is charcoal a good idea? What are the benefits of charcoal over bark? *has never heard of those orchids*

Thanks, I just feel really silly sounding so absolutely clueless about everything. I'm doing some things right since my 'chids are growing and my Propetalum is still in bloom after a month but I want to do the best i can for them

Found one water store, will have to call since they don't have their prices online >.< For Heaven's sake I live in the bloody capital and we have ONE water store?!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

The beauty of charcoal is that:

1. It doesn't degrade in wet conditions. Which Chondrorhyncha, Kefersteinia, Pescatorea, Huntleya, Chaubardia, Stenia, and company love so much.

2. It retains moisture well. It is porous. Lot's of moisture = happy Kefersteinia, Chondrorhyncha, and clan.

3. It doesn't make the water it retains available to the plant as rapidly as moss does. Gives problem plants like Kefersteinia the ability to take up enough water without rotting.

4. It's inert. No worries about pH degradation.

5. Because it's porous, it's used as a filter in aquariums. Therefore, even though I'm using flltered water to begin with, it helps ensure the water that reaches the plant's roots is clean.

6. Very little fuss with repotting, because it doesn't degrade like bark does, repotting can be kept to a minimum (as in when the plant outgrows the pot, instead of every time the media goes bad).

[Syrinth]

Huh, sounds interesting. I might have to try it out