A Phal in a glass jar??

[RosieC]

I agree with Bob. If it hasn't been grown that way then there is a high chance you won't be able to keep it healthy in there.

I would repot it if it were mine.

[Jennyfleur]

Hi everyone, i'm coming to this thread a bit late I know, but thought I'd chime in as it's not the first time I've seen this:

Shortly after I started dating my other-half (about three years ago), we went round to his parents where I discovered his mum also grew Phals. I told her about my collection and she then took me round to see hers - they were all in glass vases (big and small). To be honest, I was horrified having been brought up on the 'good drainage' way of thinking. To be honest, they did look a bit listless (compared to mine, which some of you will have seen on here) but they were all regularly flowering for her and some she'd kept like that for a good 5 years at that point in time! (oh, and she wasn't using fertiliser either)

They were all bought from a florist, so that gives you the idea that it was presentation style over anything else. Over the last three years I know she has changed some of the bark in them, but they're still there in the glass vases and flowering and growing keikis like any other phals!

Mind you, since I've bought her some, she's coming over to the more traditional growing methods. Maybe because the ones that I have given her (with normal draining clear pots) do look more healty in terms of leaf structure. However, next time I'm over there, I'll see if I can snap some pictures for you all to see

[DSDNYC]

Interesting topic. I once grew a phal in a ceramic pot (with drainage hole). When it came time to repot, It took a sharp blow from a framing hammer to set that plant free. Pot cost more than the orchid.

[Kath]

This is great! I think I'll be keeping it in its glass vase for the moment, and giving it enough water to keep it looking healthy. Once every 2 weeks they said, which seems about right once the condensated water has evaporated.

[BobInBonita]

An interesting experiment - good luck, and please keep us posted on what works with it.

Maybe the lesson from this and from "Vandas in glass" is that everything we know to be true isn't really absolute. We need to be more open to possibilities rather than impossibilities.

[Kath]

Thanks for your help, and I will keep you posted, but it won't be for some time yet! I'm keeping it snug in the house for the moment as the conservatory where it stays normally is cold, with outside temps very low (0° outside at the moment!! brrr!)