I read a great review of a paper in Sci Am years ago when I was growing bonsai about the role of stomata in regulatig the respiration in plants. They don't have lungs like animals so use water as the means to carry gases in and out of the vascular systems. Unfortunately due to too many girl friends and wives along the way I gave most of my magazines and books to libraries and interested folks. I was looking into the physiology of velamin to see if there was a way to hydrate it without pouring water on it. Haven't found much though.

:yikes:Holy cow... The King has just given me a new mounting idea...

*lets the suspense build*

LIMESTONE!!!!! :bananaslide: Time to go hiking! :evil:

On a serious note, I always love reading how in depth you (King and James) go into orchid lore and science. *Three cheers* You guys rock! Keep sharing the knowledge!

(he blushes and demures)

I just learned a whole lot by reading this thread on shrivley roots and misting. I rescued a few recently and while i repotted them into bigger bark medium I have not watered them and instead put the humidty trays under them while they are drying out. Should I still mist the leaves then? I get confused on water sitting on the leaves which is bad and then misting. I'm assuming mist dries where sitting water does not? And then don't mist the crown correct because that will cause root?

I've learned so much from this thread, thanks for all the valuable information. I'm new to orchids, and the one advice I'm slowly learning is that it seems to be better to err on the side of under watering than over watering. I've started only watering mine every two weeks and they seem to be growing even faster. I've got a big new leave on one of them and all the others have small leaves coming. I've had one orchid die and I'm sure it was from over watering. I've kept the shrivelled bulb and put it in a zip lock bag and hoping for the best, but I really have no idea what I'm doing.