orchid vases

[dinhthanh]

Hey everyone,

I got a question. So my orchid of 2 weeks (a brassia) lives in an orchid vase, 18"x6", given to me by my aunt. She is the only person I know who grows orchids, and has done for many years. Always in these tall, narrow, very expensive orchid vases. I'll be honest, I don't remember her orchids ever flowering, certainly not in the last couple years. But she insists it is the best way for them for the humidity based on the advice or actions of an experienced grower.

Since looking up and researching orchids myself, including googling 'growing orchids in orchid vases', i can't say i have yet seen anyone else doing this.

Does anyone else use these or heard of them being used? Or know of any advantages or disadvantages of using one?
If I can't find anything else to support growing in the vase i shall probably take her out before returning her to the windowsill in a week or so and maybe use the vase for table displays, as my gut reaction is not enough circulating air and increased risk of sunburn and more disturbance every time i try and take it out to water.

[MattWoelfsen]

There are a lot of people growing orchids in a vase. If you search this orchid board, you will find many posts discussing this growing technique.

In places where the humidity is low, orchids can thrive when grown in a glass vase. Your aunt's orchids that are not blooming is probably due to lack of light or other factors such as temperature.

[estación seca]

Is there any growing medium in the vases, or are the roots just hanging in the air? There is an extensive thread

here

about growing Vandas in vases. I don't know how it would work for other plants. Brassias have very thin roots that I suspect would dry out very fast if not in media or mounted.

A lot of people (like Matt, above) grow some orchids in tall, narrow containers with moss piled up high. Search on Neofinetia falcata to see this.

[jason45244]

Originally Posted by dinhthanh

But she insists it is the best way for them for the humidity based on the advice or actions of an experienced grower.

I can't say I'm convinced that this is the best way to grow them I just think it would require quite a bit of attention. If you are up for it, great! If not, pot in a well draining media, an all purpose orchid mix with charcoal, perlite, medium bark. Water like once a week or when almost dry. They do like humidity, but that mix should provide adequate humidity. I'm not an expert but if you want a thriving brassia I just don't think the vase is gonna do it.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Pictures of the Brassia growing in the vase would help. I have grown bare-root Vandaceous plants sitting atop an empty vase but not a Brassia.

Can you post a picture?

[jason45244]

Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer

Pictures of the Brassia growing in the vase would help. I have grown bare-root Vandaceous plants sitting atop an empty vase but not a Brassia.

Can you post a picture?

I only grow vandas bare root...never really considered a brassia. I would love to see pics too.