Quote:
Originally Posted by DesignerofBeauty
Okay, what's the best way for measuring how dry the media is? I'm always afraid I'll disturb the roots when I stick my finger into the pot.
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Use a skewer for fine bark and below, with an eye to the type of orchid. Coarse bark can't be overwatered, as long as it is sieved, pure and is't broken down.
I melt a hole in the pot near the bottom, and stick the bamboo skewer in horizontally.
---------- Post added at 06:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:07 PM ----------
Quote:
Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer
Soaking can be beneficial to a badly dehydrated plant.
I would not want to continue to soak all the time as a watering method all the time for a Cattleya alliance plant. If you forget and soak too long, you can waterlog and damage the roots. It might work if you are the kind of person that would NEVER forget and let your plant soak too long.
I am growing a few plants by vase culture, and they are mostly watered by soaking.
I have read recently (can't recall where) that orchid roots take up most of the water they need in 25 minutes or less. Probably this varies a lot depending on the orchid you are watering.
If you soak, do so following the "no sharing bath water" rule, as you state. The soaking container should be cleaned in between plants; soak plant, drain. rinse the container, spray container with straight bleach (or trisodium phosphate, NEVER both of these at the same time); clean rinse. IMO kind of a pain, but it can be done. Sharing the container without cleaning in between is asking for trouble, again IMO.
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Well, a dehydrated plant is a different kettle of fiish, The discussion is about how to water healthy plants.
Vase culture works, but to me it's way too much of a pain, uses a hell of a lot of fertiliser solution per plant, and I can't be humping vases full of water around.
Hybrid Mode
