Phalaenopsis grew new roots in FWC what’s next?

[Irisha99]

Hello, again.
I have another question. If you remember my rootless phals this question is about them. They successfully grew some roots in full water culture. So my question is should I keep them in FWC (they are growing new leaves but kind of slow) or should I pot them up in bark medium?
Thanks

[pychou77]

You are way ahead of me.. . If you can't make up your mind, "net potting" might be the way to try.. .

Basically, a few pieces of lava rock are wrapped onto the root system with plastic netting (those used for bagging fruits in supermarket), and the plant is watered by spraying.

So, you don't even need to change you FWC setup, except for how the plant is watered.

[fooferdoggie]

sure I have one pal in water it is doing well and it takes less work to keep him going. he is blooming right now.

[WaterWitchin]

My husband brings home grocery store NoIDs to me as gifts. After blooming, I use them to experiment with different medium or mounted to improve my skills, try something new, or see if the particular medium fit the way I care for orchids.

I put five of them into water/vase culture a couple of months ago to grow better roots, better leaves, better blooms, etc, as they were surviving (a couple just barely) but not thriving. Plus I'd never done water culture before, and wanted to give it a try.

All five are already doing better. I'll likely leave them that way for at least a year, so I can see how they do over time. I think it's personal preference, AND has a lot to do with your own personal growing style.

What's your goal?

[Irisha99]

Originally Posted by pychou77

You are way ahead of me.. . If you can't make up your mind, "net potting" might be the way to try.. .

Basically, a few pieces of lava rock are wrapped onto the root system with plastic netting (those used for bagging fruits in supermarket), and the plant is watered by spraying.

So, you don't even need to change you FWC setup, except for how the plant is watered.

Spraying? Then probably you have to spray daily? I actually thought to possibly mount them on a piece of cork bark. But spraying daily is not too enticing 😅

---------- Post added at 02:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:38 PM ----------

Originally Posted by fooferdoggie

sure I have one pal in water it is doing well and it takes less work to keep him going. he is blooming right now.

Are you fertilizing at all? If so how often? Do you have roots touching water at all? Mine are acting weird when submerged in water. They plumped up and have something fuzzy on them. Not sure if they enjoy it

---------- Post added at 02:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:40 PM ----------

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

My husband brings home grocery store NoIDs to me as gifts. After blooming, I use them to experiment with different medium or mounted to improve my skills, try something new, or see if the particular medium fit the way I care for orchids.

I put five of them into water/vase culture a couple of months ago to grow better roots, better leaves, better blooms, etc, as they were surviving (a couple just barely) but not thriving. Plus I'd never done water culture before, and wanted to give it a try.

All five are already doing better. I'll likely leave them that way for at least a year, so I can see how they do over time. I think it's personal preference, AND has a lot to do with your own personal growing style.

What's your goal?

No goal really. But easy care and happy plant probably is what I am going for.

[Cheddarbob14]

Leave them! All 4 of my phals have been in fwc for just over a year, and are thriving. 2 are currently in bloom, 1 has a spike growing. I keep mine indoors, always have the bottom 20%-ish of the roots in water. Once a week, I fill the mason jars so roots are completely submerged for about half an hour. During the full root soak is when I fertilize with the MSU fertilizer at close to 25ppm N. Once a month I also add kelpmax and inocucor (1 tblspn each per gallon) to the full root soak. I love it, easy, convenient, looks cool in the dirt cheap mason jars they fit in.

[fooferdoggie]

mine has normal roots. took awhile to get going. I use the same light about 1/2 teaspoon water everyone gets.

[Irisha99]

Originally Posted by Cheddarbob14

Leave them! All 4 of my phals have been in fwc for just over a year, and are thriving. 2 are currently in bloom, 1 has a spike growing. I keep mine indoors, always have the bottom 20%-ish of the roots in water. Once a week, I fill the mason jars so roots are completely submerged for about half an hour. During the full root soak is when I fertilize with the MSU fertilizer at close to 25ppm N. Once a month I also add kelpmax and inocucor (1 tblspn each per gallon) to the full root soak. I love it, easy, convenient, looks cool in the dirt cheap mason jars they fit in.

That’s cool! Maybe I will leave them in FWC thanks