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Clay pots can absorb moisture too

ubada - No, I wasn't purposely keeping them damp. I subsequently found this article that says clay pots can also absorb moisture
What Is the Advantage of Growing a Plant in a Clay Pot? | Home Guides | SF Gate
and this confirms to me why there seemed to be viable roots in the clay pot plants and not the plastic pot plants, even though they were not watered. As I have about 50% humidity, the clay pots absorbed moisture from the air.

I am now experimenting with plastic pots ( which do not absorb moisture from the air ) by adding water 1x per week. See explanation above.

So maybe this is why my Mormodia kept aborting new roots last spring. I was constantly spraying them, hoping to spur them on! Oops!! Ok ok, no water until they are nice and long this year!! Wow!

Quote:

Originally Posted by orchidsarefun (Post 830608)

Just to clarify - this may be true for external, visible roots.
However, the "largest root growth" is definitely inside the pot and occurs season long and these roots, branching extensively, are growing in a moist environment.

I guess I should have clarified. The initial flush of roots is the largest root growth because those roots will branch and eventually become the largest root mass inside the pot.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bil (Post 830630)

So, can we say that short roots exhibit this sensitivity to water for some crazy reason, but once they are safely 'underground' water ceases to be a problem, and they will grow as per normal?

Roots take water just fine once they get "long." You still have to slowly ramp up the watering until you get to the point where the media doesn't even dry out completely. Many South American growers pot these in plastic soda bottles with a permanent water well in the bottom.

Quote:

Originally Posted by u bada (Post 830636)

but he's also mentioned people will completely cut off al the old roots off the pbs when dormant... although he didn't verify if he advocates that highly or not (he didn't say it was bad practice anyway)... so if you're "suppose" to take out all the old roots then i guess that means the old roots are basically dead anyway and aren't going to grow again? is there anyone that does that here?

A lot of people cut all the roots off each winter because they die anyway. I've never done that because it seems like unnecessary work.

I grow my Catasetinae in long fiber spag. This group is the easiest when it comes to media. They don't seem to care and will grow in bark, spag (which gets changed every other year), rotten wood, cow manure, osmunda, etc.

Quote:

Originally Posted by isurus79 (Post 830737)

.... Many South American growers pot these in plastic soda bottles with a permanent water well in the bottom....

Would you please elaborate? Have any photos?

Quote:

Originally Posted by isurus79 (Post 830737)

I guess I should have clarified. The initial flush of roots is the largest root growth because those roots will branch and eventually become the largest root mass inside the pot.

Roots take water just fine once they get "long." You still have to slowly ramp up the watering until you get to the point where the media doesn't even dry out completely. Many South American growers pot these in plastic soda bottles with a permanent water well in the bottom.

A lot of people cut all the roots off each winter because they die anyway. I've never done that because it seems like unnecessary work.

I grow my Catasetinae in long fiber spag. This group is the easiest when it comes to media. They don't seem to care and will grow in bark, spag (which gets changed every other year), rotten wood, cow manure, osmunda, etc.

Many thanks for that info. Much appreciated.

---------- Post added at 06:22 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:20 AM ----------

One other question please.

If in full summer with maximum watering, and the pBulb going at full speed, what should you do if it starts to throw a small shoot?

Should you continue to water but just be careful not to wet the new shoot, or should you modify your watering?

Quote:

Originally Posted by bil (Post 830764)

When this happens I am careful not to get water in the crown of the new growth, but continue to water as if it wasn't there. It is a supplemental growth, if it does well, great, but the main focus is on the main growth.

---------- Post added at 05:43 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:43 AM ----------

Ps. Great thread, great questions, great answers

Quote:

Originally Posted by AvantGardner (Post 830766)

Thanks for that info, and thanks to everyone that has contributed. Much appreciated!

Quote:

Originally Posted by AvantGardner (Post 830766)

Agreed! Seems like these later growths are often small, though I'm not sure why. Maybe their poor root growth bouncing off wet media is the problem.

---------- Post added at 11:56 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:53 AM ----------

I thought Ramon (aka Kavanaru) had posted a good PET thread but he may have sent it to me via PM. I'll try to find pics what I get home tonight.

Yes great info, thanks to all!

Here's a build guide for PET method on my one of my favorite Facebook groups: Catasetinae (Can), Cyrtopodiinae & related intergenerics Public Group | Facebook