Phals blooming in clay pellets and wood baskets

[mtorchid]

Originally Posted by Aerial

The mini immediately started growing new roots and went crazy and rebloomed. The regular sized orchid didn't have as good a root system, but hasn't rebloomed in 2+ years and the roots are slooooow growing. I'm going to leave it in there for another year to see if it adjusts, but if it doesn't I'm going to put it back in bark. I want blooms!

Lovely orchid, btw!

Thanks Aerial, I do like how this is sort of a cross between potted and mounting. The difference between the bloom rates in yours could be the containers since you're using the same medium (clay pellets). Are they getting the same heat/light? The drainage in each container and material (glass v plastic) would effect the evaporation rate and interior temps of the roots as well. So many variables!

[Aerial]

Originally Posted by mtorchid

Thanks Aerial, I do like how this is sort of a cross between potted and mounting. The difference between the bloom rates in yours could be the containers since you're using the same medium (clay pellets). Are they getting the same heat/light? The drainage in each container and material (glass v plastic) would effect the evaporation rate and interior temps of the roots as well. So many variables!

Yes, they are getting the same heat/light. I think that there are variables. For one thing, the mini had a good root system starting out and I repotted it in the spring, if I remember right.

The big orchid didn't have a good root system, and I may have repotted in the winter, but I could be wrong about that.

Also, the vase that the mini is in is much smaller than the plastic pot, therefore it's creating that "rootbound" feeling that phals seem to love. Plus, the vase is tall and has no drainage so I usually leave some of the water down at the bottom, which then wicks at least part way up keeping things wetter.

I don't know, maybe I need to water the big orchid more often.

[mtorchid]

Originally Posted by Aerial

Plus, the vase is tall and has no drainage so I usually leave some of the water down at the bottom, which then wicks at least part way up keeping things wetter.

I don't know, maybe I need to water the big orchid more often.

Okay, there's your most problematic variable. You must have drainage and a way to thoroughly flush the fertilizer salts, etc. from medium, otherwise they will absorb the salts and eventually the roots end up being suspended in a toxic environment. Even orchids in S/H environments have to be drained/flushed out regularly.

If you can't drill the drain holes through the glass vase, you will have to repot it into a container that has drainage.

Someday, your big orchid will thank you for it with plenty of blooms!

[Aerial]

Originally Posted by mtorchid

Okay, there's your most problematic variable. You must have drainage and a way to thoroughly flush the fertilizer salts, etc. from medium, otherwise they will absorb the salts and eventually the roots end up being suspended in a toxic environment. Even orchids in S/H environments have to be drained/flushed out regularly.

If you can't drill the drain holes through the glass vase, you will have to repot it into a container that has drainage.

Someday, your big orchid will thank you for it with plenty of blooms!

I do flush it out. Every week before I water it, I fill it with distilled water twice and dump it out. It's small enough that I can hold the clay in while flipping the whole thing upside down, and then I use fertilizer water. It's the mini that is in the vase and is doing very well.

[mtorchid]

Originally Posted by Aerial

I do flush it out. Every week before I water it, I fill it with distilled water twice and dump it out. It's small enough that I can hold the clay in while flipping the whole thing upside down, and then I use fertilizer water. It's the mini that is in the vase and is doing very well.

Just remember that orchid roots absorb the moisture they need very quickly- it's how they survive in nature. If you are flushing them first and then giving them fertilizer, they've already drank their fill during the flushing stage and would have little to do with the fertilizer water that immediately follows. Sort of like the suggestion for humans to drink plenty of water before a meal so you don't eat as much food ;-)

Not sure what your logic of changing your non-bloomer to bark if it doesn't perform comes from.

[Aerial]

Originally Posted by mtorchid

Just remember that orchid roots absorb the moisture they need very quickly- it's how they survive in nature. If you are flushing them first and then giving them fertilizer, they've already drank their fill during the flushing stage and would have little to do with the fertilizer water that immediately follows. Sort of like the suggestion for humans to drink plenty of water before a meal so you don't eat as much food ;-)

Not sure what your logic of changing your non-bloomer to bark if it doesn't perform comes from.

Thanks for the info! I guess if it starts ailing I will keep that in mind and try something different with it. But for now it's super healthy.

Why not change it to bark? All of my orchids and all of my mom's orchids (besides the mini and the other one, obviously) are planted in bark and are doing extremely well. I've had VERY good luck with Better Gro Orchid Bark with a touch of sphagnum.

It just seems to me that perhaps it's not getting what it needs in the clay and would be more likely to bloom. But hey, I'm obviously no expert! I am going to give it a good long time in the clay to give it a chance to bloom.

[mtorchid]

Yeah, good idea and give it time. It really doesn't have as much to do with the medium as with other conditions- the medium is there to support roots and to retain humidity in an oxygen friendly environment.

I doubt if many people have Phals in clay pellets in vanda baskets (my original post in this thread) but as long as the environmental needs are addressed there's no reason why it shouldn't work.

[No-Pro-mwa]

Pretty. They do look nice in the baskets.

[RosieC]

Looking good!

My phals do well in Leca but not S/H (winter temps too low for that). I do mine in plastic pots but they look good in the baskets.

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by RosieC

Looking good!

My phals do well in Leca but not S/H (winter temps too low for that).

How low is that? Do you keep them a lot drier when they are cool in the winter?