Orchid Sanitation Question.

[BrassavolaStars]

Hello All,

I had a quick question. As part of my set-up some of my orchids are in a tray that has a flexible plastic tube on the bottom. Essentially, I water the plants and then the water runs into the tray underneath them to the pipe (the tray is on a slight slant that send the water to the pipe) and over to the French drain.

Essentially, the tray is like a giant saucer with a drain that might have 5 or 6 plants in it.

Could I be spreading disease this way? I am especially concerned as often old leaves fall into the tray which many pants sit in. While the trays are not constantly filled with water and drain as I water, when I water the water sort of washes around all the plants in that tray old leaves and all and may take a couple of minutes to fully drain through.

Additionally, each tray drain drains into the tray under it before the final tray drains to the greenhouse drain.

How bad is this?

[Shadeflower]

there is a simple fix for your problem, buy yourself some gutter guards or plastic egg crates, something that the pots can all sit on so they are raised above the tray slightly.

Like this any water can drain and won't flow into all the other pots.

Problem solved. Whether it already has caused a problem, who knows, I wonder the same at times too and without a test that is how it shall remain.

[Ray]

While I suspect the change of cross-contamination is low, it is still a risk. Shadeflower’s suggestion of some sort of “riser” is excellent; many use the plastic grids sold for fluorescent light fixtures.

It is also good hygiene to remove the deal plant tissue from the tray even then.

[DirtyCoconuts]

if i recall, your setup the tray is under the wire shelf hanging down? is that not accurate?

[BrassavolaStars]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

if i recall, your setup the tray is under the wire shelf hanging down? is that not accurate?

You are correct for 4/6 of my shelving units.

Because they are obnoxious dimensions, the final two shelving units in the back of the greenhouse have trays directly underneath the plants (above the wire) as I couldn’t find a good sized tray to be below the wire.

What I have done so far to raise the plants is put mason jar rings underneath the pots to keep them raised above the water yet the roots have sort of grown into the trays.

Because they “shed” a fair amount, I was worried those old, dried leaves that fall off decaying in the water could spread CymMV or ORSV if said water gets sloshed around the plants.

[Ray]

In my greenhouse in PA, instead of trays, I suspended panels of rigid plastic under the shelves, angled so the runoff drained to the back, avoiding contact with plants below.

[BrassavolaStars]

Originally Posted by Ray

In my greenhouse in PA, instead of trays, I suspended panels of rigid plastic under the shelves, angled so the runoff drained to the back, avoiding contact with plants below.

That’s what I have with the majority of my shelves. These two units in the back were unfortunately too awkward to do that with at the time. Finding the right stuff to fit these back shelves should probably be my next project.

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by BrassavolaStars

That’s what I have with the majority of my shelves. These two units in the back were unfortunately too awkward to do that with at the time. Finding the right stuff to fit these back shelves should probably be my next project.

Corrugated fiberglass panels can be cut to size fairly easily, and will direct the runoff.