Sphag/Hydro Experiment
 

This is an update to an earlier thread.
http://ryans.smugmug.com/Nature/Amar...94_LXttA-M.jpg
This is a baby-- a Pahl violacea var. coerulea-- which is suppose to have a blue flower that is fragrant. I want this phal to be in s/h, too, but was worried I'd lose the plant since it is so small if the roots didn't respond well to the s/h. It is growing new roots but I didn't want the plant to waste at all while those new roots got under way. Sort of like a weak patient going into surgery-- you must be very careful! It was planted in a heavier, very wet sort of soil mix-- and so I figured if it when into sphag on top of s/h it will coax it to grow into the s/h. The experiment seems to be working. The original roots are growing again and are beginning to reach into the s/h.
http://ryans.smugmug.com/Nature/Amar...78_EaRZx-M.jpg
I know plants that have grown in sphag typically transition better to s/h, my 'Pauline' is an excellent example as she not only retained all of her old roots but grew new shoots off those roots as well. However, I have a phal 'Ember' that looks (leaf type) and acts like my violacea var.-- and yet it was grown in sphag but I lost my last one (well, its still alive but hardly while in sphag in a bag) because the roots died quickly in s/h. I got a second plant and its in sphag and I'm watching it closely for rot but the roots seem to love it. The downside to this plant, and this will sound weird, but it has a ton of roots-- a huge mass of them. Putting it into s/h is difficult because the mass of roots ends up with huge gaps, which I know isn't a terrible thing but I want the hydro to fill in.

Has anyone else tried this sphag on top of hydroton method? I wasn't sure how it would work but so far, this little phal seems to be doing well and may soon be thriving.

Hmmm - interesting! One of these days I'm going to have to gird my loins and give it a go!

I got some very small Phalaenopsis equestris with small roots and, like you, I did the sphag on top.

They didn't dislike it but I didn't like the soggy moss so close to the crown of the plant so I finally just took it off. I used a 2" traditional pot (bottom holes and put it into a shallow container to work as a S/H reservoir). I anchored the plants as tightly as possible and put it on a heat pad. I have lots of new roots and new leaves as well.

I think if you want the plant to grow in S/H you might as well start it that way.

Maureen