just curious about flasks....

[Imperial_Exotics]

I'm not going to presume what is the most common way of doing things, although in general, from what I have seen, the most common way of flasking orchids is in 32oz or similar round jars standing upright.

I'm curious though as to what benefit using squared jars, lying flat on their sides has??

I've noticed this on a number of Asian sites that I have cruised to over the last few months.


Just curious......

[lambelkip]

most of the Asian nurseries get used liquor bottles from local night clubs. laying the bottles flat allows for more growing area, since you do not need to have all of the plants packed into the bottom. square bottles lay flat easily without rolling off the shelves.

[ronaldhanko]

Most growers I've seen who do flasking in quantity use square bottles on their sides - easier to give them the right light that way also.

[Royal]

Originally Posted by Imperial_Exotics

I'm curious though as to what benefit using squared jars, lying flat on their sides has?? Just curious......

Two things: surface area and lighting. To big commercial growers, efficiency is everything. Laying a 2" x 2" x 6" bottle laying on it's side triples the surface area. And instead of a stopper overhead, there's just nice clear glass so the plants can grow uniform and strait up.

These bottles are commonly referred to as "French Squares" and are common for some laboratory uses.

[edited to add:] I use, almost exlusively, Smuckers peanut butter jars. What can I say, I eat a lot of pb snadwiches.