I'm sorry i didnt reference properly i was mainly just trying to spark a conversation at first so i could answer questions after and i just assumed people would of clicked on links and used google if they actually thought it worth investigating, and this has been implemented in quite a few flower shops i have been to. It is not uncommon to receive a phalaenopsis in these beads when you purchase them at least in my part of British Columbia (Kootenay's) When you purchase a plant like this it is generally recommended to transplant it once you get it home. The main reason for this so far as i can tell is that by the time you bring the plant home the beads are already old and beginning to deteriorate and if you don't transplant the roots will begin to suffocate. If you had more beads on hand it would be completely acceptable to just replace the old ones instead of potting it into a more traditional media.(at least that has been my experience) just do a google search and you can find pictures of phalaenopsis in these beads if you have never come across it in person,( it does take a bit of digging, i found most of the pictures i have seen on other orchid forums.)....
And i am sorry if some of the things i am saying are coming off as broad but you seem to have that problem with most of my posts and everything except for the things that i say are theories, experiments,my personal experience etc...(like i did with some parts of what ive said about these beads) can be verified by a quick google search.
Not trying to be rude just pointing out that the things i say i dont just make up off the top of my head nor am i just saying stuff in hopes you will believe it and buy my products(i am not even involved with these beads in any sort of way other then that i use them myself). Believe it or not i actually enjoy the exchange of information that goes on here and have learned soo much from this community that i just want to give back by sharing the things i know, and frankly i find it quite rude that you keep making assumptions, like that i have only ever done this with one plant, or that i have only ever owned two phalaenopsis in my entire life because my profile currently says i have two phalaenopsis... i dont know what i have ever done to you but i would appreciate it if you just asked me questions instead of jumping to conclusions.
Here's a couple references
Benefits
Water beads provide a slow, steady source of moisture for indoor houseplants, freshly cut flowers and outdoor plants. They also add decorative appeal to centerpieces and floral arrangements and provide stabilizing and minimizing fire risk associated with candles and incense. Mix water beads into garden soil to provide outdoor plants with continual moisture, or use indoors. The beads can replace potting soil or dirt in indoor plants such as philodendron, bamboo, dragon plant, spider plants, dieffenbachia,
phalaenopsis orchid and bromeliad if you add indoor fertilizer to beads prior to placing the plants in the beads. You can also use beads in conjunction with potting soil to provide continual watering.
Water Beads for Plants | eHow.com
Hi there,
A while back I decided to do an experiment with my phal orchids - I have about six plants...Then about five months ago, I came across water beads....
The point in telling you this? Well, I hit on the idea of growing my orchids in water beads entirely. That's right - no bark, no moss, no soil of any kind. I wasn't sure if it would work, but I risked it, and it is the best method I've found for growing phals. I don't have any other orchid species though, so don't know how dendrobiums etc would respond...
I make a point of having my orchid's roots halfway into the beads, so that the crown of the plant doesn't get moist, and I must say that five months later, my orchids have beautiful lush leaves, fat roots that are storing nutrients, flowers and new root growth. I've also had one orchid grow two little keikis, which I'll lop off once they are established with their own root systems.
In all, it has been a fascinating experiment, and I can recommend this as a great, attractive and scientific potting medium to anyone with phalenopsis orchids.
Water Beads - the best medium I've ever use for my Phals! - Orchid Forum Orchid Care
Best regards,
Kevin Disher
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