Growing phalaenopsis in perlite (picture heavy)

[No-Pro-mwa]

They do look better. It will be fun to see just how fast the perlite will break down.

[Helene]

Originally Posted by No-Pro-mwa

They do look better. It will be fun to see just how fast the perlite will break down.

Have used perlite with other plants, no breakdown for the twelve months I used it. But I have read you should change it every 2/3 years

[pinett]

hi, it's seem that they are not suffering, so finger crossed and patience!! the keiki's sister looks very cute in that accommodation.
ps: i think that's not a problem that perlite change color. mine is brownish :-)

[pinett]

this are 1 month after


vs 5-month after

that's look ok to me, for now...
i don't know if in summer this substrat will dry too much...

[Helene]

Its in the bottom you need to check- the small particles will end in the bottom (and even worse if you water from the top, and sometimes I do that to flush).

I have less problem with perlite decomposing than "orchid-bark". I had te repot some repotted orchids due to fine particles in bark going to the bottom, and making an inch of almost soil-looking bark... Well, I learnt to clean the bark after that, and actually I even use pot with different hole-size to sort out bark. In one pack there is: dust, seedling bark, medium bark and coarse bark, yeah, and moss. Soo, not very good quality here.

But had no trouble with perlite. But never had it longer than a year, so it will be interesting to see how long it last.

[Helene]

Oh- and seems like the orchid had grown some nice big roots in those five months 😃

[pinett]

Originally Posted by Helene

Its in the bottom you need to check- the small particles will end in the bottom (and even worse if you water from the top, and sometimes I do that to flush).

I have less problem with perlite decomposing than "orchid-bark". I had te repot some repotted orchids due to fine particles in bark going to the bottom, and making an inch of almost soil-looking bark...

i'll note down this information and i'll pay attention ....
for the bark is the same here, you need to divide the main "diameters"....:-)

[Helene]

Well, just for fun- here is update pictures:

Perlite plants doing fine, and I was thinking they were almost dead (left them in the sun last year, and kinda forgot about them, that is why I decided to experiment with the perlite).

Group shot. Not sure if this colored glass is healthy for them, but they dont seem to noticed that.


Keiki started to grow a new leaf, its a bit purple, but the mother was purple so I guess its doing fine.


Growing nicely


Even the sunburnt is growing, though a bit slower


And the other keiki (same mother plant)- I damaged the new leaf. It rewarded me with starting a new leaf and putting out roots. I assume it has to if it wants to survive in my care😜


And the vase orchid I decided to put in leca-I felt it didnt stay moist enough, even though I left it in water several times every week. Looks happy, gonna see what it does.

One inch of leca, then laid the plant on top, and filled more leca. Mist it almost every day, and have water in the bottom. Semi/hydro kind of.



Well, my orchids seem to like it in my house. And these are plants that have not been cared for very much, and they still grow and looks healthy. (Well, pretty healthy)

Perlite: its very easy, and for lazy people perlite or leca can be a good thing.
Not sure if I would test it on my nicer plants, but maybe if these grow nicely all year.

[Helene]

[pinett]

hi, they look gorgeous! good job....!