Growing phalaenopsis in perlite (picture heavy)

[Helene]

Well, I have grown plants in perlite before- not orchids though.
I know some people says this perlite is no good, because its small. I dont agree, but guess time will tell😜 It keeps the whole pot moist, but still got plenty of air- I dont water the perlite from above, I let the water find its way up.

But then again- I dont want to test it with my pretty orchids, so I am testing this with two damaged minis and a keiki. Not the best way to test, cause they might die and then I cant tell if it was the perlite or if they would have died anyway.

Earlier I have used pots with inner pots, and the roots have grown into the depot. The plants have really liked being kept that way. Now I do the easy and cheap way- a tray under normal plastic pots. Might change that later if this works out fine.

The plants:


Not in very good shape


One has some rot, not sure if s/h is the best thing, but well, lets see how it works


The sun burnt this one really bad last year, but its got a new leaf coming, and still got some roots.



This looks pretty okay- but the roots got some rot. The one with the black spot…


The keiki- a bit unhappy- gonna be fun to see if it gets better or worse


Well, this is gonna be fun


The reason I want to try this is because many of my orchids really like being wet, but its a hassle bathing them every day and emptying water. (Okay- not every day, and sometimes I forget to empty water so they sit in water for maybe a day or two, and then I empty)
Like this one




Will update when something happens, good or bad😎👍🏻

[Ray]

With the perlite, you are essentially using the semi-hydroponic culture technique. What you will find, however, is that unlike LECA, the perlite will slowly "grind itself" down, leaving a suffocating sludge at the bottom of the pot.

The fact that the existing roots rotted is no surprise. They had grown optimized for the old potting medium environment, but were moved into one they just couldn't function that well in, so they died. No matter what the move, always repot just when brand new roots are emerging from the base of the plant, and those new roots will grow optimally for the new environment.

[Helene]

I did this today- they rot because they were in the spaghnum moss the shop put these minis in- and then I well- overwatered them. So these never had an good environment😜

They are rooting, so I decided it was a nice time to try- the new roots will adapt.

I know the perlite will decay, but it usually takes some time, and I just need to repot before that happen. If I find that to be a problem, I might switch to leca. Have read alot of your post, gonna take a look at your s/h page

But yeah- these are not the strongest plants I have, so its gonna be interesting to see how they react.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge- have read you have developed this way of growing- awesome job, and really appreciate you sharing

[pinett]

hello!i've a very little experience with orchids in general, but not with plant. I'm actually growing a phal hybrid noid, in perlite,

For me it was an experimental component to use in mix for bonsai, while here i used it pure,without reservoir (just as inert medium).
so in these 5 months-period she's doing very well, with new flowers on the old spike, after repotting, new health roots and the third new leave is growing now.
i don't know if it is a good way, it's a very short experience. let's see. bye

[Helene]

Have read about people doing what you are doing, and it works fine for them

No reason for it not to work, and I have consider letting them dry a tiny bit, before filling the tray they are in. I have them in ordinary orchid pots- so they soak all the water from the bottom- seems moist, but not really wet.

So far, so good.

Waiting for some flasks to arrive this week (they sent them today), and will try some in perlite. Think thats gonna work nice.

[pinett]

i know that this kind of material is very useful when trying to obtain roots from cuttings (sorry for my traduction, if wrong) and it's seems good as provisional substrate. I just don't have longer experience, i think that in the long period tend to ruin as Mr Ray suggested.
but i usually water from the top (a lot from all corners) because there's too much movement if i submerge and it seems that cause instability.

---------- Post added at 06:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:24 PM ----------

Actually, I bought a very cheap miltonia (maybe clowesii) some months ago and put in perlite with the same technique, i forgot.
there was root rot, so I cut off all the roots and 2 pseudobulbs, and i'm waiting.
nothing is moving, but apparently there's also no rotting progression and the orchids leaves are plump and green, while pseudobulbs have sign od dehydration.
Also this is an ongoing experiment trying to learn how to manage "more precious" plants if need.
i'm waiting for your news. bye bye

[Helene]

You can put the perlite in water, and push it down a few times- those who still floates you remove, making breakdown a minimum. And I like to flush the dust of them- so it doesnt sit in the bottom.

I normally use nutrition very rarely, but in this I might have to. Have some bio nutrition, thats kinda low on the P, and more of the N and most on K. And cal+mg. And other stuff. Gonna try that.

But yeah- look for breakdown. But even so, its pretty easy to repot, and the breakdown of the "orchid bark" (its so poor quality, I dont even call that orchid bark) we have here is terrible- so atleast better than that.

I also put one big phalaenopsis in leca today- I think that works nicely, atleast with my bigger pots.

I have grown other plants in s/h, but first time with orchids, so like you- have experience, but not in this area.

Hmm, pseudobulbs should not dehydrate? Wouldnt that be a sign that they are not able to absorb water? And the plant is using the stored supplies in the bulbs?
Never had bulbs in s/h, but have two bulbophyllum in greenmix (rockwool and perlite) and they really like to stay wet. But then again, its been in that mix from the start, bought it like that.


Yeah, I will create a thread about my flask seedlings when I get them. Gonna be the first time I try that. Thinking it must be good for seedlings being in perlite, maybe leca when they are bigger. (Dont have the small leca here)
And yeah- I flush, boil and bake that leca- just to be sure its not having some bad minerals on the outside😜😂

[pinett]

Originally Posted by Helene

You can put the perlite in water, and push it down a few times- those who still floates you remove, making breakdown a minimum. And I like to flush the dust of them- so it doesnt sit in the bottom.

I'll follow your suggestion next time!

Originally Posted by Helene

Hmm, pseudobulbs should not dehydrate? Wouldnt that be a sign that they are not able to absorb water? And the plant is using the stored supplies in the bulbs?

Maybe you're right. I am just wondering if another repot would disturb some little roots in formations. I think that is not cautious to repot now, I prefer wait and see if more shrinking will arrive.

Originally Posted by Helene

Yeah, I will create a thread about my flask seedlings when I get them. Gonna be the first time I try that.

for me, instead, S/H is a new method, but i'm trying to read every posts here. I have the feeling that S/H in my country is a very unknown method for growing orchids and I have some difficulties to find adequate information.

[Orchid-gurl]

I am always looking for new ways to grow them. have some i leca , leca and bark, bark alone, corse bark, fine bark, semi water, will keep looking for updates to see how they do. thank you

[Helene]

Originally Posted by Orchid-gurl

I am always looking for new ways to grow them. have some i leca , leca and bark, bark alone, corse bark, fine bark, semi water, will keep looking for updates to see how they do. thank you

Its a bit early to see much, but I put together this, its easier to see if I put the picture together. Two weeks apart, and atleast they are not looking worse

This has lost a leaf, and I assume it will lose some more- they were really burnt last year in the sun. But as you can see, they are actually a bit better. More fleshy.


Better color, and growing already☺️


Same goes for this☺️


The keiki is starting to look better, slow grower, but you can see some green roots in the mix


Not bad for the first two weeks in new medium😎
The color on the perlite is mostly because I gave it some bio nutrition, that kinda sucks- will become more brown when I use it. (When not using bio nutrition I look at color of mix to spot bad roots inside- the color will spread in the perlite)

Perlite is an okay medium for small plants, if you have really big plants, then I would use leca

Oh and you had some question about vase/saving an orchid? I find it easier to check roots on sick plants if they are like this, then I know the stem isnt too wet, and I keep it in a small vase until it looks better. This keiki is looking okay now, but well- lets see how long before I bother to put it somewhere else😜
Sister of the keiki:



And my two other vase orchids



These I just mist, and sometimes give them a bath for hours before emptying the vase☺️