Quote:
Originally Posted by hydroguy
I don't know - I've seen many orchids thriving in the Everglades (including phalaenopsis clinging to trees) where it doesn't rain for days - sometimes even weeks - in the winter.
Have to agree about humidity though. But even so, humidity levels drop to 50% -or lower - in winter.
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C'mon now, hydroguy. Phalaenopsis are not native to the Everglades, and definitely would do better if watered more frequently. Plus, what we observe doesn't necessarily mean it's what they'd prefer.
---------- Post added at 08:38 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:31 AM ----------
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ellen H
For Dendrobiums that require the dry-cool-bright winter rest, how do you manage these in s/h? Mine will stay outside into the 40's or so this winter to chill them before I bring them in, but if I keep water in the reservoir the roots will be wet and cold. Problem?
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I'd never let a plant in S/H culture see 40F without me worrying like mad about losing roots.
Quote:
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I understand I could just let the pot go dry, but that is not truly s/h.
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So what?
There is no orchid culture method that is "one size fits all." We are trying to find something that is good for the plants, no? If your overall methodology means that letting them dry out - maybe barely moistening the medium over the winter to maintain plumpness - is the best option, then by all means do so.
Adhering to "keeping it wet" just for the sake of "sticking to the rules" isn't worth it!
---------- Post added at 08:53 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:38 AM ----------
Some general follow-up comments.
Yes, both water and air are essential to orchid growing, but the shape of LECA lends itself to airflow better than most media, so that's not really an issue.
Water is the driving force behind plant growth. The more it has (assuming you're not suffocating the roots), the faster it will grow. To put on one pound of mass, a plant must absorb and process about 25 gallons of water, and only about 5 grams of fertilizer nutrients (about a teaspoon - mostly nitrogen).
Many years ago, when I had just begun experimenting with what is now "semi-hydroponics" I moved 300 Phalaenopsis Lemforde White Beauty, and 300 Oncidium Sharry Baby seedlings into semi-hydroponics.
I divided them into two, more-or-less equal groups of 150 plants each, sitting next to each other on the bench. One group was watered about every 3 days on average, which was my norm at the time. The other group was watered
every day. I continued that for six months.
At the end of that time period, not only did I not lose a single plant, but those - of both genera - that were watered daily, were significantly larger than those receiving "normal" watering.
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