Orchid Myths

[sucuz]

[QUOTE=kinknstein;167031]I am not too sure about this myth, but I had read somewhere that Hawaii does not have any native orchids. Seems pretty unlikely to me, being that just about anywhere else in the world has at least a couple.

Hawaii is a chain of volcanic islands. Some believe that nothing is native there, but that everything was transported from somewhere else and is 'naturalized' rather than 'native'. Semantics issue or a matter of perspective?

[kinknstein]

Thanks for your reply everyone, SUCUZ I am betting you are probably right on the money with the semantics comments. Everyone on this board is so knowledgable!!!

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Des

Personally from my experience it is not too much water that rots roots but spent media .

Exactly....

In truth, the issue is NOT water, and it it not even decomposing medium, by itself. The thing that kills roots is suffocation, which can be indirectly caused by either.

When you water, some of it is absorbed by the media particles, while another portion stays in between the particles, held in place by surface tension. If the spaces between the particles are small enough, whether due to fine-sized particles or because they have decomposed into fine particles, that "bridging" water cuts off air flow to the root system.

Because of that, the plant does not have sufficient free air to absorb, and the accumulation of waste products in the root zone can actually poison them.

[Des]

Ray , that is very well put , and is exactly the way I see this whole over watering issue for Cymbidiums in particular

[bodaciousbonsai]

thats probably the most I have ever heard! I think orchids are easy to grow. As long as you have the basic elements, being air movement,light, humidity,watering is the hardest to master I think,and finally feeding and medium and mounts

[isurus79]

[QUOTE=sucuz;167299]

Originally Posted by kinknstein

I am not too sure about this myth, but I had read somewhere that Hawaii does not have any native orchids. Seems pretty unlikely to me, being that just about anywhere else in the world has at least a couple.

Hawaii is a chain of volcanic islands. Some believe that nothing is native there, but that everything was transported from somewhere else and is 'naturalized' rather than 'native'. Semantics issue or a matter of perspective?

There are 3 species of orchids which are native to Hawaii and got to the islands of their own accord (ie. they were not brought here by people). Non of them are in any way attractive for home growers so no one is really aware of them. Platanthera holochila is actually a bog orchid and is almost extinct. Here is an interesting article about some botanists trying to save it: NPR: The Little Green Orchid That Could and here is a site that discusses this diminuative plant in further detail: National Collection of Imperiled Plants

Myth debunked!!

[nancy]

Originally Posted by kiki-do

oh I just remembered one and I haven't looked back to see if it's already mentioned, but I know my nephew from Texas got an orchid as a gift, and was told to put ice cubes in the medium once a week and that is how you water them. The ice melts down into the medium slowly....the correct way to water! Crazy, huh? The florist happens to own a very popular place, so my nephew took it as law.

As a matter of interest, many of us in the deep, hot and humid south grow/try to grow cymbidiums. There are actually people (Texans mostly, I am sure!) who keep their cymbidiums in a styrofoam cooler full of ice starting in late fall, and replenish the ice as it melts to simulate the cold temps that initiate budding in these rascals.
So this is no myth!
We more astute Louisianans simply grow our cymbidiums outdoors potted in pure, fresh horse manure, and they flower just fine!
Cheers - Nancy (in arctic Lafayette)