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[Edward Brookes]

Hello Anne, I'm also new to the vase method, but far from new to cultivating orchids. I started vase culture about 5 months ago with a very dried out, miserably wilted phal which had been in a shop window as a sort of cut flower substitute - so total neglect was the history. I soaked the sphagnum & pulled it all away & found some live, very short roots. All dead material was cut away. The vase I used had a rim which was tapered to a slightly narrower neck, & then it widened out into the body of the vase. This gave a sort of seat for the plant. I used a mesh bag in which vegetables are packed in supermarkets, & created a sphagnum "Sausage" which I wrapped around the stem of the plant, & then seated it into the vase so that the leaves were above the vase rim, & the roots hanging into the body of the vase. I added water until it just reached the tips of the roots. No fertiliser was used at this time. As weeks passed, the leaves began to firm up, & the stubs of root remained saturated & green. I was expecting them to rot, but this did not occur. Once I saw that the leaves were in relatively firm condition, I tipped out the old water & refilled with a very dilute seaweed extract fertilizer. This I left overnight, & then replaced it with plain water ( the stench of this fertilizer is unpleasant if it is left to ferment) After 4 months this plant has 7 new roots growing down into the water & a new leaf has emerged.
I allow the sphagnum sausage to dry out, since it really only serves to steady the plant. It gets wet when I tip out the water, which I keep below the basal part of the plants stem. I have since transferred 6 more phals to vases, & am really encouraged by the results - the production of flowers will be the real test.My plants are close to a west facing window, a position once occupied by African violets which bloomed prolifically. I used this criterion in choosing the site for the phals. I do not have a set routine, but I think that it would be as well to do water changes from time to time, in case of bacterial blooms. Other growers have had algae in the vases, & state that it caused no problems. I don't advocate removing the roots from the vase at any time, I simply tip out the old water & pour in fresh water - plain tap water in my case. I don't mist the foliage, & remove dust with a soft paint brush. I hope I have been of help with my story, & that your plants will thrive in the vases - I think they look really good in them.

[Anne McGee]

Thanks so much. I really appreciate your taking the time to give me directions.Being new to the Orchid Board, I had no idea I would get such valuable help. I was assuming I would add water to cover all the roots as the plant rested on the vase top.
i do not understand the whys and hows of this part: "I used a mesh bag in which vegetables are packed in supermarkets, & created a sphagnum "Sausage" which I wrapped around the stem of the plant, & then seated it into the vase."

[Edward Brookes]

Hello there, you can simply balance your plant on the vase rim, but I found that it is then very unsteady so I wanted some way to keep it firmly in place. Here we buy vegetables packed in green plastic mesh bags, so I cut one into a suitable length & width, & then I packed wet sphagnum down the length of the mesh. I then rolled the mesh over the sphagnum so that I had a cylinder shaped "Sausage" of moss enclosed in mesh. This I then wrapped around the stem of the phal, just above its roots. The result is neat & not too unattractive, being green & with the moss inside, fairly natural looking. It. need only be long enough to encircle the stem, with a short overlap. I moulded it around the stem & then gently packed the whole plant into the vase so that it sat neatly in its sausage of moss. I did try using moss with no mesh, but obviously this all fell into the water in bits every time I worked with the plants. I have no camera at all, or I would post a picture for you - so much better than the thousand words. This idea depends entirely on the vase shape, the mouth tapering down to a narrower part, & them widening out lower down. I do hope this helps you - perhaps it's a bit too fiddly, but it has worked well for me.

[Anne McGee]

Thanks,Edward. i get it! If I can't find a vase that will keep the stem from wobbling, I will try your method.
A

[My Green Pets]

This is really interesting. Reminds me of forcing hyacinth bulbs.

I would also have thought that the roots wouldn't put up with being submerged, even the tips...what about air circulation? Seems like the air in the vase would be kind of muggy.

Either way it's a tempting experiment!

[Edward Brookes]

I was also VERY sceptical regarding permanently submerged roots. Thus far the root activity on my plants in vases has been remarkable. I wish I could post photos, but finances preclude that. I urge you to try with a plant which is likely to pop its clogs either way. I have rootless back cuts of cattleya which are growing new, good roots under water. When I "Rescue" them from drowning & pot into conventional mix, I lose the plants. Leave them swimming & so far, they grow small, fat new pseudobulbs. Only time will tell, I am enthusiastic about the method because it has enabled me to save precious plants which seemed determined to die for sheer spite. I was a dismal failure with phals. Now I have 7 which seem to be thrilled with life!! The more growers who try, the more we will all benefit from the experience.

[My Green Pets]

I think I will, buddy. Surely I can find an abandoned plant somewhere. And when I do I will blog it with photos.

Sounds like a new project!

---------- Post added at 11:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:33 PM ----------

I found another thread with photos and an explanation for vandas...

[My Green Pets]

Check out this video...this girl saved her orchid by sitting it in water until it sprouted roots!

Here's the same plant months later, blooming, still in water!