Glass containers with No Holes?
 

Hi Everyone!

I'm about to transfer several orchids to s/h and saw a video that showed someone using a beautiful square glass vase with no holes. She was using something like Hydroton or Leca.

The video was not in English, but she repotted the orchid, and then filled the container and let it sit for an undetermined amount of time, and then poured off enough water to leave about 3/4" in the bottom. And I thought it was really pretty that way.

So I was wondering if there would be anything wrong with refreshing something like that once a week or so... filling it and pouring it off a few times and then leaving a small amount at the bottom?

My mother has four phals in glass vases witout any holes with medium size bark only. I don't know her watering regime but it works, with flowers and lots of keikis.

It definitely works, but drilling holes in glass isn't that difficult.

That is very encouraging! Thanks!

---------- Post added at 07:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:54 PM ----------

Thank you. I'm not really interested in drilling holes. I like the hot nail method and have several cups/pots ready to go, but I love the beauty of the glass vase/vessel. :)

The hard thing is pouring out the water without disturbing the LECA too much. LECA floats.

Also, if the plant is getting enough light to grow well, algae will grow on the inside of the glass. The photos are taken right after a cleaning. How many people's houses are ready for an open house at any moment?

leca and hydroton shouldn't float, but some do... when i prepare a plant for semi hydro, i soak the hydroton over night in water with some super thrive... then some of the hydroton will fall to the bottom of the bucket... some will stay floating... when potting it, i will throw the floating one first, then the bottom one to the top to weight it down...

i also use glass... i drill them and use them in proper SH way... i have a video on how to drill the vase here... hold on...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChE...3iTsXZhG2HpbcQ




i also have another video on intro of SH... show you how i water it and stuff... you can forward the video, but i drill through a ceramic vase, and a glass vase... it's super easy, and very beautiful.. you just get some algae... haha...

As the plant grows and uses nutrients in the LECA medium, it changes the chemistry of the solution by extracting nutrient ions and dumping its wastes into it.

If you fill and mostly dump, you are diluting it, but not really fully correcting it, and as our friend from Phoenix pointed out, the medium will shift around, which discourages the roots from growing.

If you have the drainage holes, and follow the correct method of rapidly filling the pot to the top and letting it drain, you do a very thorough flush at each watering without disturbing the LECA or the plant.

Read more from the inventor of the technique.

Thanks, Gumbii, but I really hate broken glass. It's a thing with me. I really don't want to risk shards or even glass powder getting anywhere near me. I know it sounds strange, but power tools and glass just shouldn't be in the same sentence - haha.

I appreciate your help. Maybe one day I'll watch that video...

---------- Post added at 09:08 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:04 AM ----------

Thank you, Ray!! I have read your entire site twice over. :)

It was just an idea. I plan to use your method to the letter. Thanks for all of your insight! It's a pleasure to meet you!

---------- Post added at 09:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:08 AM ----------

Thanks, estacion seca, I've decided to ditch the idea.

Drilling glass is actually quite simple, if you follow someone guidelines:

1. Use a good diamond drill bit.
2. Take it slow
3. Keep the glass you are drilling submerged in water. Not only does it cool the drilling site to avoid thermal shock, but the water actually interacts with the glass structure, relieving some ionic stresses that drilling creates.

I like the idea of the glass being submerged... I'll have to look into this a little bit further.

Thanks again!