s/h & dry climate

[Shawna]

I live in Colorado really low humidity. How will that affect the Plants and the Leca?

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by Shawna

I live in Colorado really low humidity. How will that affect the Plants and the Leca?

I do too. I live in Parker, to be exact.

Leca/Hydroton that is in the upper 2-3 inches of the pot will dry out very quickly. But if you poke your finger into the hydroton, it isn't too far down that you find moisture again and the roots of the orchids plump and green.

With that said, getting a plant established in s/h can be a bit more difficult because you want those new roots to know where to go. And with things drying out within minutes, its sometimes difficult.

I have successfully grown phals in s/h and hydroton for over a year now and have gotten them to successfully bloom.

The humidity issue is a constant here in our climate. The rules of humidity-- keeping plants around 50% or higher-- is impossible without some sort of enclosure. Folks from lower or more humid climates can tell us the target humidity levels but there is simply no way to achieve them without some sort of set up here. Take Tagawa's for instance-- one of the world's largest swamp coolers is set up there not only to keep temps moderate-- but to provide humidity as well. They go through water like no one's business.

Thankfully, every single plant I've grown has adapted just fine.

[Shawna]

I have 1 small Phal in Hydroton for about 3 months now and it is not showing signs of anything. So I though it was humidty problem but maybe not.

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by Shawna

I have 1 small Phal in Hydroton for about 3 months now and it is not showing signs of anything. So I though it was humidty problem but maybe not.

Tell me more about the conditions you're providing. Light, temp, fertilizer, etc. The more you can tell me about what you do or provide for the plant will help.

A note about hydroton and humidity. Because the water will evaporate quickly in our environment, this has the effect of cooling the plant's roots. So if you are in an air conditioned area, that will compound the problem. What is the ambient temp of the growing area?

Any info would help.

[Shawna]

I have it in a west window but have some shading from the garage on that window. It is probably average temp of 75 to 80 right now. I usually water when I can just see a little water left in the bottom of the pot.

[Shawna]

The roots were really green with just little new roots forming at the top. It was in spaghum before putting into s/h so I thought it would like it.

[MT-Phal]

What I've done is at the base of my phal, I've used a little clump of moss to hold moisture. That way the roots grow into the moss, and then through it into my prime agra. It seems to work well, the only issues is to monitor it to make sure that the moss doesn't suffocate the root tips.

[Izzie]

I do something similar to MT-phal.

A top dressing of sphagnum moss on all my pots has really helped them get good root systems going in our dry CO climate. I've noticed that they are digging in to the media more, rather than being aerial roots.

I have a Pot. Samantha Duncan in Hydroton, but not s/h, with about half an inch of sphag on top- it's going crazy with new roots and a new lead since repotting from rotting bark.

[Shawna]

In Plastic or Clay?

[Pilot]

I use plastic as clay wicks the moisture away very quickly.