Frank, et al,

I think the decision of how to pot-up/mount your plants is determined by
three factors and how they interact with each other:

1. The needs and wants of the plant, both conditions and growth habit,
2. The conditions that you can easily and consistently provide, and
3. Your personal attitudes about potting, watering and feeding.

Personally, I have plants in pots of sphagnum or CHC based medium, in
semi-hydroponics, on branches and tree fern and cork (both vertically
mounted and on rafts), in baskets of charcoal, diatomite, or CHC, and even a
vanda hanging potless from a wire.

My collection is in a small standalone greenhouse that has a ready supply of
RO water for humidifying, heavy misting, and for watering with injected
nutrients. The humidity is automatically controlled, the misting occurs at
a touch of a button at my desk, and when I water (which includes feeding),
all of the plants (and I) get thoroughly and equally doused. There are two
large air circulators that really keep the air moving 24 hours a day.
Vandaceous plants and high-light oncidiums and encyclias hang up high,
providing shade for the plants below.

What they're in/on and where in the greenhouse has more-or-less evolved for
each plant, but when I get something new, the growth habit and growth
conditions help me decide whether it's to be potted or mounted. If it's
potted, my first inclination is semi-hydroponics, due to it's simplicity,
ease of potting, and the lack of fear of rot, but some things are just
better off in moss. Most plants that I get in potted in organic media make
it to S/H eventually, as I have a tendency to overwater (see 3., above).
--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Books, Artwork, and Lots of Free Info!

.. . . . . . . . . . .
"Frank H. Kirchner" wrote in message
news:9xxlb.34804$N94.400@lakeread02...
Hi everyone and happy growing!

Recently I have been doing a lot of reading and thinking both of which can
be dangerous activities. I read a lot about the advantages of growing in
coconut vs. bark. I read a lot about semi-hydroponics culture. I read a
lot about growing on slabs. All seem to have advantages and
disadvantages.
How do you determine which is best? What do you consider to be the
advantages vs. the disadvantages?

I really like the aesthetics of orchids that are mounted. I love to water
and find it hard to overwater them. I find I can pack more plants into
the
growing space because they are hung as opposed to resting on the benches.
But how to determine which orchids are best for this culture? I haven't
found much written. Some phals, such as Phal venosa, are growing
beautifully on cork. Will all phals benefit from being mounted? How
does
one ascertain the benefits of pot culture (either s/h or traditional
media)
vs. mounting?

Similarly, if I elect for potting, how does one determine whether to go
with
the inert semi-hydroponics vs. other media? Are you out there Ray? I
have
found lots of literature regarding differing organic media and
comparing/contrasting bark vs. moss vs. tree fern etc. I have found
little
information to help guide me in selecting whether to go organic vs.
semi-hydroponics.

As I have been thinking, again stressing that this is a dangerous habit,
it
would seem to me that a consistent system for a collection/greenhouse
makes
more sense than having several differing kinds of culture yet as we all
know
each orchid has a mind of its own. I would think a more uniform system
would ease watering, fertilizing etc and have fewer opportunities for
errors. If there is a mistake to be made in orchid culture, trust me, I
will find it and make it!

So, these are my thoughts as I contemplate reorganizing my greenhouse and
think about converting to mounts or semi-hydroponics. I am curious what
the
group has to say and look forward to learning from you.

Thanks.

Frank
--