I have six healthy phals.

Is it a good idea to change the potting medium even if you're not
changing the pot size? How often should the medium be changed? I
don't want to do it more often than necessary. That stuff is pricey!

I use a combination of moss and bark chips.

thanks

The correct answer is "when it needs it", and yes, if the plant has not
increased significantly in size, going into the same size pot is fine.

As to what defines "it needs it", the primary issue is the medium getting
too compact, so it holds too much water and suffocates the roots.

Another thing to consider is mineral buildup - if you haven't done a
reasonable job flushing, the buildup will become too much to conveniently
redissolve, so fresh medium will be in order.

Or.....you can consider semi-hydroponics and never change the medium, just
adding more as the plant gets bigger.

--

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


"Jane" wrote in message
...
I have six healthy phals.

Is it a good idea to change the potting medium even if you're not
changing the pot size? How often should the medium be changed? I
don't want to do it more often than necessary. That stuff is pricey!

I use a combination of moss and bark chips.

thanks

On Jan 10, 9:44 pm, "Ray B" wrote:
The correct answer is "when it needs it", and yes, if the plant has not
increased significantly in size, going into the same size pot is fine.

As to what defines "it needs it", the primary issue is the medium getting
too compact, so it holds too much water and suffocates the roots.

Another thing to consider is mineral buildup - if you haven't done a
reasonable job flushing, the buildup will become too much to conveniently
redissolve, so fresh medium will be in order.

Or.....you can consider semi-hydroponics and never change the medium, just
adding more as the plant gets bigger.

--

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

"Jane" wrote in message

...

I have six healthy phals.

Is it a good idea to change the potting medium even if you're not
changing the pot size? How often should the medium be changed? I
don't want to do it more often than necessary. That stuff is pricey!

I use a combination of moss and bark chips.

thanks

This is the first I've heard about flushing (I'm pretty new at this).
What should I be doing? Right now I water only when the medium feels
dry. I use orchid fertilizer with ever watering.

If you are watering/fertilizing weekly, then use clear water every 4th time,
and flush well. Easy!

Diana

"Jane" wrote in message
...
On Jan 10, 9:44 pm, "Ray B" wrote:
The correct answer is "when it needs it", and yes, if the plant has not
increased significantly in size, going into the same size pot is fine.

As to what defines "it needs it", the primary issue is the medium getting
too compact, so it holds too much water and suffocates the roots.

Another thing to consider is mineral buildup - if you haven't done a
reasonable job flushing, the buildup will become too much to conveniently
redissolve, so fresh medium will be in order.

Or.....you can consider semi-hydroponics and never change the medium,
just
adding more as the plant gets bigger.

--

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

"Jane" wrote in message

...

I have six healthy phals.

Is it a good idea to change the potting medium even if you're not
changing the pot size? How often should the medium be changed? I
don't want to do it more often than necessary. That stuff is pricey!

I use a combination of moss and bark chips.

thanks

This is the first I've heard about flushing (I'm pretty new at this).
What should I be doing? Right now I water only when the medium feels
dry. I use orchid fertilizer with ever watering.

"Jane" wrote in message
...

This is the first I've heard about flushing (I'm pretty new at this).
What should I be doing? Right now I water only when the medium feels
dry. I use orchid fertilizer with ever watering.

To "flush" the soil I soak them in a shallow tub of clean lukewarm water.
Collected rain water if I have it on hand, and I usually do. I pour it
through the medium also. After every 5 plants or so, I use fresh water
again.

The problem I have with the bucket method is that you can transfer pathogens
from one plant to the next. If at all possible, flush with a hose, faucet or
wand.

Diana

"Manelli Family" wrote in message
...

"Jane" wrote in message
...

This is the first I've heard about flushing (I'm pretty new at this).
What should I be doing? Right now I water only when the medium feels
dry. I use orchid fertilizer with ever watering.

To "flush" the soil I soak them in a shallow tub of clean lukewarm water.
Collected rain water if I have it on hand, and I usually do. I pour it
through the medium also. After every 5 plants or so, I use fresh water
again.

Jane,

Take a look at these articles:

http://www.firstrays.com/flushing.htm

http://www.firstrays.com/mineral_buildup.htm



--

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

[quote=Ray B;769943]Jane,

Take a look at these articles:

http://www.firstrays.com/flushing.htm

http://www.firstrays.com/mineral_buildup.htm

QUOTE]


I just want to add here that it is only necessary to repot your Phalaenopsis when the soil shows signs of deterioration.

You may also find this article useful:

http://www.landscape-and-garden.com/...is-orchid.aspx

"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
. ..
The problem I have with the bucket method is that you can transfer
pathogens from one plant to the next. If at all possible, flush with a
hose, faucet or wand.

My thoughts are disease will travel in any case. On our hands, on our
clothes and shoes, insects can pass viral and bacterial disease from plant
to plant. We can move our plants around and unknowingly put a clean pot
where a diseased plant sat the day before. To prevent contamination we would
need to wear latex gloves and sterilize them between plants. Each plant
would have a spot and never be moved from it. We would then still have bugs
and insects to contend with. I've already found frogs on my plants when
spending the summer outdoors. Cross contamination is very difficult to
prevent.

I once worked in a hospital and known about contamination.

Your thoughts are correct, but just as in a hospital, why would you do
something that you know is going to greatly increase the likelihood of
spreading it?

Orchid roots are the most direct path into- and out of the plant, far more
so that through the foliage we come in contact with (that's one reason
foliar feeding is not very effective in them), and liquids are one of the
best media for a pathogen transfer.

--

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


"Manelli Family" wrote in message
...

"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
. ..
The problem I have with the bucket method is that you can transfer
pathogens from one plant to the next. If at all possible, flush with a
hose, faucet or wand.

My thoughts are disease will travel in any case. On our hands, on our
clothes and shoes, insects can pass viral and bacterial disease from plant
to plant. We can move our plants around and unknowingly put a clean pot
where a diseased plant sat the day before. To prevent contamination we
would need to wear latex gloves and sterilize them between plants. Each
plant would have a spot and never be moved from it. We would then still
have bugs and insects to contend with. I've already found frogs on my
plants when spending the summer outdoors. Cross contamination is very
difficult to prevent.

I once worked in a hospital and known about contamination.

"Manelli Family" wrote in message
...
[snip]
To prevent contamination we would need to wear latex gloves and
sterilize them between plants.

You *don't*? I do. Or I wash and bleach my hands between plants, being sure
to get under the nails.


[snip]
Cross contamination is very difficult to prevent.

Which doesn't mean you don't do your darndest try to prevent it.

K Barrett

I know that contamination is hard to prevent. That doesn't mean I won't try
my best to keep disease from spreading. I do, in fact, wear latex gloves
when potting, and I change them frequently. If I don't change a pair I'll
wash my hands with the gloves on, in a bleach or TSP solution. They are much
less costly than losing a favorite plant or worse, several. We keep a bunch
of sets of cutting tools so each can sit and sterilize for a while before
being used again.

I've seen how fast disease can move through an orchid collection even when
precautions are taken. I'm not about to add to the danger. But, that's me.
To each his own.

Diana
"Manelli Family" wrote in message
...

"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
. ..
The problem I have with the bucket method is that you can transfer
pathogens from one plant to the next. If at all possible, flush with a
hose, faucet or wand.

My thoughts are disease will travel in any case. On our hands, on our
clothes and shoes, insects can pass viral and bacterial disease from plant
to plant. We can move our plants around and unknowingly put a clean pot
where a diseased plant sat the day before. To prevent contamination we
would need to wear latex gloves and sterilize them between plants. Each
plant would have a spot and never be moved from it. We would then still
have bugs and insects to contend with. I've already found frogs on my
plants when spending the summer outdoors. Cross contamination is very
difficult to prevent.

I once worked in a hospital and known about contamination.

"Diana Kulaga" Wrote:
I know that contamination is hard to prevent. That doesn't mean I won't try
my best to keep disease from spreading. I do, in fact, wear latex gloves
when potting, and I change them frequently. If I don't change a pair I'll
wash my hands with the gloves on, in a bleach or TSP solution. They are
much less costly than losing a favorite plant or worse, several. We keep a
bunch of sets of cutting tools so each can sit and sterilize for a while
before being used again.

I've seen how fast disease can move through an orchid collection even when
precautions are taken. I'm not about to add to the danger. But, that's me.
To each his own.

Sounds like good advice from the voice of experiance.

What about he use of Physan in the dunking bucket? Or would a monthly
flushing be better?


Diana
"Manelli Family" wrote in message
...

"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
. ..
The problem I have with the bucket method is that you can transfer
pathogens from one plant to the next. If at all possible, flush with a
hose, faucet or wand.

My thoughts are disease will travel in any case. On our hands, on our
clothes and shoes, insects can pass viral and bacterial disease from
plant to plant. We can move our plants around and unknowingly put a
clean pot where a diseased plant sat the day before. To prevent
contamination we would need to wear latex gloves and sterilize them
between plants. Each plant would have a spot and never be moved from it.
We would then still have bugs and insects to contend with. I've already
found frogs on my plants when spending the summer outdoors. Cross
contamination is very difficult to prevent.

I once worked in a hospital and known about contamination.

Mark,

IMO, the bucket method is not a good idea. There are exceptions - your
Physan idea is one of them. If you are treating plants for something you
have identified, then during a mass repot you can unpot, dunk, unpot
another, dunk, etc. For routine flushing, just use water without fert. Just
MNSHO.

Diana

"Mark_OK" wrote in message
...

"Diana Kulaga" Wrote:
I know that contamination is hard to prevent. That doesn't mean I won't
try my best to keep disease from spreading. I do, in fact, wear latex
gloves when potting, and I change them frequently. If I don't change a
pair I'll wash my hands with the gloves on, in a bleach or TSP solution.
They are much less costly than losing a favorite plant or worse, several.
We keep a bunch of sets of cutting tools so each can sit and sterilize for
a while before being used again.

I've seen how fast disease can move through an orchid collection even
when precautions are taken. I'm not about to add to the danger. But,
that's me. To each his own.

Sounds like good advice from the voice of experiance.

What about he use of Physan in the dunking bucket? Or would a monthly
flushing be better?


Diana
"Manelli Family" wrote in message
...

"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
. ..
The problem I have with the bucket method is that you can transfer
pathogens from one plant to the next. If at all possible, flush with a
hose, faucet or wand.

My thoughts are disease will travel in any case. On our hands, on our
clothes and shoes, insects can pass viral and bacterial disease from
plant to plant. We can move our plants around and unknowingly put a
clean pot where a diseased plant sat the day before. To prevent
contamination we would need to wear latex gloves and sterilize them
between plants. Each plant would have a spot and never be moved from it.
We would then still have bugs and insects to contend with. I've already
found frogs on my plants when spending the summer outdoors. Cross
contamination is very difficult to prevent.

I once worked in a hospital and known about contamination.

"Ray B" wrote in message
news:4Dmjj.11758$W73.2610@trnddc04...
Your thoughts are correct, but just as in a hospital, why would you do
something that you know is going to greatly increase the likelihood of
spreading it?

It would take much much much longer to dump and sterilize and refill the pan
after each orchid. I have a decent size collection. You may have more free
time than I do. Sterilizing the soaking pan after each plant is only
practical if one has few plants or plenty of free time.

Orchid roots are the most direct path into- and out of the plant, far more
so that through the foliage we come in contact with (that's one reason
foliar feeding is not very effective in them), and liquids are one of the
best media for a pathogen transfer.

--

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


"Manelli Family" wrote in message
...

"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
. ..
The problem I have with the bucket method is that you can transfer
pathogens from one plant to the next. If at all possible, flush with a
hose, faucet or wand.

My thoughts are disease will travel in any case. On our hands, on our
clothes and shoes, insects can pass viral and bacterial disease from
plant to plant. We can move our plants around and unknowingly put a
clean pot where a diseased plant sat the day before. To prevent
contamination we would need to wear latex gloves and sterilize them
between plants. Each plant would have a spot and never be moved from it.
We would then still have bugs and insects to contend with. I've already
found frogs on my plants when spending the summer outdoors. Cross
contamination is very difficult to prevent.

I once worked in a hospital and known about contamination.