Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
new thread-grwoing media
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 -- |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
new thread-grwoing media
Yes, Frank, there are always advantages and disadvantages; that's a big part
of why there are so many "right" ways of growing the same orchid G. Mounting has many advantages [there are some orchids I wouldn't consider trying to grow any other way, like B. digbyana and most of the Schombos, for starters]. The biggest advantages that spring to mind: 1. It's almost impossible to overwater; 2. "repotting" is virtually eliminated -- if the plant outgrows the mount, one can either let it encircle and start growing on top of itself, or just put the whole mount onto a larger one; 3. pests and diseases have no place to hide, and so can be discovered and treated sooner. The disadvantages I hear most about a 1. the plant must be watered more frequently than if it were potted; 2. it can be more difficult to display inside the home while in flower. Deciding what's "best" _for you_ means evaluating these pluses and minuses and deciding which are more important. If you like to water, and either have a way (or don't want) to display mounted plants inside your home when they flower, then mounts are for you. If you hate to water, or grow primarily for the benefit of bringing plants into your home for display, then they probably aren't. As for potting media, we prefer those which don't break down, or at least don't break down quickly [bark lasts no time, around here]. Using non-decomposing media such as lava rock allows us to repot less often, and usually to just "pot up" rather than a traditional repotting which includes removal of all old medium. This is not only a money/labor saver; it also means less transplant shock for the plants. However, lava rock can be dangerous for those with poor water quality or a tendency to be heavy-handed with the fertilizer. So, again, which is best for you depends on you and your circumstances. -- Kenni Judd Juno Beach Orchids http://www.jborchids.com "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 -- |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
new thread-grwoing media
hi guys
what about pumice???? will this be ok as an inert-long lasting medium?????\ i'm thinking about clay pellets but pumice is plenty around where i live personally i will rather put some charcoal and pumice in a basket(wire or wood) for the plants that do better mounted ie(schobos and rhyncholaelia digbyana), i just think the plant looks nicer when it grows straight up thanks |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
new thread-grwoing media
Who told you a plant can't grow "straight up" on a mount? G
We have several of our Schombos, and some other plants, growing upright [from our perspective, even tho it's caddy-whompus from the plant's point of view] on horizontal mounts. It's just a matter of attaching the hanger differently, through the center of the mount instead of one end. I've been looking at pumice, but not tried it yet. -- Kenni Judd Juno Beach Orchids http://www.jborchids.com "AN" wrote in message ... hi guys what about pumice???? will this be ok as an inert-long lasting medium?????\ i'm thinking about clay pellets but pumice is plenty around where i live personally i will rather put some charcoal and pumice in a basket(wire or wood) for the plants that do better mounted ie(schobos and rhyncholaelia digbyana), i just think the plant looks nicer when it grows straight up thanks |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
new thread-grwoing media
That's a neat idea and would help with the problem of how to display the
mounted plant when in bloom. If the mount lies flat, all one would need is some sort of decorative tray. KEWL! I appreciate the responses. Frank "Kenni Judd" wrote in message .. . Who told you a plant can't grow "straight up" on a mount? G We have several of our Schombos, and some other plants, growing upright [from our perspective, even tho it's caddy-whompus from the plant's point of view] on horizontal mounts. It's just a matter of attaching the hanger differently, through the center of the mount instead of one end. I've been looking at pumice, but not tried it yet. -- Kenni Judd Juno Beach Orchids http://www.jborchids.com "AN" wrote in message ... hi guys what about pumice???? will this be ok as an inert-long lasting medium?????\ i'm thinking about clay pellets but pumice is plenty around where i live personally i will rather put some charcoal and pumice in a basket(wire or wood) for the plants that do better mounted ie(schobos and rhyncholaelia digbyana), i just think the plant looks nicer when it grows straight up thanks |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
new thread-grwoing media
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 -- |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Basic grwoing tips for Phalaenopsis orchids | Orchids | |||
Basic grwoing tips for Phalaenopsis orchids | Orchids | |||
How keep tree limb from grwoing back? | Lawns | |||
Media Prep Let's Start a Good Idea, Tips Thread. | Orchids | |||
New thread. Mad Cow Disease / Mad Deer Disease | sci.agriculture |