Hi, Gang,

We currently grow our Phals either in spag or mounted. What would you think
about Aliflor for Phals? It seems like a solution to the occasional root rot
(though I really don't over water). In my warm south FL conditions, how
often would one water a Phal in Aliflor? I use it for many other orchids,
often mixed with other media, with great results.

Of course, S/H is another option. Just wondering if anyone has tried
straight potting with fired clay medium for Phals.

I await the opinion of the sages. TIA.

Diana

In your climate, and with enough watering, I would speculate that LECA in
plastic pots would be OK. Clay pots would probably dry out a bit too fast.

--

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


"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
nk.net...
Hi, Gang,

We currently grow our Phals either in spag or mounted. What would you
think
about Aliflor for Phals? It seems like a solution to the occasional root
rot
(though I really don't over water). In my warm south FL conditions, how
often would one water a Phal in Aliflor? I use it for many other orchids,
often mixed with other media, with great results.

Of course, S/H is another option. Just wondering if anyone has tried
straight potting with fired clay medium for Phals.

I await the opinion of the sages. TIA.

Diana

Diana: Aliflor holds very little water. I think you'd be watering your
Phals almost daily, during the hot months.
--
Kenni Judd
Juno Beach Orchids
http://www.jborchids.com

"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
nk.net...
Hi, Gang,

We currently grow our Phals either in spag or mounted. What would you
think
about Aliflor for Phals? It seems like a solution to the occasional root
rot
(though I really don't over water). In my warm south FL conditions, how
often would one water a Phal in Aliflor? I use it for many other orchids,
often mixed with other media, with great results.

Of course, S/H is another option. Just wondering if anyone has tried
straight potting with fired clay medium for Phals.

I await the opinion of the sages. TIA.

Diana

OK, so maybe S/H is a better choice.

--

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


"Kenni Judd" wrote in message
...
Diana: Aliflor holds very little water. I think you'd be watering your
Phals almost daily, during the hot months.
--
Kenni Judd
Juno Beach Orchids
http://www.jborchids.com

"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
nk.net...
Hi, Gang,

We currently grow our Phals either in spag or mounted. What would you
think
about Aliflor for Phals? It seems like a solution to the occasional root
rot
(though I really don't over water). In my warm south FL conditions, how
often would one water a Phal in Aliflor? I use it for many other orchids,
often mixed with other media, with great results.

Of course, S/H is another option. Just wondering if anyone has tried
straight potting with fired clay medium for Phals.

I await the opinion of the sages. TIA.

Diana

What is S/H?

I grow many of my biggest and favorite Phals in clay pots filled with pea
gravel. They do very well; forming multiple crowns and tend to keep the
roots in the pots. It is actually my favorite Phal potting method. Two
drawbacks: very heavy. Sometimes I plant in a layer of packing peanuts and
a 'top dressing' of pea gravel. Yes, I do have to water them a lot more
often, but I water my mounted plants everyday anyway.

Aliflor is those round clay-like balls, right? I suspect it would work just
like pea gravel, except, I don't think pea gravel will absorb mineral salts/
"Ray" wrote in message
...
OK, so maybe S/H is a better choice.

--

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


"Kenni Judd" wrote in message
...
Diana: Aliflor holds very little water. I think you'd be watering your
Phals almost daily, during the hot months.
--
Kenni Judd
Juno Beach Orchids
http://www.jborchids.com

"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
nk.net...
Hi, Gang,

We currently grow our Phals either in spag or mounted. What would you
think
about Aliflor for Phals? It seems like a solution to the occasional root
rot
(though I really don't over water). In my warm south FL conditions, how
often would one water a Phal in Aliflor? I use it for many other
orchids,
often mixed with other media, with great results.

Of course, S/H is another option. Just wondering if anyone has tried
straight potting with fired clay medium for Phals.

I await the opinion of the sages. TIA.

Diana

Al,

Go to my website and click on the "Semi-Hydroponics" link. Think of an
inert medium with a constant supply of nutrient solution.

LECA will work better than pea gravel because the particles WILL absorb
moisture and wick it evenly throughout the medium. Sure, there's a
possibility of mineral buildup, but if you water things correctly, that's
really not an issue. I have a Paph rothschildianum hybrid that has been in
the same medium for over 5 years now, and I see minimal, if any buildup on
the medium.

Among LECAs, there's a wide variety of properties, so don't think they're
all the same. Aliflor didn't work for me, but I know several growers in
south Florida who think it's OK, as they water almost daily.

Well, I'm off to the Central Pennsylvania OS to speak precisely about this
subject. Catch you all when I return Monday evening.
--

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


"Al" wrote in message
...
What is S/H?

I grow many of my biggest and favorite Phals in clay pots filled with pea
gravel. They do very well; forming multiple crowns and tend to keep the
roots in the pots. It is actually my favorite Phal potting method. Two
drawbacks: very heavy. Sometimes I plant in a layer of packing peanuts
and a 'top dressing' of pea gravel. Yes, I do have to water them a lot
more often, but I water my mounted plants everyday anyway.

Aliflor is those round clay-like balls, right? I suspect it would work
just like pea gravel, except, I don't think pea gravel will absorb mineral
salts/
"Ray" wrote in message
...
OK, so maybe S/H is a better choice.

--

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


"Kenni Judd" wrote in message
...
Diana: Aliflor holds very little water. I think you'd be watering your
Phals almost daily, during the hot months.
--
Kenni Judd
Juno Beach Orchids
http://www.jborchids.com

"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
nk.net...
Hi, Gang,

We currently grow our Phals either in spag or mounted. What would you
think
about Aliflor for Phals? It seems like a solution to the occasional
root
rot
(though I really don't over water). In my warm south FL conditions, how
often would one water a Phal in Aliflor? I use it for many other
orchids,
often mixed with other media, with great results.

Of course, S/H is another option. Just wondering if anyone has tried
straight potting with fired clay medium for Phals.

I await the opinion of the sages. TIA.

Diana

I grow phals in South Florida using lava rock in the S/H method. They
absolutely love it!

Thanks, all. I am getting tired of spag for Phals, especially the smaller
ones, tho' that may sound a** backwards. But, it's the little guys that tend
to get root rot, at least for me. I grow virtually all my plants in plastic,
using clay pots for stability where needed.

Thanks for all the input. We're going to experiment - a controlled
experiment, to see what works best.

Diana

On Sun, 13 Mar 2005 23:15:14 GMT, "Diana Kulaga"
wrote:

Thanks, all. I am getting tired of spag for Phals, especially the smaller
ones, tho' that may sound a** backwards. But, it's the little guys that tend
to get root rot, at least for me. I grow virtually all my plants in plastic,
using clay pots for stability where needed.

Thanks for all the input. We're going to experiment - a controlled
experiment, to see what works best.

Diana


The only trouble I have ever had with Lava Rock is the sharp
edges some of it gets when cracked. Just like glass. I can not
handle the stuff.
SuE
http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/albums.php

Susan Erickson wrote:
On Sun, 13 Mar 2005 23:15:14 GMT, "Diana Kulaga"
wrote:

Thanks, all. I am getting tired of spag for Phals, especially the
smaller
ones, tho' that may sound a** backwards. But, it's the little guys
that tend
to get root rot, at least for me. I grow virtually all my plants in
plastic,
using clay pots for stability where needed.

Thanks for all the input. We're going to experiment - a controlled
experiment, to see what works best.

Diana


The only trouble I have ever had with Lava Rock is the sharp
edges some of it gets when cracked. Just like glass. I can not
handle the stuff.


Wear gloves. All rose growers know that goatskin ones are toughest. I
have three pairs, one of them about to give up the ghost, but it lasted
for several years.

I wear gloves when handling lava rock. I also wear them when handling
my growing collection of cycads--some are pricklier than roses, and
given the toxicity of all parts of all cycads, gloves are very good
idea.

(Yeah, I know, some people eat cycad starch, but not without
considerable risk.
See Whitelock's --The Cycads-- for the grisly details)

J. Del Col

I hate Aliflor. Tip a plant and the darn stuff goes rolling all over the
place like a spilled bag of marbles.

I grow Phals in straight unadulterated bark. Medium grade. Works like a
charm.


"Diana Kulaga" wrote in
nk.net:

Hi, Gang,

We currently grow our Phals either in spag or mounted. What would you
think about Aliflor for Phals?

----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----

Aliflor is fine if you're willing to water a lot. If you cannot do that, -
or just don't want to - but want the advantages of a non-decomposing medium,
you might consider semi-hydroponics, but with a different brand of LECA.
Aliflor is not the best for S/H, due in large part to its spherical shape.

--

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


"Robert Dickow" wrote in message
...
I hate Aliflor. Tip a plant and the darn stuff goes rolling all over the
place like a spilled bag of marbles.

I grow Phals in straight unadulterated bark. Medium grade. Works like a
charm.


"Diana Kulaga" wrote in
nk.net:

Hi, Gang,

We currently grow our Phals either in spag or mounted. What would you
think about Aliflor for Phals?

----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet
News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+
Newsgroups
----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption
=----

Ray wrote:
Aliflor is fine if you're willing to water a lot. If you cannot do that, -
or just don't want to - but want the advantages of a non-decomposing medium,
you might consider semi-hydroponics, but with a different brand of LECA.
Aliflor is not the best for S/H, due in large part to its spherical shape.

Although I have debated the merits of taking a bag of it and running
over it with the truck a few times. That might result in a better mix
of round and not round shapes... Or break an axle.

Rob

--
Rob's Rules: http://littlefrogfarm.com
1) There is always room for one more orchid
2) There is always room for two more orchids
2a) See rule 1
3) When one has insufficient credit to obtain more
orchids, obtain more credit

Rob Halgren schrieb:
Ray wrote:

Aliflor is fine if you're willing to water a lot. If you cannot do
that, - or just don't want to - but want the advantages of a
non-decomposing medium, you might consider semi-hydroponics, but with
a different brand of LECA. Aliflor is not the best for S/H, due in
large part to its spherical shape.

Although I have debated the merits of taking a bag of it and running
over it with the truck a few times. That might result in a better mix
of round and not round shapes... Or break an axle.

Rob

Hey, Rob, you got a FIAT too??!! ;-)

--
Reka

This is LIFE! It's not a rehearsal. Don't miss it!
http://www.rolbox.it/hukari/index.html

Ray ) wrote:
: Aliflor is fine if you're willing to water a lot. If you cannot do that, -
: or just don't want to - but want the advantages of a non-decomposing medium,
: you might consider semi-hydroponics, but with a different brand of LECA.
: Aliflor is not the best for S/H, due in large part to its spherical shape.

The last time I repotted my indoor Vandas I used Aliflor instead of lava
rock or large bark as I've done before. In the past my Vandas have always
developed numerous aerial roots but they didn't this time. After growing
a bit concerned I poured the Aliflor out of the pot in order to investigate
and was shocked to find quite vigorous root growth throughout the pot.

Dave