On 25/08/2014 21:24, Bertie Doe wrote:


"Bob Hobden" wrote in message ...

"Bertie Doe" wrote

"Spider" wrote
Bertie Doe wrote:

My 2 plants are 4 and 5 years old. Hadn't thought about re-potting.

The planting medium looks like forest bark, is this correct?


Mmm .. maybe it's time you thought about repotting, then. The
planting medium must be well-drained and, yes, it does look like the
forest bark one mulches borders with. However, I use a proprietory
orchid compost which has a high bark content. I also use clear
plastic pots. Although many believe this isn't essential, it does
mean the roots get some sunlight (they can photosynthesise) and it
is also clearer when the plant needs repotting.
snip

Thx didn't realise there was a special compost. I'll pick up some
orchid feed at the same time.


Be careful with your choice of orchid compost, most is suitable for
Cymbidiums not Phals which, as epiphytes, have their roots hanging in
the air where they dry out quickly.
I use bark chippings specially for orchids together with live sphagnum
moss and clear pots do allow the moss to grow in the pot and around
the roots which phals love.

Thanks all for the compost info. The window faces East and gets sun till
about 1pm in Summer. With clear pots, would the roots get baked?





I wouldn't have thought so, certainly not considering most summers. Do
you use clear outer pots, then? I can't imagine you'd put the basic
clear orchid pot straight on a window sill or table. If your outer pots
are fairly solid colour, then you should have no trouble at all.

--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay

"Spider" wrote in message ...

On 25/08/2014 21:24, Bertie Doe wrote:


Thanks all for the compost info. The window faces East and gets sun till
about 1pm in Summer. With clear pots, would the roots get baked?



I wouldn't have thought so, certainly not considering most summers. Do you
use clear outer pots, then? I can't imagine you'd put the basic clear
orchid pot straight on a window sill or table. If your outer pots are
fairly solid colour, then you should have no trouble at all.

Sorry Spider I misunderstood you, I thought you meant clear inner pots and
clear outer pots

No mine are clear inners (supplied) and solid china outers. I assume the gap
twixt the two is sufficient.

As you can see from the pic, both have a one-sided growth. Despite turning
them several times during the year. :-

http://www.ipernity.com/doc/336925/34644809

"Bertie Doe" wrote

"Spider" wrote

Bertie Doe wrote:


Thanks all for the compost info. The window faces East and gets sun till
about 1pm in Summer. With clear pots, would the roots get baked?



I wouldn't have thought so, certainly not considering most summers. Do
you use clear outer pots, then? I can't imagine you'd put the basic clear
orchid pot straight on a window sill or table. If your outer pots are
fairly solid colour, then you should have no trouble at all.

Sorry Spider I misunderstood you, I thought you meant clear inner pots and
clear outer pots

No mine are clear inners (supplied) and solid china outers. I assume the
gap twixt the two is sufficient.

As you can see from the pic, both have a one-sided growth. Despite turning
them several times during the year. :-

http://www.ipernity.com/doc/336925/34644809


I refer you to my post of the 24th, that is their normal way of growing, see
the video of one in the wild.


--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

On 27/08/2014 18:01, Bertie Doe wrote:


"Spider" wrote in message ...

On 25/08/2014 21:24, Bertie Doe wrote:


Thanks all for the compost info. The window faces East and gets sun till
about 1pm in Summer. With clear pots, would the roots get baked?



I wouldn't have thought so, certainly not considering most summers.
Do you use clear outer pots, then? I can't imagine you'd put the
basic clear orchid pot straight on a window sill or table. If your
outer pots are fairly solid colour, then you should have no trouble at
all.

Sorry Spider I misunderstood you, I thought you meant clear inner pots
and clear outer pots



I see:~). No. All mine are solid ceramic pots, too. Of course, there
are some semi-see-through pots around with a swirl or cloud design, and
they would be even better, but I often put coffee jar lids (or the like)
in the bottom of my pots to aid drainage and a more see-through design
would show that.



No mine are clear inners (supplied) and solid china outers. I assume the
gap twixt the two is sufficient.


I make the same assumption, and my orchids seem to agree with me ;~).

As you can see from the pic, both have a one-sided growth. Despite
turning them several times during the year. :-

http://www.ipernity.com/doc/336925/34644809



Yes, this does seem to happen and I think it is in the nature of the
beast. Indeed, with some orchids (Cambria types and Oncidiums among
many), the growth habit tends to have new shoots/bulbs arising from one
side of the plant only. When potting on, it is essential to replant so
that the 'new growth' portion of the plant is more central to allow
plenty of room for new pseudobulbs to grow. This temporarily makes it
more upright, but the growth habit takes over and new growth gradually
fills the void and then starts leaning again.

I think if you love orchids, then you put up with their sometimes untidy
nature, lopsidedness and aerial roots being the main gripe.
I know someone who always cut the aerial roots off their Phals simply
because they looked untidy! ... then complained to me that her orchids
didn't do very well. Amazing!
--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay

"Spider" wrote




Yes, this does seem to happen and I think it is in the nature of the beast.
Indeed, with some orchids (Cambria types and Oncidiums among many), the
growth habit tends to have new shoots/bulbs arising from one side of the
plant only. When potting on, it is essential to replant so that the 'new
growth' portion of the plant is more central to allow plenty of room for
new pseudobulbs to grow. This temporarily makes it more upright, but the
growth habit takes over and new growth gradually fills the void and then
starts leaning again.

I think if you love orchids, then you put up with their sometimes untidy
nature, lopsidedness and aerial roots being the main gripe.
I know someone who always cut the aerial roots off their Phals simply
because they looked untidy! ... then complained to me that her orchids
didn't do very well. Amazing!


I wonder what they would do to those in the family that don't have any
leaves, only roots?
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

On 29/08/2014 13:54, Bob Hobden wrote:
"Spider" wrote




Yes, this does seem to happen and I think it is in the nature of the
beast. Indeed, with some orchids (Cambria types and Oncidiums among
many), the growth habit tends to have new shoots/bulbs arising from
one side of the plant only. When potting on, it is essential to
replant so that the 'new growth' portion of the plant is more central
to allow plenty of room for new pseudobulbs to grow. This temporarily
makes it more upright, but the growth habit takes over and new growth
gradually fills the void and then starts leaning again.

I think if you love orchids, then you put up with their sometimes
untidy nature, lopsidedness and aerial roots being the main gripe.
I know someone who always cut the aerial roots off their Phals simply
because they looked untidy! ... then complained to me that her orchids
didn't do very well. Amazing!


I wonder what they would do to those in the family that don't have any
leaves, only roots?



You might well wonder, Bob! I suspect that, since they had little
success with Phals, they didn't venture into the more esoteric.

--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay