Basket of Joy

[BikerDoc5968]

I've never grown chids in baskets because I can't get the humidity that I thought this type of culture required. I wanted a Lc Love Knot 'Carmela Blue' and the vendor only had it in a basket and sold it to me for less... don't ask why My brain-dead question is, since there is no bark or anything but lots of roots in the basket, am I correct in assuming I will have to mist/water this guy daily or just how do those of you who grow catts in baskets deal with their culture? Remember, just because I grow in a GH, I live in Michigan not Florida or Hawaii where humidity is only a problem for us humans!

[orchids3]

It looks like you have either scale or mealy bugs to me. There are numerous ways to raise humidity. Humidity and airflow would help with the bugs as well as having plants that would look and grow better. We get all the same problems in a Florida Greenhouse

[BikerDoc5968]

Thanks but the plant is as clean as a whistle. I know scale and mealy bug all too well and this plant is CLEAN!

[TylerK]

Originally Posted by orchids3

It looks like you have either scale or mealy bugs to me. There are numerous ways to raise humidity. Humidity and airflow would help with the bugs as well as having plants that would look and grow better. We get all the same problems in a Florida Greenhouse

Are you referring to what looks like honeydew on the leaves and roots? I think that's just water....looks like the plant has just had a shower.

[OrchidSue]

I think it's the water drops on the leaves that look like bugs in the photo.

Susan

[Becky15349]

LOL...yeah no bugs, plant looks great.

I would say water it every 2 days or so, but make sure you keep the air moving around it so it doesn't get rot...even in a basket, they can get rot...its happened to me!

[TylerK]

As for the original question, I don't grow in baskets, but I do have a few mounts. They get watered at least once a day. I don't grow in a greenhouse though. If your humidity is high enough once a day or once every couple days might be enough.

Tyler

[Junebug]

That's such a healthy looking plant. I'm an outdoor grower residing in Florida and we do have lot's of humidity. If she were mine I'd give her a dunk 2 or 3 times a week and then mist the exterior roots every other day. I'm assuming the roots inside the basket are crowded and would retain more moisture. I'd also be tempted to remove some of the exterior growth and mount it on a piece of grapewood. Those roots are already acclimated to the exposure and would probably be receptive to mounting. Then you'd have 2 plants instead of one.

[RoyalOrchids]

I'm with Becky and Tyler. Somewhere between potted culture and mounted culture should do. That's a pretty nice sized plant considering the tiny size of the 'Carmella's Blue' clone. Nice grab.

[Blueszz]

It's beautiful and so healthy looking!