They dry out too fast - Orchid Board

Tikva · #1 (**permalink**) 05-30-2006, 08:37 PM

Really. I stick my fingers way down in the mix and it's dry - after a day or 2. Pretty much all of my orchids are in a mix of medium / small chips, charcoal, perlite.... a few have some spagh as well.
I tried potting a few that liked more moisture in spagh but this very wet spring, a few of my orchids in the spagh got moldy and or mild black rot. It just did NOT dry out! I got fearful and ditched potting in spagh...
So it seems I have to sort of water my orchids every few days. I drag it out to twice a week and they look fine, but the medium is REALLY dry...
Is that bad for them? And ummm... where is the happy medium....

nyorchids · #2 (**permalink**) 05-30-2006, 10:27 PM

what lighting are you using??

Tikva · #3 (**permalink**) 05-31-2006, 06:57 AM

I don't use any special lighting. Since lately it's been wonderful weather, I leave lights off and they just get the natural sun that shines in. Now my shelf is closer to the sliding glass doors and getting more direct sun but they were drying out SO fast before.... when it's not raining out...
I may just have to deal with it.... I stay at home anyway, so I can handle more watering...

SteveT · #4 (**permalink**) 05-31-2006, 12:12 PM

Easy solution: Take some dry sphagnum moss and crumble it up into dust, Sprinkle some of the dust on the tops of the medium. Next time you water the dust will go down into the medium. This dust will create moisture pockets and release back to the bark while not smothering the plant roots.

Susan in Houston · #5 (**permalink**) 05-31-2006, 12:42 PM

Why didn't I think of that? I'll have to try this with some of mine that seem to need more water than most on a regular schedule. Thanks.

Tikva · #6 (**permalink**) 05-31-2006, 01:14 PM

Exactly. What a good idea. I will do that next time... 2 days from now since I just watered LOL!

SteveT · #7 (**permalink**) 05-31-2006, 01:20 PM

Maybe I should write a guide on the watering / media relationship?

Tindomul · #8 (**permalink**) 05-31-2006, 01:52 PM

That was a good idea. I was interested to find out what solutions would be suggested. Thanks!

If you were to wrtie that guide, it would do orchid board a great service!

SteveT · #9 (**permalink**) 05-31-2006, 04:30 PM

Okay. I will. I might want to get together with Ray to drop some science into it.

Tindomul · #10 (**permalink**) 05-31-2006, 04:34 PM

If you do put some science into it, put it in the obscure yet strong science subforum here on dendroboard.