WHO will help me will get reward from god.

[camille1585]

Since I know he has trouble in English, I located him based on his IP. He's in a coastal city on the east coast of Malaysia. According to the weather forecasts, high temps these days (and most of the time apparently) are in the low 90s (30-34C) and humidity 70-80%. So while it may be dryish there (as he says) in terms of rainfall right now, it's a humid place. Temps and humidity seem to stay about the same year round, with a lot of rain in Nov to Jan.

Having no experience with that sort of weather (my climate is cool and humid) I can't advise on the potting medium. But based on this, maybe others can advise?

[MisterOrchidGuy]

Oh katrina, you are not correct and not wrong either.It is a tropical country but not as humid.Example you water your orchids and need to water it again and again in one day so how it couod be that humid.Your thoughts are correct that the humidity is high but not at housing estate or city or any where it is only humid in the deep jungle and I was shocked to see my wheater channel that says its 70% humidity.So its not an idea to mount them.I live in kelantan so its hotter here

[MisterOrchidGuy]

Ok.thanks camille

[MisterOrchidGuy]

Um camille the rain fall was kind of yesterday and it is very dry here not as you think

[MisterOrchidGuy]

My father explained to me that once or twice the humidity might rise till 80 percent for a short while and it goes of

[Catriona]

Hi MisterOrchidGuy,
Petang yang baik! I have to admit I'm as confused as some other OB'ers as to exactly what the issue is regarding your growing media. I'm guessing you live in or close to Kota Bharu, in the very north of Malaysia and on the east coast. I've just checked the humidity levels for Kelantan and average relative humidity is 80%. When you talk about "humidity" are you referring to rainfall?
You might want to do what some other OB'ers suggest and track down growers in Penang/elsewhere in Malaysia/Singapore, who might be able to help you better.
I was born in Kuala Lumpur and spent my childhood in KL and Ipoh, Penang, Tanjong Tualang and Kajang (FABULOUS satay!) The reason I mention this is because we had orchids all over the place - growing on wooden uprights, in terracotta pots with holes in them on the verandah (w/coconut husk), and my Dad had a slightly shaded orchid house, where if I remember all his plants were mounted. Perak and Selangor temps/humidity pretty much the same as Kelantan, I think.
Anyway, good luck with your project and let us know how you get on.
Selamaat tinggal.

[tarev]

I think I understand what you mean there MisterOrchidGuy, when you say it is not humid..but it is more humid there than here in my location. I grew up in the Philippines, and as our Asian neighbor, we share similar conditions. Right now it is boiling, sizzling summer there so it feels very hot..but it is humid hot. The humidity actually intensifies it. Tropical plants of various forms are growing around there with ease, since it is still a tropical environment. In my former home country, we were raised there to always water the plants everyday, of course except during the 6 month rainy season. It is now that I understand to help the plants survive the intense heat. Here in the US we do not do that simply because of the 4 seasons and various microclimates too.

Anyways, your question is what media to use. Most orchid growers that I know of in the Philippines would use a mix of charcoal and coco coir since there are lots of coconut by products there. Then they put the orchids in claypots with lots of holes. There are lots of sources of claypots there too. You said not to talk about pots, but you have to adjust your way of planting. Adjust to the plants needs..not to what you prefer.

They would usually position the orchids in a semi-shaded area, like under a tree or sheltered by mesh netting to protect the plants. I would still follow watering the plants every day there at the start of the day, not at night, since evaporation is way faster there and the plants really transpire a lot. But you have to protect it from intense monsoon rains when it comes. In the forest these plants would be sheltered by the huge tropical leaves of the trees and other tropical plants when it rains. Phal roots are fat and succulent, so it wants to dry up fast, needs lots of air circulation at the root zone, so clay pots is best option in your hot and humid climate. As to fertilizer, well, not familiar with what you use, but typically half the dose of whatever is recommended.

My Phals here, I have been using clay rocks and lava rocks and hygrolon, and it works well with it too..they love that airy feel at the root zone.

There was another poster here in OB who grows such fantastic Phals in Vietnam..I remember him saying add calcium too and he tries to keep his plants dry so they are in a covered area.

[MisterOrchidGuy]

Hello both of you, selamat petang and kelantan is very hot.like kl I have been there yesterday it was soo much more cooler and you do not even to stay in the aircond like here in kelantan.Kamusta tarev,thanks for your advice.selamat po

[tarev]

You are welcome MisterOrchidGuy! Walang anuman

[kaede]

Malaysia is humid even in the city, as it is in Singapore where I currently am, that's for sure, 60% to 100%. However, the high temperature of 30-34 dries media fast (or wet laundry for that matter, even in shade).

If it were a lower temperature, it would be perfect. But we have to work around our conditions. With only 1 or two phals, a terrarium environment could be good.

MisterOrchidGuy, pots should suit your needs well, and sphagnum mixed with perlite (perlite to allow more air, and easier wetting of the media when it dries out for the next watering). That should last you between 1 week or two before watering again, it all depends on the weather, wind, pot size, etc.

A pot size of 3" should last a week, 4" to 6" even longer. But I would match the size of the plant to the pot size.

Try to have them under morning sun only. No morning sun ? Then filter out the afternoon sun with some sun screen filters.