Phalaenopsis - Should I remove the Moss?

[weng]

I just bought a lovely NOID from the local garden centre. There is absolutely no way of identifying NOIDs, so I give mine a clonal name after the garden centre.

Weng

[gixrj18]

I've found the best way to identify noids, is to post the pics on this sight. I have positively identified quite a few from noids by showing them to everyone. Even the ones that weren't identified on here, were later ID'd because people here sent me down the right path. I know it's hard to be sure, but these were dead ringers.

[Oscarman]

Semi-hydro is the way to go for Phals.
I still think moss is great, you just need to pot properly and jamming it into the pot is not the way!

[cupcake]

Sometimes over here a plant will just have a label with miltonia or phal on it, but if you go to the website then they have photos with names.

[shakkai]

Judi, I've identified a number of ones that way.... having got home from the Garden Centre with my purchase, I looked up the supplier name on the label, and they do list the actual hybrid name on the site.

I wonder why they think this information isn't needed on the label??

[sharon lynn]

what does s/h mean???...newbe here..need understandable english please...lol..sharon

[Dorothy]

S/H - semi-hydroponics - a growing technique of using LECA (light expanded clay aggregate) as medium and growing an orchid in a specialized pot that allows water to remain at the very bottom.
Check out the photos from Ray's First site here - S/H Example Photos
It's all explained here - All about Semi-Hydroponics
There are plenty of past thread on OB if you enter 'semi-hydroponics' in the Search option at the top of the screen or explore the Semi-Hydroponic Culture Forum

[Gwenchanter]

I repot all of my phals in better-gro phalaenopsis mix (which is mostly bark) which I get at home depot. I live in a very humid climate (florida) so moss stays wet forever here. After I repot they really take off and reward me with branching inforescences. I'm thinking about trying the semi-hydroponic next to see if they like that even better. As far as repotting, I've repotted some of my plants every year just after the flowers die and before they start putting out new leaves. Most literature i've read reccomends every two years.

I have successfully identified a few noids. Certain colors/patterns can be dead ringers. Fairly indistinct pinks and purples are ususually pretty hopeless but art shades, yellows and reds are not as common and more distinctive. I have done my ID's by first looking through lots of pictures on the internet (try a google images search) then once I've narrowed it down, I go to an orchid show or a dealer and look for a living example to compare. I spend a lot of time admireing my orchids and taking pictures so I know them inside and out, and if I have a living example to compare it with, I feel confident with some of my identifications. Still it's important to keep track of which ones you have identified yourself because you can never be 100% sure. Still, there is something rewarding to having a name which you can put on your plant. The one's I have IDed myself I ususally call "looks like yada yada".

[nancy]

Choice of medium depends, to an extent, on where you live, where you grow, and your personal style.
If you live in the south, grow outdoors or like to water, then moss is sure death...

[weng]

Interesting thought. I don't disagree about moss. I wouldn't touch the stuff with a barge pole. However, I use Seramis, which is like small, rice sized terracotta pieces, and that stuff stays wet all the time.

Although I have never tried semi-hydro, but it sounds like it is always wet too.

So what's wrong with wet moss?