Trying an experiment

[bonginator]

Thanks, Flyfishdoc.

I am now shifting to the fertilizer for the phal and also have removed the plastic bag since it seems fairly well acclimated. Will probably water a bit more frequently given I am in CO and it is dry here.

BTW, I also happen to be very into fly fishing and I couldn't help but notice your forum name. I am headed up to MT in a few days to fish on Rock Creek which is one of my favorite places. Are you a trout bum?

[Libo]

interestingly, my catts transplanted into S/H all grew a large amount of new roots, but my phals seems to be happy with just some old roots and keep putting new growth. All my phals have grown or in the process of growing two new leaves in the course of the 4 month since transplanting into S/H. I guess their original moss environment helped the root survive so new roots are not urgent. I guess I'll have to wait until next year for some new root growth. Anyway, judging from the pictures, the transplant is definitely a success

[flyfishdoc]

I am a confirmed pond man. I tried trout fishing for the first time this year. I want to try again, but there are no native trout in Delaware, just a few stocked streams near the PA border. I also do saltwater, esp in the colder water for striped bass. Good luck in MT, and with S/H

[bonginator]

Here are some updated photos of the 2 orchids 4 weeks after repotting one in semi-hydro materials. Notice the nice new leaf growth on the semi-hydroponic phal. The orchid experiment continues!

Its sibling orchid in soil appears next to it. I am curious to see how the two progress over time compared to each other....

[nutgirl]

Thanks for the update. Keep 'em coming.

Maureen

[stefpix]

The one in reg medium / pot seems to do really well... was trying to compare with previous photos

[Captainjohn]

They are both doing similarly/well. Is the one in the regular medium/clay pot wicking water (through the clay) out of the reservoir? This in effect would make both plants S/H.

[bonginator]

Yes, it is interesting that the sibling also appears to be doing well. I should note that the sibling is not wicking water from the rocks below - I water only enough to 1/2 submerge the rocks on the sibling.

However, both of these little phals were laggards that did nothing for 2 years and when I moved the one plant into s/h, the sibling all of the sudden started looking better and growing a bit. Perhaps he realized I was conducting an experiment?!! Anyway, both appear to be doing well but the s/h has slightly larger leaves than the sibling. I will try to post another update in another 2 weeks.

Fun to see what happens!

[stefpix]

Maybe more than teh S/H is that you changed position or maybe you repotted the other or maybe there is simply more humidity from the tray that you did not use before the experiment.

from the photos I feel that actually the one not in S/H seems to have improved more.

I am trying S/H myself so I am really interested in yr case study
stefano

[Captainjohn]

This may not apply to your experiment, but I've found that if a clay pot is contacting damp rocks, moisture from the rocks can be wicked through the clay and up the sides of the pot.