Clear glass vase as container? - Orchid Board

epl · #1 (**permalink**) 06-09-2007, 03:34 PM

Can I use a clear class container that is sort of like a vase as a s/h pot? It doesn't have drainage holes but i can see where the water line is and easily keep it there. Also instead of the clay pebbles can i use small stone pebbles? It is about 6" tall and 4 inches wide at the widest point, 3" at the bottom and top, how high should the water line be?

Gin · #2 (**permalink**) 06-09-2007, 05:07 PM

I don't think it is a good idea , there would be no way to flush the container to remove Fertiliser salts resulting in root burn that is one of the reasons for the holes near the bottom of the pot , also there would be no air to the root zone and no good way to add fresh water without either removing the plant or making a mess with over flow .
I don't know about the pebbles, maybe Ray will chime in . Gin

justatypn · #3 (**permalink**) 06-09-2007, 05:15 PM

Good advice Gin, my only thought would be that s/h is more absorbent to retaining nutrients as well as moisture and with stone it would be to hard of a surface to retain any amount of water, yucky algae is in order and without the retention of nutrients your rooting system on an orchid would be fried.

I don't think it would be a good idea, keep this theory for "lucky bamboo" where you have no worries about a water line other than to fill what has evaporated.

gerneveyn · #4 (**permalink**) 06-09-2007, 05:22 PM

I know of someone who is growing a paph in s/h in a glass candle holder. He uses worm tea instead of fertilizer. I've seen pics of epidendrums growing in vases in just water.

justatypn · #5 (**permalink**) 06-09-2007, 05:30 PM

Worm tea or poop

...something of a gross product when walking into the garden center an seeing it all spread out on a shelf...P U

Quote:

I've seen pics of epidendrums growing in vases in just water.

I as well, photography purposes would be my guess...not a natural habitat.

I'm not saying its something that can not be done it just appears to be more work than what it would be worth, just my 2 cents worth.

Gin · #6 (**permalink**) 06-09-2007, 05:44 PM

There was a site ,Vengers Orchids, that had a lot of informatiion on growing orchids in water culture I did a quick search did not find the info. maybe to quick

Gin

gerneveyn · #7 (**permalink**) 06-09-2007, 06:00 PM

Worm tea actually doesn't have an odor. I've been using it on my orchids. Here's a site that shows the epidendrums in water: Semihydro
The paph in s/h:http://www.orchidgeeks.com/gallery/d...p?imageid=1187

gerneveyn · #8 (**permalink**) 06-09-2007, 06:34 PM

FWIW Mr. Venger's information on orchids and water culture can be found in an old newsletter of an Arizona orchid group. OSA

markr · #9 (**permalink**) 06-09-2007, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justatypn

Worm tea or poop

...something of a gross product when walking into the garden center an seeing it all spread out on a shelf...P U

If you've ever seen worm compost you'd know it's nothing like "poop" in any way, more like dark rich soil. No bad odour at all. Smells like healthy earth, which is what it is.

Ray · #10 (**permalink**) 06-10-2007, 08:52 AM

A glass vase, by itself, isn't all that bad, but the previously-mentioned lack of flushing capability is a serious issue.

I don't think air flow is though, as the amount of air getting in a s/h pot through the holes is insignificant campared to that entering through the pathways between medium particles.

Ordinary pebbles can work, but on;y through capillarity, as there's no absorption whatsoever, meaning that you will need to water VERY often.