The Orchid Garden

Cornell watering experiments

Question:

Like I said, he uses osmunda fiber, packed in.   Now I don’t have any experience with osmunda, but watering every day sounds a bit much. — Reka http://www.rolbox.it/hukari/index.html "I hate flowers – I paint them because they’re cheaper than models and they don’t move."        –Georgia O’Keeffe | If you are going to water your plants every day you had best use a very open | well drained potting media and be prepared to repot often, or mount the | plants to leave all the roots exposed.

Response:

This sounds perfectly normal to me–for plants in the wild or mounted. Remember, in nature, they don’t grow with their leaves crammed into a pot, but open to air. Think of hanging vandas without any pot or basket. I’m sure cattleyas would be perfectly happy this way.

Response:

The basis behind semi-hydro! — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am currently reading an old orchid book (ABC of Orchid Growing, 1956, John V. Watkins, Prentice-Hall) and found this interesting bit of info: p. 44:  "Research at Cornell demonstrated that daily watering of Cattleya and Phalaenopsis orchids resulted in best growth and flowering.  Plants watered at weekly intervals were inferior." p.91:  "Since the dawn of orchidology it has been accepted practice to allow Cattleya plants to become dry, the pot and plant light to lift, therefore, before the next soaking.  For more than a century, many millions of perfect blossoms and good plants have been produced by such a regimen.  Research at Cornell University by R.G. Mott demonstrated that daily watering through one year resulted in maximum growth and flowering with his test clone–Cattleya labiata variety Amesiana.  Mr. Mott suggested that plants watered daily be fertilized regularly to replace nutrients lost by leaching." I have posted the corresponding photo from the book at ABPO. It remains to be said that he used mainly osmunda fiber in potting.  Now what do you all out there have to say about this tidbit of information? — Reka http://www.rolbox.it/hukari/index.html "I hate flowers

Filed under: Phalaenopsis Orchid

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