Since no one has responded, I suggest you check out Big Leaf Orchids. Their site contains a beginner's guide to growing phals that you may find helpful.

Good luck with your violacea.

Marci

I had one and killed it, so I am no expert. I do know that it is often grown mounted and there is no reason not to grow in lava rock. Just need to water more often than in a pot of bark.

I have a Phal violacea "Tequila Sunset x Phal violacea var borneo" and after a year of no growth but no decline I've just repotted it back into moss. The grower had it growing in moss but I'm more of a bark fan for my phals so I always repot from moss to bark mix. However in this case I think Phal violacea want a bit more moisture than regular phals. So far so good but it's only been a couple of weeks. I would caution that if you plant it in straight lava rocks to make sure the plant gets plenty of regular waterings.

On my wish list, and thought I might try it in s/h if I were to spring for one--- $$$$. I have all my phals, regular oncidiums(not equitants), miltassia and some dendrobiums in s/h (with prime agra) for 4 years and they love it!

Google "semi-hydroponic" and go to the FIRST site that you find. It will explain the cultural method. I think lava rock is one of the mediums that might work, especially for such a thirsty plant.

Perhaps someone who has a bellina or violacea in s/h might pipe in here, or even Ray?? Is lava rock an acceptable medium for s/h?

Jan

Like other Phals, P. violacea does best with continuous moisture in the root environment, but not in prolonged sogginess. The roots need air also. In my experience, cocunut husk chips (CHC) have provided the best air-moiture balance for them, but some prefer bark or Sphagnum moss or a mixture of media. The best medium can vary depending on local conditions.

Lava rock is a very dry, airy medium. If you plant a violacea in it, you will have to maintain high humidity and/or water frequently. Conditions would have to be about the same as if you mounted it. The first thing you'd probably see after transferring a Phal into lava rock would be the death of the roots that formerly grew in a more moisture retentive medium. The plant would have to put out new roots that could acclimate to the new medium.

I wouldn't put lava rock on top of moss. Sphag already has the disadvantage of compacting and becoming soggy. You'd only be contributing to anaerobic conditions in the pot. Bark or CHC - maybe.

OK, thanks for all the help. I don't think I could keep it humid enough in just straight lava rock (although it was killer humid out here yesterday....) so I don't want to risk it, thanks for the advice!!!! Beth

As far as violacea and S/H, based on my experience be sure you can keep temps up in the winter. The violaceas really dislike cool/cold roots, been there done that ;-( my indoor grow room can drop to @60-65 degrees in winter (even cooler closer to the exterior walls), it seemed the violaceas did not like those temps when in S/H.

I've pulled all but one of mine out of S/H (I have one hybrid that is kicking arse in S/H, go figure) and have those in bark, CHC or spagh currently. I do grow @20 other phals species and hybrids in S/H.

HTH,

bob

Thanks for the tip. I bet that is where I went wrong w/ my last violacea, it died over the winter, it probably did get too cold for too long in the room, so I got another one to try, thank you!!

I would love to try lava rock with phal bellina. I think that would look so pretty. Now I just have to get a bellina! I have my eye on a phal bellina with 2 spikes and flowering! And since it's not expensive (from ebay), I won't feel as bad as when I killed my first bellina that was expensive and on the small side!