Is my orchid pot too damp?
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7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
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7 years agoRelated Discussions
My cold damp windowsill solution
Comments (1)I love mame bonsai! My favorite is a wee Ophiopogon, in a 2 inch container....See MoreShould my potting mix still be damp?
Comments (3)If you recently repotted, you need to be sure there is moisture where the roots are - regardless of how wet it is in the lower reaches of the pot. If the roots have colonized the entire soil mass, wait to water until the soil feels dry. It's not unusual for plants in the 5:1:1 mix to go a week between waterings when they're not growing robustly. Unfortunately, in times gone by there have been a few people who would gladly have traded their souls (only a slight exaggeration) if it meant they could convince you the only way you could grow in soils like the 5:1:1 mix or the gritty mix was if YOU were rooted next to the plant ..... with a watering can in your hand ..... 24/7. The result of all the hand flapping and ululation is the residual suspicion these soils might not be worth it if you have to water every few hours, which of course is an idea that might more rightly be something we'd expect Chicken Little to come up with once we have some actual experience USING the soils. You DO need to water highly aerated, free draining soils more often than soupy soils, but the well-reasoned perspective wouldn't include the idea that the soils like you're using don't hold enough water; rather, the considered supposition that makes more sense would be that the soupy soils hold too much water. Soil still moist = don't water unless the roots are only occupying the upper part of the soil mass and you have good reason to think that fraction of the soil is going to become dangerously dry before your next opportunity to water. "DAMP - not wet" is the operational phrase to remember. It's good to know that soils start to feel dry to the touch as they begin to dry down to less than about 40% of their ability to retain water. Plants though, can still extract water from soils until their moisture content is (for most plants) between 25-30%, so there is still a bit of a built-in cush there after soils FEEL dry. Al...See MoreBeginner: what's going on in my orchid pot??? HELP!
Comments (7)You live in Hawaii and you're growing your orchid indoors?! You can't ask for a better environment than that in Hawaii. All of my plants go outside as soon as it's warm enough for them to do so. I couldn't fathom keeping them indoors in such an ideal habitat. Growing indoors (even in Hawaii) is not the same thing as growing outdoors. As for fungicides, I've been growing orchids for the better part of two decades and I have never used any fungicides on them. By keeping your orchid indoors, you're only hindering its ability to keep itself healthy. Sure, they can be grown indoors, provided that their most basic needs are met, but if you grow them outdoors, then they practically take care of themselves. As I stated earlier, I move mine outdoors, and while they're out there, they either get rained on or blasted with the water hose, as well as the occasional watering with diluted fertilizers. Other than that, they pretty much get ignored by me. Back when I first started growing orchids, I was always killing them with kindness. Then I learned to just let them be and let them take care of themselves (for the most part)....See MoreUpdated orchid pot, but is it too big?
Comments (13)I think you're right, that it's pretty dry. But soaking is what caused the root rot. I over watered and a leaf started to yellow. When I pulled it from the bark, the bark was full of white mold and some of the roots had molded too. Mold is common for house plants in Oregon. The grass I grow for my cat always gets mold on it and I have to add cinnamon to the top layer to prevent it. I have been giving it ice cubes but I don't think it's been getting enough still....See Moreshavedmonkey (Harvey in South Fl.)Z10b
7 years agoUser
7 years agoshavedmonkey (Harvey in South Fl.)Z10b
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoUser
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoshavedmonkey (Harvey in South Fl.)Z10b
7 years agoUser
7 years agoshavedmonkey (Harvey in South Fl.)Z10b
7 years agoDanielle Rose
7 years agoshavedmonkey (Harvey in South Fl.)Z10b
7 years ago
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