Hydroponic for Phrags

[ldrhawke]

Hawke - where do you grow?

St.Augustine, Florida Good high humidity place for growing most orchids except for having a few winter cold snaps. Most of my plants are from local orchid nurseries.

 

[NYEric]

Er, if this is your growing area I defer to your wisdom.

 

[Ernie]

Did I miss something?

-Ernie

 

[ldrhawke]

Er, if this is your growing area I defer to your wisdom.

It isn't....I wouldn't want to pay the $1000/night to heat it during a cold snap.:sob:

 

[Ray]

St.Augustine, Florida Good high humidity place for growing most orchids except for having a few winter cold snaps. Most of my plants are from local orchid nurseries.

That helps explain how thoroughly moist your medium stays. Move to a dry environment, and I'd be willing to be that it wouldn't be quite so.

Up here in PA, we can see seasonal differences.

 

[ldrhawke]

That helps explain how thoroughly moist your medium stays. Move to a dry environment, and I'd be willing to be that it wouldn't be quite so.

Up here in PA, we can see seasonal differences.

The only problem with that theory is that I see the same moisture level in the LECA in Lechuza planters I have inside my air conditioned home that has 1/2 the humidity level as outside.

 

[grasshopper]

Hi Mcpaph
Thanks, I simply wanted to use up some stuff around the house into something useful, the reservoir holds about a gollon with a 3 gallon bucket, I change it about every week with a dilute mix of about 100ppm, so far so good, I know it is rather mechanical but again wanted to use up some stuff laying around without being fashionable. I see there has been much discussed since I last posted......I need to catch up, until then...

 

[Ray]

The only problem with that theory is that I see the same moisture level in the LECA in Lechuza planters I have inside my air conditioned home that has 1/2 the humidity level as outside.

...but of course the lower temperature reduces the evaporation rate, too.

 

[ldrhawke]

...but of course the lower temperature reduces the evaporation rate, too.

OK....I give up. Your Dixie cups are the best.

 

[NYEric]

Now now children, play nice!

 

[ldrhawke]

Now now children, play nice!

:rollhappy: I just want to see you arrange and stack Dixie cups displaying your beautiful specimen orchids like this. Obviously a lot of people on this site continue to miss my point...it isn't always only about the utilitarian aspect and joy of growing orchids. It is also about enjoying and displaying the beauty of orchids within your home.

 

[cnycharles]

um, i'm not sure why the drama; both types work in certain situations and of course in other situations they won't. ray has made a simple point that in some cases it may not be optimal. there is no orchid media system that works for every orchid, in every climate, not even the whole hydroponic system you have shown us, which is an interesting one. even ray has said that in some situations the s/h system won't work, and that careful testing needs to be done to find out which orchids may not settle to it. mr. dixie cup seems to have a major problem just admitting that the system that works for him, may not be perfect. (though very intriguing)

 

[gonewild]

:rollhappy: I just want to see you arrange and stack Dixie cups displaying your beautiful specimen orchids like this. /IMG]

Your pots are very attractive and do make a better living room presentation than most "growing" pots. But I kind of lost track of what this thread is about... Is it about displaying plants or growing plants?

You do realize, I assume, that your continued reference to them as "Dixie" cups continues to be sarcastic. I think Dixie cups are in fact somewhat smaller and look completely different? Maybe at least call them Deli containers.

I think there is a lot to learn by comparing the different styles and types of pots used for indoor growing and I would like to see this thread continue on a helpful track.

 

[ldrhawke]

Your pots are very attractive and do make a better living room presentation than most "growing" pots. But I kind of lost track of what this thread is about... Is it about displaying plants or growing plants?

You do realize, I assume, that your continued reference to them as "Dixie" cups continues to be sarcastic. I think Dixie cups are in fact somewhat smaller and look completely different? Maybe at least call them Deli containers.

I think there is a lot to learn by comparing the different styles and types of pots used for indoor growing and I would like to see this thread continue on a helpful track.

Why is it that it appears that everyone that is trying to sell something seems to be offended by my presenting a slightly different way of growing and displaying orchids? I seem to be a threat to some people! That was never my intent. These blogs often seem to have very obvious commercial under tone rather than open discussion!

 

[Paph_LdyMacBeth]

:rollhappy: I just want to see you arrange and stack Dixie cups displaying your beautiful specimen orchids like this.

My "Dixie" cups look damn good in these.
http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/90113088

I can display them for however long I want and return them to my growing area once flowering is done. Plants that grow in front of the window can stay there looking good all the time (still in their dixie cups)

 

[NYEric]

I'm not selling anything nor do I believe anyone was "offended"; I think people are just questioning your system. Hopefully you have an open mind to listen to them also and not feel challenged by the different takes on growing methods.

 

[ldrhawke]

I'm not selling anything nor do I believe anyone was "offended"; I think people are just questioning your system. Hopefully you have an open mind to listen to them also and not feel challenged by the different takes on growing methods.

Maybe I should have said "threatened". It isn't my system!

I'm the one presenting something that maybe be sightly different than norm, figuring it would be of interest, and I'm challenged by guys selling Dixie cups or should I say Deli containers; so not to offend, and I don't have an open mind?

At this point I'm really sorry I posted anything. You guys fight it out. I have better things to to. Bye...............

 

[grasshopper]

Isnt the whole point of growing orchids is to admire the beauty of the flowers? If I wanted a nice pot to look at Id just sit one on the coffee table, personally in my conditions, I dont think the fancy pots would stay very moist due to the little strings provided for wicking action...just dont appear that they would be adequate. Although I have not tried one,and they do look nice, with that said Id rather prefer the "dixie" cup method and spend the extra coin on plants that develope flowers to admire!

 

[McPaph]

AWWW! Way To Highjack a thread.

Hi Mcpaph
Thanks, I simply wanted to use up some stuff around the house into something useful, the reservoir holds about a gollon with a 3 gallon bucket, I change it about every week with a dilute mix of about 100ppm, so far so good, I know it is rather mechanical but again wanted to use up some stuff laying around without being fashionable. I see there has been much discussed since I last posted......I need to catch up, until then...

Hi grasshopper
That sounds great. You gave me an idea to try this outside with the foantain aspect. keep us posted for any helpful hints you run into. Thanks

Mick

 

[grasshopper]

Hi McPaph,
I like the fountain idea, that is sort of what it ended up being , just missing the decor. I do have some ideas on how to give it more eye appeal but the cost keeps running up on everything I think of, so I just dont bother. I would be defeating my purpose from the begining..... Sometimes the ugly one is best you know, kind of like that old beatup car that just never died and kept going on and on. So far the phrags like it , I change out the water every week or week and a half, depends on my schedule. There is an attempt at getting some moss growing but Im not shure how that will end up....may just be slime in the end. Any moss input?