Orchiata and Phrags.

[abax]

Is anyone growing Phrags. in straight Orchiata? If so, what size Orchiata?
Suggestions as to what potting material might be beneficial to add to
Orchiata aside from moss? How 'bout hydroton?

 

[NYEric]

If sitting them in water i would put straight hydroton in the bottom that's in the water. You can mix the media above that. I use Power size 3/8 - 1/2". Mostly i keep moss on the top only, live moss is better.

 

[RNCollins]

Orchiata

I'm interested in the responses to this question too. I have some Orchiata and was wondering the same thing.

 

[MaryPientka]

NYEric, I saw the live moss on some of your photos in another thread. I would like to try this, too. I wonder how you prepare the moss. What do you recommend?

 

[jeremyinsf]

I use a mix of the Classic and Power, along with some lava rock. I'm going to try Eric's LECA idea on the next one I pot.

 

[Eric Muehlbauer]

I grow them in orchiata mixed with sponge rock and NZ sphagnum. Since I tend not to repot phrags for too many years, the sponge rock is necessary to keep some air in the mix.

 

[mormodes]

I've grown phrags in a combination of semi hydroponics and straight orchiata (fine) for 3-4 years. Semi-hydroponics is where the pot or container doesn't have drainage holes in the bottom of the pot but rather they are some distance up the side, allowing a reservoir of water to stand in the pot. Since orchiata doesn't break down quickly I used this method to good success until the past two years when I have inadvertently tested the method. My life went in the toilet and I haven't repotted for 2 years, nor have I watered consistently. The bark is holding up well, the plant aren't dead as I'd have expected and have even grown. Roots are visible through the clear pot. Only the Sorceror's Apprentice has bloomed consistently for me during this time span, which I think speaks to the hybrid's tolerance. In the next few weeks I'll start repotting and see what hell I've unleashed on my plants. I'd have expected full-on total death of my collection due to a build up of salts from neglect, stagnation, & putrifaction but no. Talk about pushing the envelope, *G*.

Oh, the Barbara LeAnn has bloomed for me during this abusive period too. I'm not encouraging anyone to neglect their collection, but just saying orchiata is harder & more durable than you may think it is.

 

[NYEric]

NYEric, I saw the live moss on some of your photos in another thread. I would like to try this, too. I wonder how you prepare the moss. What do you recommend?

Get live moss, clean preferably , from eBay, mix with or top media with moss, grow orchids.

 

[abax]

Eric, I just looked over the offerings of live moss on ebay. Does it matter
what type of moss? How exactly do you determine if the moss is "clean"?
I wonder if I collected my own moss, might a spraying with Orthene be
advisable?

 

[cnycharles]

Forest critters will enter your growing area if you proceed without caution


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[Erythrone]

Forest critters will enter your growing area if you proceed without caution


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Yes, pay attention to moose and dear. They will browse on you orchids. oke:

Just kidding of course.

 

[cnycharles]

No joke about the deer though here in nj; a pack of 21 wandered in front of my car in my way home from work few nights ago . They are taking advantage of the hard, deeper snow to chew in trees and shrubs higher than ever before, eating everything in sight. At work if you leave hoop house doors open they will walk inside and chew lots of things up

I grabbed some nice rotted log moss a few years ago and all sorts of nasty bugs and some disease I think spread through my plants. If you can culture some or buy clean from someone else would be of great benefit


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[NYEric]

On eBay it should say its clean. The type is not super important, but if you can get live sphagnum that is the best.

 

[abax]

Thank you, Eric and all. We have quite a few deer around the nursery,
but they'd have one hell-of-a-time getting through the louvers.

CNYcharles, I was afraid of that!

 

[chrismende]

I grow Phrags in a combination of Orchiata and GrowStone which is expanded recycled glass from a Colorado landfill. I've used this combination for over two years now and as long as you rinse the GrowStone once to reduce the moderate level of alkalinity the plants seem very happy. I like GrowStone much better than Perlite, since it provides aeration without the compaction issues of the Perlite.
I have a mix of two or three sizes of Orchiata according to the root size I'm dealing with. Seedlings go into the fine size with small size GrowStone.
This mix works very well in an ebb and flood tray system for all my Kovachii hybrids, P. kovachii seedlings, and besseaes and schlimiis. The other Phrags grow on the regular bench in the same mix or even hanging up higher for more light. All the same mix.

 

[chrismende]

Incidentally, I try to keep moss at a minimum, since it eats lots of nutrients and reduces surface aeration...

 

[Erythrone]

No joke about the deer though here in nj; a pack of 21 wandered in front of my car in my way home from work few nights ago . They are taking advantage of the hard, deeper snow to chew in trees and shrubs higher than ever before, eating everything in sight. At work if you leave hoop house doors open they will walk inside and chew lots of things up

Sorry to read this. Do you have problems with Turkeys too? They are new here (thanks to global warming...). They like flower buds of many shrubs... They are able to dig in the hard frozen snow cover. They seem to eat the same plants as ruffed grouse but are much much destructive.

 

[cnycharles]

In central ny where I grew up they were quite scarce until re-introduced; now there are many. When I hunt deer at uncles they practically trip over me when I'm sitting in one spot. They do scratch the ground pretty thoroughly.

In nj I saw one turkey in west orange within a block of my sister's place (like urban suburb). Here in more farm country near penn. I've seen none to my surprise. I'll bet upstate ny turkeys have migrated north to your area after they were reintroduced


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[Erythrone]

In central ny where I grew up they were quite scarce until re-introduced; now there are many. When I hunt deer at uncles they practically trip over me when I'm sitting in one spot. They do scratch the ground pretty thoroughly.

In nj I saw one turkey in west orange within a block of my sister's place (like urban suburb). Here in more farm country near penn. I've seen none to my surprise. I'll bet upstate ny turkeys have migrated north to your area after they were reintroduced


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Yes, some populations are from New England. Turkeys have also been introduced as "game birds" in many areas in the province. Impressive birds. We now often see flocks of 10 to 30 birds on some corn fields.

 

[MaryPientka]

Get live moss, clean preferably , from eBay, mix with or top media with moss, grow orchids.

Thanks