Well, I have some spare time, and I decided to increase my watering during the summer months. I now will water only twice a week. How often do you water your plants? I know the maxim is when they need it, but I don't have that kind of patience. Everything is going to be watered Sundays and Wednesdays. I use a CHC base mix with spongerock, charcoal, and hydroton pellets. I am excited about only watering once a week with CHC, but I figure after reading, I should water a bit more during the growing season. Any suggestions or critiques? Thanks!
Tadd :evil:

Hi Tadd!
I can only say what seems to be working for me since I have started this schedule, and it has warmed up (I think I've been doing this since maybe April/May.) I have a rotating schedule which seems to work for my days off (when I had them anyway!) of Monday, Saturday, Wednesday, Monday, repeat. If it is really warm, the babies (in 2" pots) will get an in between watering on occasions, maybe Thursday. I've really found that my babies dry out super fast. All the others though are fine w/ about 3-4 days in between. In case you cannot recall, most of my plants are in CHC/Perlite/Diatomite/Charcoal mix, or a small bark seedling mix. Larger Phrags may be in plain bark mix.

I've noticed a lot more root growth in the last few weeks, and lots more growing active tips since I started this schedule.

I usually water twice a week in the summer but I do water more frequently when it is extermely hot, so it all depends.

Sundays and Wednesdays for me as well. Generally in the morning unless temps are expected to be above 35 degrees c (that's about 95 I think) then I water in the evening.

If it rains - I either cover or put of watering depending on the schedule.

Cheers
Stephan

I'm running 95+ days in the shade and checking my pot weight and the tops of the long spag threads daily. It winds up requiring me to water every other day. I also use about 90% clay pots with the rest the clear plastic. You can see moisture on the outside of the clay and weight is more obvious and with the clear ones you can see moisture beads on the inside walls.

It's all a judgement call depending on species and habit and preferences based on plant response.

I water every other day if it hasn't rained. All of my phrags and paphs are completely dried out if I go an extra day. Most of my plants are in s/h.

I water between 2-3 times weekly. It depends on the sun, temperature and humidity. My greenhouse has a humidifier which helps.

I'm all over the place on watering Tadd. On average my paphs are probably getting watered about 3x per week, but there is allot of variation.

Lots are in clear pots, and if I see allot of condensation on the inside of the pot, I won't water it (like Ernie).

I have some big specimen plants that take water every day, there is so much root and leaf mass relative to the amount of potting material they just realy suck it down.

At the cooler end of the GH near the misters the pots never seem to dry much so I only water 1 or 2X per week.

Watering for me is more like driving a car. I just gotta see what each plant is doing, and adjust speed accordingly.

Lots are in clear pots, and if I see allot of condensation on the inside of the pot, I won't water it (like Ernie).

I have some big specimen plants that take water every day, there is so much root and leaf mass relative to the amount of potting material they just realy suck it down.

You know I don't grow GH, but these comments intrigued me.

I have a couple of large plants bordering on specimen (in 6" aircones) that show condensation on the interior from when I water the first day, say Monday, and look to dry out or almost, by the 5th day, Sat. Should I not be trusting this due to knowing the size of the root and leaf mass?

Thanks
Interesting discussion! (Whoa, what? am I surprised? NOT!)

Heather

I would probably stick more to the condensation rather than guestimating by foliage/root mass. One of my "specimen" plants I was refering to is a 8-10 growth philippinense in a 6" pot that gets full sun for 3 or so hours a day, and can get into the 90's. I would guess you are not pushing your plant as hard indoors.

Ok, great! Thanks Rick - that's what I've been using. By day 5 my Berenice (8 growths) is um,...(had to go check!) not showing it any longer, and roots look good. Will stick to the plan, as I thought it was going well. :)

Has anyone tried growing Paphs "semi-hydroponically?" I grow most of my Phrags that way, most of which need watering 2x a week with this method. I started repotting a few of my Paphs semi-hydroponically this Summer, and am finding I need refresh their water only once a week. It's an experiment...

I learned about semi-hydroponic growing from First Rays Orchids: http://firstrays.com/

Has anyone tried growing Paphs "semi-hydroponically?" I grow most of my Phrags that way, most of which need watering 2x a week with this method. I started repotting a few of my Paphs semi-hydroponically this Summer, and am finding I need refresh their water only once a week. It's an experiment...

I learned about semi-hydroponic growing from First Rays Orchids: http://firstrays.com/

:D

Hi Phragfan

I saw a few posts by Ray on this forum recently so I hope he sees yours. I'm in Australia and looking at trialling S/H myself. We're all pretty much "aware" of it; but the use of any cultural approach to growing orchids is usually one of personal choice after the appropriate "tests" :)

Cheers
Stephan

I saw a few posts by Ray on this forum recently so I hope he sees yours. I'm in Australia and looking at trialling S/H myself. We're all pretty much "aware" of it; but the use of any cultural approach to growing orchids is usually one of personal choice after the appropriate "tests" :)

Cheers
Stephan
Hi Stephan,
In fact, I visited Ray's forum after I wrote that note. Apparently, there are a number of people growing Paphs semi-hydroponically. I'm wondering what their experiences/success stories are -- maybe I should ask that question on both forums...

If you do a search here for "mix" you should turn up three or four discussions on what we all use, and Ray has posted in those also.

I have one Phrag in S/H - came to me that way. So far so good. I have a few others I may try after they finish blooming.

If you do a search here for "mix" you should turn up three or four discussions on what we all use, and Ray has posted in those also.

I have one Phrag in S/H - came to me that way. So far so good. I have a few others I may try after they finish blooming.
Thanks! Interesting discussion on the Phrag/Mex/Selen page about growing Phrags sitting in water. I see Ray's post there about his Paphs also.
And lots of other stuff -- I'm too long here today!:!: