SunnyinMichigan said:
Please tell us more! What media are they planted in? It looks like a sphagnum moss mixed with those clay balls. What kind of lighting do you have, your humidity, your temps... Those plants are clearly very happy with the conditions you are providing.
Thank you very much!
I place a layer of rocks in the bottom for drainage (I use white marble chips from Homedepot , washed before using). As for media I used to use a hammock bark from the forest, microwaved it for 1.5-2 minutes before using. Now I switch it to a New Zealand pine bark. I found that this bark work better in a long run. I add some Leca balls to the bark, mix it together, however I am not a big fan of Leca, so not too much of them. The sphagnum moss only on top layer, I do not mix it in.
When I just started this way about 5 years ago, I did not microwaved the bark from the forest, thus some orchids have plants growing inside. It does not bother me if the root system is doing great. If it doesn't - I just replant the orchid.
At first time after replanting, I add water up to the top of the vase and leave it for a few minutes to soak it in. Then pour water out, leaving only on the bottom layer. I try to place orchids roots down to the bottom to reach the water. In a few weeks after replanting, I watch the roots and soak the whole vase every week, if roots are far from the bottom level. Usually the orchid starts to grow roots down pretty fast, but some orchids prefer to get rid of old roots and grow new ones, thicker than they have before.
I call this way to grow orchids an "enclose system". The media should be placed loose, to allow the system to breath. When the system will stabilized, it will be very low maintenance set up with very happy and healthy orchids.
