I want to share with you something, that although they are some of the options of our cylinder pots for Cattleyas and the tallest for phal and dendrobium, it surely gives you ideas and clarifies some concept.
Bearing in mind that substrates for orchid pots have two main functions:
– provide the necessary humidity
– while keeping it aerated,
Currently, there are several types of substrate and systems. Thus, the art of cultivation largely consists of adapting these to achieve the necessary parameters in our plants and those that each grower is used to handling.
Bearing in mind that I mainly use Arlite in combination with charcoal, and sometimes some coco powder.
The Arlite is Expanded Clay (also called LECA), which has a low water holding capacity, relatively low capillarity and excellent aeration, makes it a good substrate optimal when combined with other methods either semi-hydroponics or moisture reservoirs, or without anything in winter when what is sought is the rapid drying of the substrate.
Here are some examples of how to work with Orchidcork pots, depending on whether we want the substrate to dry out, or if on the contrary we are looking for a constant humid environment, to a greater or lesser extent.
1.- MONEDITAS: The pots are supported on “little clay coins” which makes the air pass through the sides and under the pots which provides a faster drying of these.
2 WATER RESERVOIR:
A reservoir is placed, which gives different options depending on the humidity and the amount of humidity to be achieved.
THE WATER RESERVOIR IS ENAMELED TO PREVENT WATER LOSS.
2.a- SEMI-HIDROPONY RESERVOIR PURE WITH WICK:
By means of the capillarity of the wick that transmits the water to the pot, it is achieved that the substrate of the pot has a constant humidity.
However, this humidity can be more uniform if it is made with a material of greater capillarity and with greater humidity maintenance, such as pine bark, moss or coconut.
Personally, I consider it risky for Cattleyas.
2.b SEMI-HYDROPONIC RESERVOIR MEDIUM WITHOUT WICKER.
In this case, as there is no wick and due to the low capillarity of the Arlite of barely 30%, the pot is kept at a constant humidity but lower than in the wick system.
2.c WATER EVAPORATION RESERVOIR.
In this system the water is not in contact with the substrate of the pot, so there is no capillarization, therefore it can not be confused with the Semihydroponics, in this case it is achieved that the roots do not have the stress of being completely dry in the summer months.
With this case you get the same effect that is achieved by placing moss at the bottom of the pots, to keep the humidity higher, with the advantage that in the winter months when we want to give rest to our plants by removing the reservoir is enough.
However, with moss, it always remains at the bottom of the pot, so the humidity will be more difficult to modify in the winter months.
It should be noted that in this case, since there is no capillarization, the salts or fertilizers remaining in the deposit do not accumulate either.
I have glued with white silicone to a glass one half of reservoir and pot to see the different options, the silicone does not come in the pots.
