Stanhopea - watering while in spike

I'm hoping to run into this situation with a couple of my plants this year...i water from the bottom, which can't be done with these guys while they're in spike...anyone growing these have any suggestions, tips or tricks?

tia
p

Mike is the Stan. man . all I can tell about is what I did wrong when in spike , I kept it to wet and they rotted . Gin

I grow mine in hanging, slatted wooden baskets, and they get drenched on all sides, in spike or not. Hasn't been a problem at all. Why can you only water yours from the bottom?

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Louis J. Aszod

I water from the bottom - placing them in a cement mixing trough to soak, then drain - to keep from watering my livingroom along with the baskets the new place is pretty much the same; i'll be growing all over, including hanging them from the ceiling under the small skylights. i have a good chance of a few of them spiking this season....

if/when they spike, i'll most likely hang them over the trough and water from the top and sides. i've heard of folks having the rot problem, going so far as to angle the baskets to keep the water away from the spike. figured it was worth asking around, see what i could pick up.....

thanks
p

Ok, I see.

No, I wouldn't submerge the basket and spikes in water. But just getting them wet isn't an issue if you have decent air movement and water early enough in the day to let them dry off by nightfall. I should say--getting them wet hasn't been an issue for me here, but it might be for others. In any case, you're always better off on any plant if spikes and buds don't get wet at all, so if getting them wet is avoidable (reasonably), that's the best way to go.

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Louis J. Aszod

thanks, Louis. pretty sure i'll be able to rig something up that will work. glad i'm not moving them later in the season, at least they'll ride to the new place flat.

p

I would say it would be pretty much impossible to water by soaking with spikes.

The rot is not from overwatering but from lack of air movement. I keep mine soaked most of the year.

good...sounds hopeful...i'll be up on the second floor with good circulation through the space. just have to put together a watering rack so they can hang and drip, maybe something like those foldaway clothes racks only sturdier.....anyway, thanks all

p