Cymbidium lowianum - Deflasked 30th Aug 2011 - Media L.E.C.A

[Jason-UK]

This is a flask of Cymbidium Lowianum i decided to try in Hydo media. I had never deflasked orchids before and i have never had Cymbidium's so all in all i dont know what i should be expecting.
My questions/concerns are
1, The orchid pictured on its own is growing twice as fast as any of the others is this usual?
2, I am concerned that some orchid plants have not really grown at all but all have roots growing.?
3, Do you think i should change them to another media due to question 2

Thank you for any help suggestions or comments

[Brutal_Dreamer]

I have not seen anyone deflask into hydro media before, but if you are getting root growth, then let it be. That means they are doing well. Sometimes orchid plants will grow more roots than plant when first starting.

cheers,
BD

[Jason-UK]

Thanks BD,
I did it because I have a very curious nature and like to test new ground sometimes and i thought deflasking straight into hydro without following any rules apart from basic rules of hygiene would be an adventure of truths and also if its successful will prove a good tutorial in the future for others. Orchids in my opinion although still very tempremental have become very hardy with all the new growth methods and such so i thought in for a penny in for pound lets see what happens.

[orchidpeople]

I assume these were seedlings and not a mericlone. If that's true that's why you are seeing divergent growth, and is normal as seedlings are more variable. I generally use a product that is a sponge like plug and is always moist. The advantages are many and you can simply put the whole plug into the grow medium in about 6-8 months from deflasking

[Jason-UK]

Hi Bob,
Yes they were seedlings thanks for letting me know that its normal to get varied growth.

[Halloamey]

Congrats Jason ! Nice babies you got there ! I hope your experiment works out for you, but I had a bad experience with cattleya seedlings deflasked into LECA.

[Jason-UK]

Hi Amey,
Do you have any idea what went wrong so i can i try and avoid that.
I lightly mist these about 6 times a day as they are pretty much on top of the leca so roots get enough i have placed them in the corner of the window ledge so they never get the sun hitting them but benefit from light through the window. i have also misted them with MSU twice since deflasking

[Halloamey]

My LECA pellets were smaller in size like those meant for house plants (I thought that would be a decent choice since the roots on these seedlings were so tiny and thin) I think I also overpotted them so the media wouldn't dry out and that is what killed them ultimately. I think your set up will actually work, you have a bigger size Leca which will dry quickly and you mist them regularly (6x day !! That is commendable) so they will have enough moisture. Good luck and keep us posted.

Hi Amey,
Do you have any idea what went wrong so i can i try and avoid that.
I lightly mist these about 6 times a day as they are pretty much on top of the leca so roots get enough i have placed them in the corner of the window ledge so they never get the sun hitting them but benefit from light through the window. i have also misted them with MSU twice since deflasking

[Jason-UK]

Thanks for sharing that info Amey.
I used the 16mm + Leca as i didnt fancy the idea of the roots getting trapped in the leca. So looks like i made the best choice thier from what you have just said. I hoping to end up with half of them making it as this is my first time deflasking i think thats a realistic outcome for myself.

[orchidpeople]

Cattleya orchids are a totally different animal than ccymbidium orchids. Cymbidiums grow in just about anything as long as you give them water and LOTS of fertilizer. I fertilize mine at least 2x a week with about 275PPM nitrogen plus micros