Which is better?

[jay]

Well, I think I would like to do a test comparing Worm Tea vs. Water and Semi-Hydro vs. Spag/bark for paphs. It will be a little while before I can buy all the supplies and plants for this test, but I wanted to start kicking some ideas around with you to better plan this experiment.

I know this is a small population size for an experiment, but I do not have the resources to do this large scale. Actually, I have to put some money on the side to do this small scale.

12 Paph seedlings from same flask
2 seedlings per pot
all pots in same area for similar humidity/light/air movement.

Hydro Pots
1 - control hydro - receives standard water with nutrients/misted w/ H2O
2 - worm tea pot - watered and misted with only Worm Tea
3 - worm tea/fert - watered and misted with Worm Tea and lightly fertalized with conventional fertilizers, possibly organic.


Standard Pots - Done with recommended spag/bark mix for paph seedlings
1 - control spag - receives standard water with nutrients/misted w/H2O
2 - worm tea - watered and misted with only Worm Tea
3 - worm tea/fert - watered and misted with Worm Tea and lightly fertalized with conventional fertalizers, possibly organic.


Now where I need some suggestions. When is the best time of year to work with flasks/new seedlings? What Paph would you suggest for such a test? Preferably a faster growing one that we could see quicker results, or would it be better to run a slower one?

I know that Jerry ran a smaller scale test when first working with Worm Tea, but I just wanted to test larger scale. Any thoughts or ideas would be welcome. Also, remember that I am not ready to start this right away. This is the planning/learning stage so that I don't kill a dozen little paphs all at once.


Jay

[kmarch]

I'd get a Maudiae-type hybrid as they are usually fairly vigorous and fast growing. I'd deflask in spring.

[jay]

Perfect for time. I should have more than enough time to get everything by then.

I will start looking at Maudiae-type hybrids now to get ideas. Thanks for the help.


jay

[_cor]

Just to add a further note.

Have you considered using mericlone’s as apposed to seedlings? You would however need to change to something that can be mericloned. i.e. not Paph's

Reason being; Seedling can and do grow at different rates. Some will be better growers than others. Meaning, that you will be unable to tell if the plant is growing well in a particular mix or if in fact its just a really good grower or in reverse if the plant grows poorly in a mix, you wont be able to tell if the poor growth is because of the mix or if its because the seedling is a poor grower. Just like people different orchid siblings grow at different rates.

If you where to select mericlone’s, these all come from the same mother plant and "should" all grow the same.

Just food for thought and I hope it makes sense!

cor

[mayres]

Jay - cor has an excellent point. With the population size that you are thinking of using you will not be able to get any significant data (IMHO) because you will have genetic variation between plants even if all grown in exactly the same conditions. To get statistically relevant data you will need significant numbers of plants. Of course you can enjoy the project and potentially learn some things, but I'd be very careful about drawing universal conclusions to apply to populations in general from that small of test. I think you will find university tests comparing variables utilizing hundreds of identical plants to compare each single change in variables. It does take money and resources.

[jay]

Thanks for the advice. This is why I wanted to ask now instead of just jumping in without any planning.



Jay

[pikevi]

_cor and mayres are absolutely right is their suggestions. If you keep the variables to a minimum ,less skewed will be the end result of your experiment. I cannot be more specific on orchids since I have no clue on the different types of orchids and their behaviour.

Statistically the number does not really matter ( I am sorry mayres) in your case, since it is an experiment conducted at home and the results are not going to be published as a research paper. mayres is dead on the mark for science experiments.

BTW, I do experiment with little things like that if I have more than one plant. It will help us to learn more and also keep the process of caring for plants more interesting.

Good luck.