Did the change over

[sunshine]

from bark to s/h and it was worth it All my water hogs got changed over to s/h. I did this about 3 weeks ago and they all look healthy and very happy. No signs of stress. My milts love it and so did this little guy

From this




To this


Went to repot my Blc Hawaii Stars and it divided both plants have got some nice new roots so I put one in bark and the other in s/h and now just wait and see. I also put Phrag. Magdaline Rose x wallissi in s/h and it also looks happy

[patticake]

Nice! I like to compare growing conditions with 2 plants., also. They look great!!!

[PocoGigio]

I started changing over about 6 months ago even tho I was major skeptical. Took awhile to do over 200. I did the Paphs first - about a dozen. Today I decanted all the paphs to put in nicer pots and check the roots. They are doing just what Ray said they would! The old roots seemed to mostly to have rotted off but the new roots have taken off. All nice and hairy. And, the growths are getting new leaves (no new growths yet, tho).
Watching old roots rot is freaky and I thought I killed all 200+. But this is supposed to happen during changeover. I am an s/h convert. The worst part about the changeover, imo, is the stress of the mechanical attack on the root system to get out all the old media and dead stuff. I felt like Norman Bates! Time will tell on the rest of them but so far I haven't lost a one due to s/h. I suspect I will have to revisit every one during this changeover year to clean out the old, rotted, pre-s/h roots.
Sunshine, its seems the more water lover an orchid is (like Phrags) the less stress the transition. I will try the spag or live moss from my creek to top the phrags off. I think that Ray's advice of timing the changeover with new root growth is especially important on the ones that are not normally kept moist like Catts. I bet you'll eventually change over the other Blc when you see the other go to town!
Thanks Ray and all in this forum for the encouragement and know-how. Couldn't have done it without you.

[-k-]

Nice work Sunshine! Keep posting your progress!

Originally Posted by PocoGigio

I will try the spag or live moss from my creek to top the phrags off.

I started with one and now have 3 in S/H, all were non-bloomers and putting off new roots, I did top them off with some Sphag to help retain a bit more moisture during the transition. So far so good!

[sunshine]

Here's a little update

Blc Hawaii Stars

The one I did in bark has new roots and a new growth

The other in s/h I took out and inspected and talk about stink EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW. Smelled like a nasty old swamp That smell is from dead,rotted roots. Its does have one new root started. So I gave a drink of superthrive and am gonna leave it for a little bit and see what happens.

This little guy here is growing like crazy. Not only plenty of white/green roots but new growths as well I have noticed black spots on the leaves in different places. I treated with a fungicide for just in caseI use Garden Safe Fungicide and it has the Neem Oil in and does it ever stink

The next time I am will get some nice root pics

http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/att...r-sa400620.jpg

[-k-]

Happy to see an update!
but where's the pic of the S/H one?
New roots are good! I haven't notice the smell thing yet but mine are also doing well... I've got take some new pics of the progress one of these days

[sunshine]

Originally Posted by -K-

Happy to see an update!
but where's the pic of the S/H one?
New roots are good! I haven't notice the smell thing yet but mine are also doing well... I've got take some new pics of the progress one of these days

The pic of the s/h one is in the link at the bottom of my post. I used this pic so you would know which plant I was talking about.

The black spots disappeared after one application of the fungicide.

[-k-]

Oops missed that!
Tkx... Keep the updates coming.

[sunshine]

~Update~

On Blc. Hawaii Stars.

The one in planted in bark is doing fine New growth and new roots.

So day when I was watering etc I checked out the one in s/h and it didn't look very happy One new root and another trying to grow and the leaves all wrinkled. So made up some of the Recipe and soaked for awhile. Leaves look much better. Repotted in the smallest pot I had w/coco chip bark,perlite and some hydroton. Gave a good drink of superthrive

[maiseymoo]

I made the change with 3 about six-eight weeks ago and all is looking good for me so far, new roots everywhere which is good. One of them lost a leaf but think that it would have lost it if it would have stayed in the bark. Oh, tell a lie, I have four in s/h now, I got a NOID at a bargin price and repotted as soon as I got it home and it hasn't lost any buds of anything and looks like it has new growth.

Thanks for the updates, how is the one with wrinkled leaves???

[sunshine]

Originally Posted by maiseymoo

I made the change with 3 about six-eight weeks ago and all is looking good for me so far, new roots everywhere which is good. One of them lost a leaf but think that it would have lost it if it would have stayed in the bark. Oh, tell a lie, I have four in s/h now, I got a NOID at a bargin price and repotted as soon as I got it home and it hasn't lost any buds of anything and looks like it has new growth.

Thanks for the updates, how is the one with wrinkled leaves???

The one with the wrinkled leaves looked a lot better after a soaking in the Recipe. Here is the recipe for the Recipe

You will need a container large enough for the chid you will be soaking.

2 tablespoons sugar
1 capful of Superthrive

Enough warm water to cover the chid you will be soaking. Most of my small chids will fit in a good size mixing bowl. Take a spoon and mix then just put your chid into soak. It can be 15-20 min or longer depending on how wrinkled and dehydrated it looks.

[Ray]

A few comments seem appropriate here:

I highly recommend against a wholesale change-over to s/h. It is best to repot when new growths and especially new roots are growing. it is doubtful that every plant in a collection is in the same growth cycle stage.

We expect the old, non-s/h roots to die and decompose. If you water frequently, the decomposition products get flushed out, controlling the odor better.

Under-pot heating REALLY accelerates root growth, helping plants get established much more quickly, and encouraging root growth is stubborn plants.

I used to use the sugar/rooting hormone soak myself, then a plant-biologist friend pointed out that as orchid "sap" is so much more dilute than that of most plants (on the order of 25%), and that the sugar in the soak may actually be harmful, especially if fairly concentrated (it can draw water from the plant). I switched to plain water and K-L-N, and still get great results on desiccated plants.

[exasperatus2002]

Originally Posted by sunshine

Here's a little update

Blc Hawaii Stars

The one I did in bark has new roots and a new growth

The other in s/h I took out and inspected and talk about stink EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW. Smelled like a nasty old swamp That smell is from dead,rotted roots. Its does have one new root started. So I gave a drink of superthrive and am gonna leave it for a little bit and see what happens.

This little guy here is growing like crazy. Not only plenty of white/green roots but new growths as well I have noticed black spots on the leaves in different places. I treated with a fungicide for just in caseI use Garden Safe Fungicide and it has the Neem Oil in and does it ever stink

The next time I am will get some nice root pics

http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/att...r-sa400620.jpg

Make sure when you water it your flushing it every time. This will help keep any fouling down which will also affect new root growth. You want to let the water flow thru to flush out any excess salts & fouling. I've got 3/4th of mine done now.

[sunshine]

Originally Posted by exasperatus2002

Make sure when you water it your flushing it every time. This will help keep any fouling down which will also affect new root growth. You want to let the water flow thru to flush out any excess salts & fouling. I've got 3/4th of mine done now.

I do a flush once a week when I do my watering. I just hold the pot under the faucet and let it run down thru then I wash out the reservoir so there's no slimy build up. Blc. Hawaii Stars so far has been the only one giving me that nasty swamp smell. I've also been using a 10-15-10 fertilizer very weakly. These guys are doing great. New roots and new growths.So far so good all my water hogs are happy

Vuylstekeara ALOHA SPARKS 'RUBY EYE'
Bak. Samurai 'warrior'

[sunshine]

UPDATE


I have 2 milts that I put in s/h and here is one result. and I think it is red

Milt. Hajime Ono 'Okika'

[amersault]

talk about dramatic turnaround! your Milt looks great! good growing and can't wait to see it bloom!

[-k-]

Wow! great results, we have alot of new growth with our S/H plants and the new roots seem to be really adjusting now!
Great growing~

[trinigirl]

Wow, how nice and healthy, congrats on the spike!

[sunshine]

~ Another update~

This chid wasn't in bloom when I got it. So this is the first bloom on this chid for me

I just love the suprises I find when I'm watering

I found Vuylstekeara ALOHA SPARKS 'RUBY EYE' in spike

It would have had 2 spikes but the first one was caught in the leaf and I decided to try and help it along and I broke it

[sunshine]

~UPDATE~
This is my first s/h to be in full bloom. I knew with the name Ruby it had to be red. No fragrance.
Vuylstekeara ALOHA SPARKS 'RUBY EYE'




Milt. Hajime Ono 'Okika' This one is starting to tease me by letting the color show thru the buds. This one sure is taking it's time.

[trinigirl]

Good growing!

[sunshine]

~UPDATE~

Phrag. Magdalena Rose x wallissii almost went to orchid heaven I had seen no changes, no new roots etc So today I was cleaning up and doing some repotting. So I took a little peak and here is what I found. 2 new growths and a nub or 2 that resembles new roots So I took it out of the s/h and put it back into coco chip bark and perlite. I'll probably wished I'd left it in s/h