Right or Wrong?

[orchidea]

This catt was growing in S/H, but his roots were in the reservoir all the way at the bottom, there was way too much junk in the container,

and I could see some bad roots.



So I took a very deep breath and with a lot of effort (it didn't want to come out) pulled it out....

Don't you like how curvy the roots are from pushing themselfs through the LECA.....
I removed few bad roots, pour some boiling water 3 times through the same prewashed LECA, soaked the LECA for few minutes in superthrive and just potted into a ceramic pot with holes at the bottom...
I couldn't find tall enough container to accomodate the lenght of the roots for a plastic S/H, and I didn't want to cut them either....
So here it is in the new pot with a little water in the bottom dish. At least I know that the roots are above the water level for right now.........

So, RIGHT or WRONG?
All comments are welcomed and greatly appreciated.........

[Joe Geoffroy]

Orchidea
That's a good question, I also would like to hear from others who know or have tried it.

I have the same problem with the plastic pot getting full of mold, I think that being in a pot like you have would tend to dry out more quickly

Thanks for your question I'll await a reply

Joe
ps...... those roots look great

[PocoGigio]

Wow. Nice roots. Lots of my semihydroponic roots are in the reservoir. So far, haven't seen any ill effects from them in the water. In the water or out? I don't really think it matters but lets see what the experts say.
PS-If you need a bigger, tall pot, try a bathroom, clear plastic (some are tinted) trash bucket from the Walmart bath shop and melt a couple holes in the side. They're about $6.

[syndywindy]

I have several growing in S/H and usually the only time I get algae is when they are outdoors for the summer. Algae won't hurt anything but sure does look ugly. I will usually clean my pots up before bringing them inside for the winter. As far as the roots go, eventually you will get roots that dive down into the resevoir, they have adjusted to the conditions. Unless the roots are black and mushy, I leave them alone and can generally replace them in the same pot. Sometimes I need a bigger pot, but I never remove the hydroton that is attached to the roots.

[tangers40]

yay, i have the exact same algae problem in my s/h plants. that's my project for my school break....clean all my gunky algae pots.

i have a couple of my large catts growing similar to your second method, orchidea. i have them in regular plastic 6 inch pots which sit inside a (deep) plant saucer full of water. they seem to be doing well this way. and my theory is if the new roots of the plant had grown into the water reservoir of the old pot, it's ok to submerge them in water in the new pot since they've adapted to this. i've tested this theory with a couple phals and they are ok with it....i'm sure catts would be too.

[sunshine]

Nice healthy looking roots and great growing I have no catts in s/h. But I do have the problem with algae building up in the reseviors. I just soak them in the kitchen sink with some hot water and some Dawn w/bleach. Then get the scrub brush out or I use a paper towel to wash them out. Rinse well with hot water and just air dry.

I have been debating on whether or not to try a catt in s/h. There all doing good in coco chip bark and perlite.

[Ray]

It's algae, not mold. It does absolutely no harm to the plant at all. In fact, some feel it helps absorb the orchid's waste products. In the rare case I want to reuse a pot, I just stick it in the dishwasher.

As others have noted, roots that grow into the reservoir are fine - the cells tailor themselves to it as they grow. If you pot up a plant and accidentally submerge the roots when you do, that's an entirely different matter.

I doubt there will be any issue with "unsubmerging" such roots, as they're still going to be deep in the medium where it stays constantly moist.

[orchids4me]

Very informative thread
Thank you
Emmaye