#1: How Bout This
Posted on 2006-06-07 15:59:07 by chendrikson
Growing Phals in chunks of chopped up kitchen sponges. Aren't they
treated with mild anti-microbials anyway ?? Me thinks this is a good
idea.
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#2: Re: How Bout This
Posted on 2006-06-07 17:27:00 by Susan Erickson
On 7 Jun 2006 06:59:07 -0700, chendrikson@gmail.com wrote:
>Growing Phals in chunks of chopped up kitchen sponges. Aren't they
>treated with mild anti-microbials anyway ?? Me thinks this is a good
>idea.
People have grown orchids in chopped up tires and everything else.
Try it. I would fear the water holding capacity might be too great.
I use plastic peanuts (shipping peanuts) to hold my Ascda. upright in
vanda baskets. I have to add moss to the top to keep the water wand
from shooting peanuts all over the gh. It also adds a bit of moisture
retention that the peanuts don't have.
Please let us know how it works.
Anyone else want to tell what unconventional 'potting mix' you use?
SuE
http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/main.php
Report this message |
#3: Re: How Bout This
Posted on 2006-06-07 19:15:58 by armyguy
How would you grow them, in a whole sponge or would you cut it up into
blocks?
If your going to cut it up in to blocks, you could just use rockwool,
but I had no luck with phals in rockwool, too wet it kills the roots,
I think that if you wanted to grow a phal in a basket or mounted a
sponge might work to keep the moisture.
Jack
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#4: Re: How Bout This
Posted on 2006-06-07 20:08:02 by chendrikson
Yeah Im thinking rather coarse chunks of sponge, as in cut up. I
imagine it would work...I mean commercial phals are grown in soppy
soaking wet disgusting piles of rotten sphagnum...Sponge technique has
gotta work.
Jack wrote:
> How would you grow them, in a whole sponge or would you cut it up into
> blocks?
>
> If your going to cut it up in to blocks, you could just use rockwool,
> but I had no luck with phals in rockwool, too wet it kills the roots,
> I think that if you wanted to grow a phal in a basket or mounted a
> sponge might work to keep the moisture.
>
> Jack
Report this message |
#5: Re: How Bout This
Posted on 2006-06-07 20:46:19 by Diana Kulaga
We've moved almost all our Phals into Aliflor. I'm thinking about trying one
in S/H, too. We use spag if we need to root a plant or if mounting.
Down at Redland this year, we noticed that the growers are really trending
away from bark mixes. There are exceptions, of course, but I saw more Catts
in Aliflor/CHC/charcoal mixes than before. Of course, we repot once we get
home and the flowers are gone, but IMO the roots on these plants are in much
better condition than those of the plants in those mud mixes.
Diana
Report this message |
#6: Re: How Bout This
Posted on 2006-06-07 20:55:26 by chendrikson
Exactly. This is why I am never touching bark and soggy spagh in
mature plants ever again.
I'd ask you what Aliflor is, but I'll just Google it. Thanks for the
info ! Keep it coming. There's gotta be better alternatives out there,
and Im convinced they're the way to go.
Diana Kulaga wrote:
> We've moved almost all our Phals into Aliflor. I'm thinking about trying one
> in S/H, too. We use spag if we need to root a plant or if mounting.
>
> Down at Redland this year, we noticed that the growers are really trending
> away from bark mixes. There are exceptions, of course, but I saw more Catts
> in Aliflor/CHC/charcoal mixes than before. Of course, we repot once we get
> home and the flowers are gone, but IMO the roots on these plants are in much
> better condition than those of the plants in those mud mixes.
>
> Diana
Report this message |
#7: Re: How Bout This
Posted on 2006-06-07 20:57:16 by Diana Kulaga
Sorry. About the sponge: repotting could turn into a minor nightmare, no?
And, it's not infrequent for me to pick up a sponge next to the sink and
smell mildew, no matter how clean I try to keep them.
Just sayin'.
Diana
Report this message |
#8: Re: How Bout This
Posted on 2006-06-07 22:44:42 by chendrikson
The sponge can definatly get funky...but at least they're made of
synthetic stuff that won't rot. If its home to mildew, meh...maybe a
lil' stinky but that's not too big a deal. I would say that they never
come CLOSE to the cornucopia of stuff found in bark and moss.
About the repotting : Nightmare to clean all the little sponge chunks
from the roots ?? The roots will cling to the sponge chunks ?
Yeah...that probably will be ugly...but how would that be different
than the aliflor (that I looked up) ?
Diana Kulaga wrote:
> Sorry. About the sponge: repotting could turn into a minor nightmare, no?
> And, it's not infrequent for me to pick up a sponge next to the sink and
> smell mildew, no matter how clean I try to keep them.
>
> Just sayin'.
>
> Diana
Report this message |
#9: Re: How Bout This
Posted on 2006-06-07 23:39:44 by Diana Kulaga
Well, mildew is fungal, if I'm not mistaken (I could be). You wouldn't want
any kind of fungal substance in that pot, IMHO. And if I'm wrong about that,
still, who wants "stinky" around the Phals? Anyway, I agree about bark and
moss. I do not use any bark at all, because I have no feel for it and don't
like to dig the stuff out when I repot. Spaghnum has its place, especially
when trying to rescue something and give it some new roots.
As far as the repotting is concerned, Aliflor is a piece of cake, especially
with Phals. To be sure, Aliflor can get wrapped up in roots, but considering
the way Phal roots grow, it's not much of a deal. It's more of an issue when
repotting a Catt or Den that has overgrown its pot, but even then, it's a
walk in the park compared to bark. And it doesn't break down, so repotting
can be put off for a much longer period of time than with bark or moss.
Having said all that, one of the safest ways I've found to grow Phals is in
a slat basket, hung tipped so that the plant cannot retain water in the
crown, and in that case I use spaghnum moss. It dries out quickly in my
environment and the plants which I grow that way love it. One of the big
problems with moss is using it in plastic pots. The **** stuff never dries
out that way. I have a huge Phal in clay and spag right now, and it dries
rather quickly. Still, when it's finished blooming, into Aliflor it goes.
Anyway, there are as many media for orchids as there are orchid fanatics
like us. Never hurts to try something new!
Diana
Report this message |
#10: Re: How Bout This
Posted on 2006-06-08 02:37:27 by Susan Erickson
On Wed, 7 Jun 2006 17:39:44 -0400, "Diana Kulaga"
<diandfrankcat@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> I have a huge Phal in clay and spag right now, and it dries
>rather quickly. Still, when it's finished blooming, into Aliflor it goes.
>
>Anyway, there are as many media for orchids as there are orchid fanatics
>like us. Never hurts to try something new!
>
>Diana
>
Repotting in Aliflor is easy. Pick the plant up. Check for dead,
decay, mushy roots -- none found = Stick it in a pot and pour fresh
aliflor in to fill it up. OH some stuck to the roots - no worry. The
stuff is not rotting. IF you flush your pots well it is not full of
chemicals or salts... it belongs to this plant just as if the plant
were growing in the wild. Less disturbance of roots.
My only problem has been with the summer cym breaking pots because the
root ball became too large and too strong. Cym Golden Elf has broken
out 3 times. They push up in the pot about 1-1.5 inches then they
just split the plastic pots. Now when one is sitting a bit high I
look for a split starting. Can not adequate water S/H if the pot is
split. <G>
SuE
http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/main.php
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#11: Re: How Bout This
Posted on 2006-06-08 03:04:58 by Ray
Sue, et al.
I finally got in the EpiWeb from Europe, and the granulated material is
great for supporting newly potted plants in baskets or pots.
EpiWeb, if it's new to you, is a "synthetic tree fern" made from recycled
PET bottles. It's springier than tree fern, so can be slightly compressed
without damaging the plants, and it sort-of "locks into" itself, holding
things in place without affecting free air flow.
--
Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Artwork, Books and Lots of Free Info!
"Susan Erickson" <sue@evilsoft.org> wrote in message
news:frrd82p07l6n1aed8qpsrdgr9tmnli1elj@4ax.com...
> On 7 Jun 2006 06:59:07 -0700, chendrikson@gmail.com wrote:
>
>>Growing Phals in chunks of chopped up kitchen sponges. Aren't they
>>treated with mild anti-microbials anyway ?? Me thinks this is a good
>>idea.
>
>
> People have grown orchids in chopped up tires and everything else.
> Try it. I would fear the water holding capacity might be too great.
> I use plastic peanuts (shipping peanuts) to hold my Ascda. upright in
> vanda baskets. I have to add moss to the top to keep the water wand
> from shooting peanuts all over the gh. It also adds a bit of moisture
> retention that the peanuts don't have.
>
> Please let us know how it works.
>
> Anyone else want to tell what unconventional 'potting mix' you use?
> SuE
> http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/main.php
Report this message |
#12: Re: How Bout This
Posted on 2006-06-08 03:55:07 by Pete-Paphraguy
On Wed, 7 Jun 2006 18:04:58 -0700, Ray wrote
(in article <CIudnSIdguh56hrZnZ2dnUVZ_vednZ2d@comcast.com>):
> Sue, et al.
>
> I finally got in the EpiWeb from Europe, and the granulated material is
> great for supporting newly potted plants in baskets or pots.
>
> EpiWeb, if it's new to you, is a "synthetic tree fern" made from recycled
> PET bottles. It's springier than tree fern, so can be slightly compressed
> without damaging the plants, and it sort-of "locks into" itself, holding
> things in place without affecting free air flow.
How would you use it, Ray? For mounting? In a pot? Will this change your
fondness for S/H?
Tom
Walnut Creek, CA
Nikon D70
Report this message |
#13: Re: How Bout This
Posted on 2006-06-08 05:02:22 by bobc
On the subject - I don't recall ever seeing anyone advocating Loofa
sponge? Has anyone tried it? I have a piece from my wife's pampering
body stuff and am thinking of mounting an Angraecum calceolus to it -
but it's the only angreacum I have and don't want to risk it yet - I'm
a chicken!
Bob
> Please let us know how it works.
>
> Anyone else want to tell what unconventional 'potting mix' you use?
> SuE
> http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/main.php
Report this message |
#14: Re: How Bout This
Posted on 2006-06-08 07:44:15 by Reka
Ray wrote:
> Sue, et al.
>
> I finally got in the EpiWeb from Europe, and the granulated material is
> great for supporting newly potted plants in baskets or pots.
>
> EpiWeb, if it's new to you, is a "synthetic tree fern" made from recycled
> PET bottles. It's springier than tree fern, so can be slightly compressed
> without damaging the plants, and it sort-of "locks into" itself, holding
> things in place without affecting free air flow.
>
How about the slabs? I am anxiously waiting for my sample order which
they sent on June 1st.
Reka
Report this message |
#15: Re: How Bout This
Posted on 2006-06-08 12:11:48 by Ray
Tom,
It's a totally different animal from anything semi-hydroponics related.
Think a direct substitute for tree fern. About the only thing in common is
the inert nature.
It's available in slabs for rafts and mounting (they should have arrived by
now), pots, hanging baskets, pots with a mesh bottom for bottom-spiking
plants like stanhopeas, and as a granular chunk for use as a medium
ingredient or alone.
--
Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Artwork, Books and Lots of Free Info!
"tbell" <nobody@home.com> wrote in message
news:0001HW.C0ACD18B00150DCCF0284530@news.giganews.com...
> On Wed, 7 Jun 2006 18:04:58 -0700, Ray wrote
> (in article <CIudnSIdguh56hrZnZ2dnUVZ_vednZ2d@comcast.com>):
>
>> Sue, et al.
>>
>> I finally got in the EpiWeb from Europe, and the granulated material is
>> great for supporting newly potted plants in baskets or pots.
>>
>> EpiWeb, if it's new to you, is a "synthetic tree fern" made from recycled
>> PET bottles. It's springier than tree fern, so can be slightly
>> compressed
>> without damaging the plants, and it sort-of "locks into" itself, holding
>> things in place without affecting free air flow.
>
> How would you use it, Ray? For mounting? In a pot? Will this change your
> fondness for S/H?
> Tom
> Walnut Creek, CA
> Nikon D70
>
Report this message |
#16: Re: How Bout This
Posted on 2006-06-08 12:13:27 by Ray
Fortunately, the slabs I'll be getting are made in the US to save on
shipping. Hopefully they'll arrive soon.
I do have a leafless plant on a sample I got from Sweden. So far, so good.
--
Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Artwork, Books and Lots of Free Info!
"Reka" <rhukariNOWAY@rolmail.net> wrote in message
news:H7CdnaeDUYutJBrZnZ2dnUVZ8smdnZ2d@kpnqwest.it...
> Ray wrote:
>> Sue, et al.
>>
>> I finally got in the EpiWeb from Europe, and the granulated material is
>> great for supporting newly potted plants in baskets or pots.
>>
>> EpiWeb, if it's new to you, is a "synthetic tree fern" made from recycled
>> PET bottles. It's springier than tree fern, so can be slightly
>> compressed without damaging the plants, and it sort-of "locks into"
>> itself, holding things in place without affecting free air flow.
>>
> How about the slabs? I am anxiously waiting for my sample order which they
> sent on June 1st.
>
> Reka
Report this message |
#17: Re: How Bout This
Posted on 2006-06-08 15:38:30 by Susan Erickson
On 7 Jun 2006 20:02:22 -0700, "bobc" <nabday100496@msn.com> wrote:
>On the subject - I don't recall ever seeing anyone advocating Loofa
>sponge? Has anyone tried it? I have a piece from my wife's pampering
>body stuff and am thinking of mounting an Angraecum calceolus to it -
>but it's the only angreacum I have and don't want to risk it yet - I'm
>a chicken!
>Bob
>
I did not use that - I used a cactus spine that I picked up in a
garden center in AZ. But the problem is they decompose faster than a
sturdy branch... and a big hanging plant on a branch is at its best
just before the branch falls apart.
Loofa can decompose quite rappidly.
SuE
http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/main.php
Report this message |
#18: Re: How Bout This
Posted on 2006-06-09 03:06:24 by bobc
Thanks for the input SuE. I was wondering about the decoposition rate
- I'm not sure where loofa comes from, but it sure looks organic. I
think I'll pot it up and water it like my other plants as an
experiment. Before I sacrifice a division of something.
Bob
Susan Erickson wrote:
> On 7 Jun 2006 20:02:22 -0700, "bobc" <nabday100496@msn.com> wrote:
>
> >On the subject - I don't recall ever seeing anyone advocating Loofa
> >sponge? Has anyone tried it? I have a piece from my wife's pampering
> >body stuff and am thinking of mounting an Angraecum calceolus to it -
> >but it's the only angreacum I have and don't want to risk it yet - I'm
> >a chicken!
> >Bob
> >
> I did not use that - I used a cactus spine that I picked up in a
> garden center in AZ. But the problem is they decompose faster than a
> sturdy branch... and a big hanging plant on a branch is at its best
> just before the branch falls apart.
>
> Loofa can decompose quite rappidly.
> SuE
> http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/main.php
Report this message |
#19: Re: How Bout This
Posted on 2006-06-09 04:11:05 by Susan Erickson
On 8 Jun 2006 18:06:24 -0700, "bobc" <nabday100496@msn.com> wrote:
>Thanks for the input SuE. I was wondering about the decoposition rate
>- I'm not sure where loofa comes from, but it sure looks organic. I
>think I'll pot it up and water it like my other plants as an
>experiment. Before I sacrifice a division of something.
>Bob
>
Loofa is basicly a gourd. The dried fibrous part of the fruit of a
plant of the genus Luffa; used as a washing sponge or strainer to be
abxolutely accurate.
SuE
http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/main.php
Report this message |
#20: Re: How Bout This
Posted on 2006-06-09 06:34:34 by John Varigos
Ray
I have just been looking at your Epiweb pots/baskets photos on your web
page.
I have a few questions:
1. From your experience, do the roots actually enter the medium or grow
along the surface?
2. If a Stanhopea established itself in your hanging baskets and grew
towards the sides of the pot, would the flower spike be able to work its way
through the Epiweb? As you know, the spikes don't always grow straight down
and often grow at an angle to the bulb therefore more than likely to hit the
side.
3. Is the colour depicted on your web page accurate and does it
fade/discolour with time.
4. Being made of recycled PET, I presume the pH is neutral (7). Is this
correct?
Epiweb certainly looks like a possible viable alternative to tree fern.
Cheers
John
"Ray" <raybark@firstrays.com> wrote in message
news:JKydnXJrK9_vZRrZnZ2dnUVZ_oOdnZ2d@comcast.com...
> Tom,
>
> It's a totally different animal from anything semi-hydroponics related.
> Think a direct substitute for tree fern. About the only thing in common
> is the inert nature.
>
> It's available in slabs for rafts and mounting (they should have arrived
> by now), pots, hanging baskets, pots with a mesh bottom for bottom-spiking
> plants like stanhopeas, and as a granular chunk for use as a medium
> ingredient or alone.
>
> --
>
> Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
> Plants, Supplies, Artwork, Books and Lots of Free Info!
>
>
> "tbell" <nobody@home.com> wrote in message
> news:0001HW.C0ACD18B00150DCCF0284530@news.giganews.com...
>> On Wed, 7 Jun 2006 18:04:58 -0700, Ray wrote
>> (in article <CIudnSIdguh56hrZnZ2dnUVZ_vednZ2d@comcast.com>):
>>
>>> Sue, et al.
>>>
>>> I finally got in the EpiWeb from Europe, and the granulated material is
>>> great for supporting newly potted plants in baskets or pots.
>>>
>>> EpiWeb, if it's new to you, is a "synthetic tree fern" made from
>>> recycled
>>> PET bottles. It's springier than tree fern, so can be slightly
>>> compressed
>>> without damaging the plants, and it sort-of "locks into" itself, holding
>>> things in place without affecting free air flow.
>>
>> How would you use it, Ray? For mounting? In a pot? Will this change your
>> fondness for S/H?
>> Tom
>> Walnut Creek, CA
>> Nikon D70
>>
>
>
Report this message |
#21: Re: How Bout This
Posted on 2006-06-09 06:57:49 by Kye
Loofa can also be the central stalk of some marine seaweeds.
Cheers
Kye.
"Susan Erickson" <sue@evilsoft.org> wrote in message
news:g2mh82hfk9jptb21ab0b9eqq404sq6hcuq@4ax.com...
> On 8 Jun 2006 18:06:24 -0700, "bobc" <nabday100496@msn.com> wrote:
>
> >Thanks for the input SuE. I was wondering about the decoposition rate
> >- I'm not sure where loofa comes from, but it sure looks organic. I
> >think I'll pot it up and water it like my other plants as an
> >experiment. Before I sacrifice a division of something.
> >Bob
> >
> Loofa is basicly a gourd. The dried fibrous part of the fruit of a
> plant of the genus Luffa; used as a washing sponge or strainer to be
> abxolutely accurate.
>
>
> SuE
> http://orchids.legolas.org/gallery/main.php
Report this message |
#22: Re: EpiWeb (was How Bout This)
Posted on 2006-06-09 12:06:37 by Ray
John,
My experience is very limited - I got samples in early April, and have only
experimented with two plants so-far. One is a leafless chiloschista doing
OK on a slab, the other is the oncidium I believe I mentioned earlier, that
is in an EpiWeb basket of the granulated medium. - so some of my responses
will be based upon hearsay from European users.
Looks to me like the roots do both - grow into the medium as well as along
the surface. The finer the roots, the greater the tendency to penetrate,
but even vanda roots will likely penetrate the substrate.
Just like a solid pot of tree fern, I think it is doubtful that the
stanhopea spike would penetrate the sidewall of the pot, but I don't think
it would have a problem pushing aside the granulated medium. They're sort
of like little blocks of stiff sponge in texture, so there is some "give",
unlike tree fern.
There is some color variation. Most of the stuff I have is very dark brown,
bordering on black, while some of the earlier material was decidedly brown.
I think the "black" color is the norm now. I don't know if it would fade,
but I frankly doubt it, as it's likely carbon black in the recycled polymer.
Yes, pH is supposed to be neutral (I have not checked).
--
Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Artwork, Books and Lots of Free Info!
"John Varigos" <jvarigos@usenet.mediclin.com.au> wrote in message
news:4488f966$0$23769$a82e2bb9@reader.athenanews.com...
> Ray
>
> I have just been looking at your Epiweb pots/baskets photos on your web
> page.
>
> I have a few questions:
> 1. From your experience, do the roots actually enter the medium or grow
> along the surface?
> 2. If a Stanhopea established itself in your hanging baskets and grew
> towards the sides of the pot, would the flower spike be able to work its
> way through the Epiweb? As you know, the spikes don't always grow
> straight down and often grow at an angle to the bulb therefore more than
> likely to hit the side.
> 3. Is the colour depicted on your web page accurate and does it
> fade/discolour with time.
> 4. Being made of recycled PET, I presume the pH is neutral (7). Is this
> correct?
>
> Epiweb certainly looks like a possible viable alternative to tree fern.
>
> Cheers
>
> John
>
>
> "Ray" <raybark@firstrays.com> wrote in message
> news:JKydnXJrK9_vZRrZnZ2dnUVZ_oOdnZ2d@comcast.com...
>> Tom,
>>
>> It's a totally different animal from anything semi-hydroponics related.
>> Think a direct substitute for tree fern. About the only thing in common
>> is the inert nature.
>>
>> It's available in slabs for rafts and mounting (they should have arrived
>> by now), pots, hanging baskets, pots with a mesh bottom for
>> bottom-spiking plants like stanhopeas, and as a granular chunk for use as
>> a medium ingredient or alone.
>>
>> --
>>
>> Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
>> Plants, Supplies, Artwork, Books and Lots of Free Info!
>>
>>
>> "tbell" <nobody@home.com> wrote in message
>> news:0001HW.C0ACD18B00150DCCF0284530@news.giganews.com...
>>> On Wed, 7 Jun 2006 18:04:58 -0700, Ray wrote
>>> (in article <CIudnSIdguh56hrZnZ2dnUVZ_vednZ2d@comcast.com>):
>>>
>>>> Sue, et al.
>>>>
>>>> I finally got in the EpiWeb from Europe, and the granulated material is
>>>> great for supporting newly potted plants in baskets or pots.
>>>>
>>>> EpiWeb, if it's new to you, is a "synthetic tree fern" made from
>>>> recycled
>>>> PET bottles. It's springier than tree fern, so can be slightly
>>>> compressed
>>>> without damaging the plants, and it sort-of "locks into" itself,
>>>> holding
>>>> things in place without affecting free air flow.
>>>
>>> How would you use it, Ray? For mounting? In a pot? Will this change your
>>> fondness for S/H?
>>> Tom
>>> Walnut Creek, CA
>>> Nikon D70
>>>
>>
>>
>
>
Report this message |
#23: Re: EpiWeb (was How Bout This)
Posted on 2006-06-10 05:35:28 by John Varigos
Thanks Ray
I wonder whether there is a distributor in Australia?
Cheers
John
"Ray" <raybark@firstrays.com> wrote in message
news:qKKdnTuKZ4Ac1RTZnZ2dnUVZ_qGdnZ2d@comcast.com...
> John,
>
> My experience is very limited - I got samples in early April, and have
> only experimented with two plants so-far. One is a leafless chiloschista
> doing OK on a slab, the other is the oncidium I believe I mentioned
> earlier, that is in an EpiWeb basket of the granulated medium. - so some
> of my responses will be based upon hearsay from European users.
>
> Looks to me like the roots do both - grow into the medium as well as along
> the surface. The finer the roots, the greater the tendency to penetrate,
> but even vanda roots will likely penetrate the substrate.
>
> Just like a solid pot of tree fern, I think it is doubtful that the
> stanhopea spike would penetrate the sidewall of the pot, but I don't think
> it would have a problem pushing aside the granulated medium. They're sort
> of like little blocks of stiff sponge in texture, so there is some "give",
> unlike tree fern.
>
> There is some color variation. Most of the stuff I have is very dark
> brown, bordering on black, while some of the earlier material was
> decidedly brown. I think the "black" color is the norm now. I don't know
> if it would fade, but I frankly doubt it, as it's likely carbon black in
> the recycled polymer.
>
> Yes, pH is supposed to be neutral (I have not checked).
>
> --
>
> Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
> Plants, Supplies, Artwork, Books and Lots of Free Info!
>
>
> "John Varigos" <jvarigos@usenet.mediclin.com.au> wrote in message
> news:4488f966$0$23769$a82e2bb9@reader.athenanews.com...
>> Ray
>>
>> I have just been looking at your Epiweb pots/baskets photos on your web
>> page.
>>
>> I have a few questions:
>> 1. From your experience, do the roots actually enter the medium or grow
>> along the surface?
>> 2. If a Stanhopea established itself in your hanging baskets and grew
>> towards the sides of the pot, would the flower spike be able to work its
>> way through the Epiweb? As you know, the spikes don't always grow
>> straight down and often grow at an angle to the bulb therefore more than
>> likely to hit the side.
>> 3. Is the colour depicted on your web page accurate and does it
>> fade/discolour with time.
>> 4. Being made of recycled PET, I presume the pH is neutral (7). Is this
>> correct?
>>
>> Epiweb certainly looks like a possible viable alternative to tree fern.
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> John
>>
>>
>> "Ray" <raybark@firstrays.com> wrote in message
>> news:JKydnXJrK9_vZRrZnZ2dnUVZ_oOdnZ2d@comcast.com...
>>> Tom,
>>>
>>> It's a totally different animal from anything semi-hydroponics related.
>>> Think a direct substitute for tree fern. About the only thing in common
>>> is the inert nature.
>>>
>>> It's available in slabs for rafts and mounting (they should have arrived
>>> by now), pots, hanging baskets, pots with a mesh bottom for
>>> bottom-spiking plants like stanhopeas, and as a granular chunk for use
>>> as a medium ingredient or alone.
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
>>> Plants, Supplies, Artwork, Books and Lots of Free Info!
>>>
>>>
>>> "tbell" <nobody@home.com> wrote in message
>>> news:0001HW.C0ACD18B00150DCCF0284530@news.giganews.com...
>>>> On Wed, 7 Jun 2006 18:04:58 -0700, Ray wrote
>>>> (in article <CIudnSIdguh56hrZnZ2dnUVZ_vednZ2d@comcast.com>):
>>>>
>>>>> Sue, et al.
>>>>>
>>>>> I finally got in the EpiWeb from Europe, and the granulated material
>>>>> is
>>>>> great for supporting newly potted plants in baskets or pots.
>>>>>
>>>>> EpiWeb, if it's new to you, is a "synthetic tree fern" made from
>>>>> recycled
>>>>> PET bottles. It's springier than tree fern, so can be slightly
>>>>> compressed
>>>>> without damaging the plants, and it sort-of "locks into" itself,
>>>>> holding
>>>>> things in place without affecting free air flow.
>>>>
>>>> How would you use it, Ray? For mounting? In a pot? Will this change
>>>> your
>>>> fondness for S/H?
>>>> Tom
>>>> Walnut Creek, CA
>>>> Nikon D70
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>
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#24: Re: EpiWeb (was How Bout This)
Posted on 2006-06-10 07:15:54 by Reka
John Varigos wrote:
> Thanks Ray
>
> I wonder whether there is a distributor in Australia?
>
Not on their site, John. (http://www.epiweb.se/english.html)
You could write to them. I wrote for a sample (small shipping fee).
Reka
Report this message |
#25: Re: EpiWeb (was How Bout This)
Posted on 2006-06-10 08:23:37 by John Varigos
Thanks Reka
I have e-mailed them for prices and samples.
Cheers
John
"Reka" <rhukariNOWAY@rolmail.net> wrote in message
news:jsGdnQUh0oYXyBfZnZ2dnUVZ8qGdnZ2d@kpnqwest.it...
> John Varigos wrote:
>> Thanks Ray
>>
>> I wonder whether there is a distributor in Australia?
>>
> Not on their site, John. (http://www.epiweb.se/english.html)
>
> You could write to them. I wrote for a sample (small shipping fee).
>
> Reka
Report this message |
#26: Re: EpiWeb (was How Bout This)
Posted on 2006-06-10 17:36:11 by K Barrett
Looks like interesting stuff, doesn't it?
Amazing what people are coming up with these days for potting materials.
Hopefully they'll make the repotting chore less hateful.
K Barrett
"John Varigos" <jvarigos@usenet.mediclin.com.au> wrote in message
news:448a55fc$0$3501$a82e2bb9@reader.athenanews.com...
> Thanks Reka
>
> I have e-mailed them for prices and samples.
>
> Cheers
>
> John
>
> "Reka" <rhukariNOWAY@rolmail.net> wrote in message
> news:jsGdnQUh0oYXyBfZnZ2dnUVZ8qGdnZ2d@kpnqwest.it...
>> John Varigos wrote:
>>> Thanks Ray
>>>
>>> I wonder whether there is a distributor in Australia?
>>>
>> Not on their site, John. (http://www.epiweb.se/english.html)
>>
>> You could write to them. I wrote for a sample (small shipping fee).
>>
>> Reka
>
>
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