Growing Catasetum orchids in semi-hydroponics vs sphagnum moss - after one year

[@chrishanhenderson6315]

Hi Astrid when should I pull off sheaths from the old bulbs?

[@xiaowenjiang786]

Watched twice a few months apart. Still found it helpful and pleasant. Very nice videos. Thanks and keep them coming!

[@judithsarcochilus1080]

I am a fan of s/h, thanks to your vids. It works for me.

[@artistenoire]

Thanks, Judith! It's a nice way to grow plants, and you can reuse the pellets!

[@fishforthot]

Hello Astrid! I began to use the semi-hydrophonic method for Fredclarkeara After Dark this year using moss. I live in the tropics where daytime temperatures hover around 33℃ all year round. So, far, the orchid is growing well for the past 1 to 2 months. I'm still monitoring for signs of root rot along the way since I use moss. I agree with you about not trimming the old roots because they are still alive considering the orchid has a very brief dormant period. I wanted to trim them off when I realized the roots weren't dead. The old roots are helping the new keiki to absorb lots of water and fertilizer.

[@jean-baptisterichard951]

Hi Astrid, Love your videos. They always are a very valuable source of info for newbies like me. Just for sharing : In my experience, I could make the same statement as you : Catasetums guzzle A LOT, and tend to empty the reservoir very quickly in summer. Watering can be a daily chore then. However, I tried to adapt the s/h technique. I do not make a reservoir using the bottom of the pot the plant is setteled in (by drilling holes a few inches above the bottom of a fully waterproof plastic pot), but I put the plant and its pot in a slightly bigger waterproof plastic pot, which serves as the reservoir. (I drill holes at the very bottom of the plant pot then, and I fill the "reservoir pot" with a few inches of nutritive solution). The reservoir's volume is only slighty bigger with this technique, but as there is less volume occupied by clay pellets in the reservoir, the water volume/pellets volume ratio increases and there is actually much more water available. That allows me to water less often (twice a week instead of nearly daily n summer). Classical S/H pots dry out muuuuch faster. And as other benefits : because you can drill holes at the very bottom of the plant pots, you can flush water through the pellets more efficiently (less "dead spaces" between the pellets at the bottom of the pots when you flush them), preventing salt build-up. And you can pick opaque pots to make the reservoir (no appearing roots and pellets) --> no moss or algae !. I still use transparent pot to settle the plant in, though. Then I still can easily check the roots health. Sorry if my English is a bit approximate, it is not my native language. Greetings from France ;-) ! Cheers !

[@artistenoire]

Nice method!! I'm glad you found one that is so useful for you!

[@EllePlowPlow]

The opening song and ending wave was super cute and made me laugh. Good job and nice informative video! 👏🏽👏🏽

[@leafrigula8412]

Hi Astrid, I bought two months ago Monnierara Jumbo Delight, my first Catasetum. It had a small sprout and just started small roots Half an inch long. I noticed that the bulb was starting to rotten from above, so I cut tili I get to heallthy tissue. So most of the bulb is gone. I treated it with anti fungal, put some cinnamone paste on the cut. My question is, if I can put it in leca semi- hydro or sphagnum moss is better for this situation. I love yoour videos. All I know about my orchids I learned from you, you inspired me to buy different spicies and hybrids not just phals, but I love catasetinae and would love to save this baby.

[@lkasdlf]

Hi . thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I have a couple questions that after scouring the web, I could not find an answer for. I live in NY and have my ctsm's under lights (approx 16 hours of artificial light that runs congruently with natural light) in east, west and south facing windows. Many of them are already losing their leaves... is this normal? It seems early (though in most cases bulbs are as large or larger than previous years' growth) In addition, some of the one's that are losing or have lost their leaves are putting out new growths. Should I continue to grow them under lights (for longer day lengths)? Finally, I understand that when leafless, they should be in decent humid environment, but does light matter (I wouldn't think so, but maybe?). Thank you so much for taking time to answer these questions.

[@lauan09]

In hydroponic they are very amaizing and strong vegetable greener. Tns for you speech, you really helped me. I am Lauan from Brazil

[@dhart1951]

Always a pleasure watching your videos. Keep them coming.

[@artistenoire]

Thanks, dhart!

[@logank._.2117]

This is another great catasetum video! I think it's funny that I just bought my first casetinae orchid last night😂 I got a cyc. Wine delight from spring water orchids. I'm excited to see how they do in my care👍😬🤔

[@artistenoire]

That's a good-assed orchid lemme tell you. It's a vigorous grower and a good bloomer. I have a time lapse of one opening its buds on my channel FYI

[@patrickmcconnell2410]

great information. I have two questions. one do you grow year around under lights? two I bought for catasetums from Fred clark and was told I could grow them ouside were I live. didnt work out to well its 103 day and 80 at night. i had water in containers under them for humidity but i think it was just to hot here. central cal. anywayI have about 30 different phalanopsis now under 8 4ft t5 HO lights.at 2 1/2 feet above them. using agrobrite light with two powerveg 660 mixt with the arobright lights. they are now I measured fc at 1200.

[@barbaraknight8616]

I'm actually going to convert my catts to semi-water culture next season. After seeing your video, I've decided to make my reservoir a bit deeper than usual. I don't want to have to add water every day but I don't want the roots sitting in water, either. A delicate balancing act, it will be....

[@lynnbrooks5503]

Hi Astrid. I dont have catasetums but I do have 1 chisis. The first year I got it, it totally shrivelled up and I almost lost it. I put it in sphagnum and it grew new roots, so I transferred it to LECA. It is now doing very well, but initially it's roots did rot. It was spring/summer and quite hot. I keep it inside as it would have dedicated out in my shadehouse.

[@artistenoire]

Wow, Lynn! I think catasetums and chysis orchids are pretty different despite being both deciduous and looking similar. I want to try one pretty badly, but I want to wait until I have a bigger space. It is good to know that it can do well in semi-hydro! Thanks for your comments!

[@ellenhansen2754]

Thanks Astrid. Mine are all in s/h for this season but yeah, I am concerned about the watering frequency later on as summer approaches and they go outside. Yours look great!

[@artistenoire]

The good thing about semi-hydro is that you can do little "cheat" waterings and just fill the reservoir if you are too lazy or tired to take them all for a real watering. :)

[@theresawong8688]

I am also a busy orchid mom. Thanks so so much for this info. Can you advise what federalize you use for them in the heavy grow season?

[@o_o8203]

You can compensate with a larger reservoir. I have mine in a cup that's about the same size as the one you showed in this video, but it's about twice as tall; I have the holes about halfway up the cup (although I haven't filled needed to fill the reservoir completely yet) and I haven't had any problems 😊

[@sharkasorchids2049]

Astrid great as usulle. also I must say you look great in this video. happy. more gorgeous. more relax. . my daughter and my husband notice as well. my favorite orchids are family ctsm. hard to find in Canada. Fred is great and he ship me every year in fall when he travel. when I talk to him first. I mentioned your visit there. lol. take care.

[@artistenoire]

Sharka! I am glad you love Catasetums, too! And how lucky that Fred can still ship catasetums to you there. I hope you share the backbulbs with your friends!! More catasetums for Canada!!

[@botanicalwanderer6860]

what's your flowering experience in leca vs spaghnum? Do you keep the reservoir full over autumn/winter as well? If so how do you trigger them to flower if they keep drinking over winter? I'm assuming you're keeping your spaghnum potted ones dry over dormancy? thanks :)

[@artistenoire]

Hey there! Potting medium doesn't matter - you halve watering by the end of november and stop completely by the end of december. I have had catasetums flower equally in semi-hydro and sphagnum moss. As a lazy person, I find it easier to keep sphagnum moss moist enough to keep the catasetums happy. If you grow in semi-hydro, I recommend a much higher level for the reservoir, maybe 2-3 inches from the bottom of the pot. Hope this helps!

[@blancaacosta333]

Very nice and explicit video. I purchased two catasetum last fall. They are planted in cement. Well not really but the spagnum moss is bone dry. They are both shooting out new growths with roots approximately one inch long. Should I pick out the old dry moss? I really don't think I should water them now to soften the moss, or should I?

[@artistenoire]

If they have a new growth that is starting to leaf out, you're probably safe to trickle some water on. If they have roots on the new growth, the backbulb is kind of getting some wrinkles, and the new growth has some leaves showing, it is time to water at least a little!! I am watering all my catasetums at this point, even if it's just a trickle to wet the top of the moss. Gradually increase watering. The plant will tell you how much water it wants. If the bulb shrivels, it is saying, "Please give me more water." I water them about once/twive a week and I water a little trickle for a couple weeks, then I do a 1/4 water for a week or so, then I do a 1/2 water for a week or so, then I give them full watering after that. You can just leave the little pot soaking in water at that point and it will rehydrate itself.

[@blancaacosta333]

You answered my question. I will hold up on misting for now because the leaves are rolled up real tight like a cigar. lol. Thank you Astrid.

[@marygorchidsmore2058]

Very good discussion, thanks for sharing! Your catasetums look great!

[@artistenoire]

Thanks, MaryG!

[@gwenvezier8148]

Hello ! Thank you for this clear explanation on these methods. And on another subject, you look great ! Take care !

[@artistenoire]

Merci, Gwen! I am glad you found this to be easy to understand - I worry about that when I make my videos!

[@LGW3-Orchids-Exotics]

It looks like you have had a _fairly_ great experience with Catasetums overall! Me, not so much (though I was only brave enough to purchase one thus far). I purchased a Catasetum Penang last year and by spring this year it rotted on almost every bulb. I am thinking moisture and/or water may have somehow found its way into the bulbs (during the dormancy), but I cannot say for certain.

[@artistenoire]

Oh boo!! Try a few more! They are pretty resilient. I had one backbulb I'm trying to grow that just went half rotten. The bulb is still alive, but half of it dried up and turned black. I was pretty surprised by this! But the rest are okay. I didn't treat that one any different than the others, and in fact it is genetically identical to the other plant I divided it from! The first plant is fine!! Get a few more, you know you love them!!

[@gabriele7921]

Hi Astrid. Thanks for sharing once again. If I can pick your brains... my Cycnoches has developed a new groth about 2 inches with half a dozen small roots (longest one is 2 inches) The old pseudobulb is pretty shriveled and no old viable roots so how long do you think I have to wait before I start watering? Currently it is bare root and suspended over web sphagnum for a little humidity. Thanks!

[@artistenoire]

If the roots are that size, you can probably moisten them a little bit. Especially if the backbulb is shriveling so much, it may like to have some water. If the old bulb has roots on it still (even dry crunchy ones), you can probably wet them a little to feed the plant.

[@gabriele7921]

Astrid thanks... it's the first time that i face the coming out of dormancy period. hope all goes well.

[@trishv5640]

I love this! I'm very excited about the multi-year comparison of sphagnum moss versus leca for catasetum growth! Have you tried Dracula, Masdevallia or Miltoniopsis in semi-hydro? How do they do? Or are they some of the orchids that prefer sphagnum or bark media still? Please let me know as I am growing all of these & considering switching my orchids to semi-hydro :)

[@artistenoire]

I won't touch draculas. They need such special care! Cool temps, high humidity, very pure water! Oh what a nightmare for me and my lazy butt!! Miltionias and oncidiums love semi-hdyro. I haven't tried miltoniopsis because miltoniopsis always die for me. But for what it's worth, people can grow all kinds of plants in semi-hydro. There is apparently a woman who grows awarded cacti and succulents in semi-hydro! It's also a popular method for growing phragmipediums. Try a handful of your collection in semi-hyrdo and see how they do. It's spring, so repotting time is nigh, and you might have good luck getting the plants to root down into a new medium and to avoid suffering during the repot!

[@trishaphung9679]

Hello Astrid, I have been watching your posts for awhile but finally have the courage to ask a question. I bought a catasetum flask from Fred Clarke. I didn't know if there is a good time to deflask them. Would they go through the dormancy in the flask if I don't deflask them? There are about 6 seedlings in the flask that reach the top but the rest are still half way or smaller.

[@HamimChowdhury]

Hello dear. Good morning from Bangladesh. I had been to your channel since long. But never got a reply from you. Do not know why. if you wish can skip this Question too. But i am really in need of trouble shooting from you. Lets now give you a feed back of my growing condition. I have 2 black and one red catsm in my groom house shaded allows 25% light. Its west facing. May- September is our rainy and growing seasons. Some of my orchid in my balcony and they get indirect light whole the day. and direct light from 2 pm till sun set. Now my catsm one black got 6 " in size have two growths and another black one is 4" while my red one just pushing out leaves. They all are in clay pots and o used coco nut cheeps 70% while spagnam moss 30% Thats all about description. Now my questions are: 1.. Is the light ok? Or need to bring it to balcony? 2. Is the media Ok or if i.want to repot them.annd place on only spagnam moss is it ok? Can i repot all of them.or some of them or none of them 3. What should be there food? And how often.i should feed them ? 4. Whats the bestvtime to repot ? I.hope it makes sense to you. And if you can help.me. I want them.healthey and survive.

[@patrickmcconnell2410]

sorry that got sent my question to all that is dont you find the t5 HO light are very hot that close to your plants.? or am I wrong and should I lower mine to 1500 fc all 12 hours of the day.ive read some stuff on lights thatits like a triangle out in nature were the plants only get full sun for tow hours a day becuse the sun rises and set and not so strong a times. I do dig you setup in the bath room. i would need to get lights in you size to work 4 lamps in each one . the 8 lamp agrobrit ligt is great but very wide. I measure might light with a light meter. it dose lux and FC but i ony go by FC im noty smart enough for much else. thanks for the time Patrick

[@naturalPianoadastra]

Informative video, interesting to see the difference between the two cultivation :) and even more interesting will be seing the future developments! Keep us update!

[@artistenoire]

I sure will! It will take years, but I will keep updating. :)

[@HamimChowdhury]

Hi My mounted Catsm showing spike !! Plz help me what and how to care to keep my spike survive !!

[@samanthahendren2115]

This was so awesome I loved the catasetum info! I am looking at semi-hydro to "dummy-proof" my watering a little bit and so the comparison was great! I am wanting to buy a clowesia Rebecca Northen but am hesisitant as I'm a newbie just stepping outside of phals in the last couple months but this info helps me :)

[@artistenoire]

Get the Rebecca Northen omg! It is a great plant. It isn't hard to grow. Just keep it really warm and bright, and it also loves humidity.

[@samanthahendren2115]

Astrid I will have to do that! I recently went to my local orchid society and they told me everyone is nice and shared their catasetum divisions! 😍 I think I will be the youngest person there but so excited! Can you show us a video (or recommend one you already made) of how you set up your supplemental light growing area? I’ve been intimidated about how to go about it so I can grow higher light orchids.

[@inevitablyorchid6085]

Hi Astrid, thanks for the great info on growing Catasetums. I have ONE in my collection and noticed that when it started coming out of dormancy, its poor new growth got munched off by snails/slugs. Will it sprout a new growth or has it given up for the growing season? Thanks! Thanh

[@artistenoire]

These plants are so crazy resilient! I bet that it will put out another new growth. Where there are eyes, there is life, right? So if the plant has more eyes it should probably try to make another new growth. Good luck!! Slugs are the devil!!

[@inevitablyorchid6085]

Thank you for getting back to me. And yes, I hate SLUGS!

[@svetlanajustniceorchids6442]

Hello, Astrid! Today you look super!))) I have two catasetums in semi water culture, they do well. As you say in summer they like to have more watering, i agree but still thinking how often should i keep the water in vase. Can you give any advice? Thank you. Have a good day!

[@artistenoire]

Hello Svetlana. I don't know much about semi water culture. Catasetums drink so much water that I don't know if that is a good method for these plants. But try it and see! Sorry I don't have advice for you on this topic.

[@sandybell4813]

I love this type of orchids!

[@kyungyu1481]

Hello Astrid! This is a great video and thank you! Just wondering if you've considered putting the holes in the semi hydro pots higher on the pot in order to enlarge the reservoir for the catasetums - or is that ill-advised? Alternatively, possibly repotting them? I just bought my first catasetum this summer and want to transfer to semi-hydro when it comes out of dormancy and have been watching your videos. Also, just wondering if you'd do a video about reusing clay pebbles and your preferred method of sanitizing/sterilizing them as there seems to be a lot of conflicting information out there about it. Thanks!

[@artistenoire]

I would ABSOLUTELY put the holes higher on the catasetum pots! To tell you the truth, I have most of my catasetum cups inside other cups so that I can fill them to the top. I would still not make the reservoir enormous. I believe that flushing the water out would be less effective with a larger reservoir, because that is a larger amount of water to dilute. With semi-hydro, you want to water quickly so the water goes to the top and drains out, thus rinsing your pot every time you water!! But if the holes are too high, the flushing may be less effective. Try it out and tell me how you like it! I may repot mine into bigger pots with higher holes.

[@kyungyu1481]

I'll keep that in mind. Thanks! I want my cat. roots to look chubby like yours!

[@artistenoire]

With seedlings, the roots come out pretty small. The ones I've had over multiple years have the remnants of their skinny baby roots left, and they are dwarfed by the new roots that come in on the plant a year later when it is older. :)

[@ghhales]

How do you spell the name of the ceramic pellets, and where do you get it ?

[@mexicankoreanorchidfishing50]

I only have one the fredclarkera after dark black pearl. I have mine in a mix of both Spagnumoss And laca outside would that be ok ? My husband like to surprise me once in a while by bring home an orchid species I don't have just to see if I can keep it growing and healthy

[@karlavelasco8482]

Hi Astrid. Why not add more water to the reservoir? I have a Monn. Millennium Witchcraft that I bare-rooted, placed in a beer mug and have in full water culture. Its growing great (4 months so far). I just wait for the water to get low before I add more. The bulb looks bigger than the back-bulb already. It gets sun from a south window and plenty of air movement.

[@artistenoire]

Hey there! My growing style doesn't involve daily checks of my plants. I mean, I look at them and all, but I don't want to be watering all my plants daily. If I had to water my plants every single day, I'd lose my mind!

[@KarlaVelascoArizona]

Right so keep more water in there w the catasetums. More than the 1"

[@artistenoire]

The reservoir is only 1" tall. I don't want to make it taller because then there will be too much water to evaporate later on when I'm gearing down for dormancy. I could adjust it, but this is the "standard" way of doing semi-hydroponics so I don't really wanna fiddle with it.

[@Keeferd]

Is it possible to grow these fully hydroponically?

[@aprillethomas7840]

Of the catasetums you grew in semi-hydro, did you report so as to cut off last year's roots, then when repotting add the Osmocote fertilizers to the pellets?

[@artistenoire]

No, I do not use osmocote.

[@aprillethomas7840]

Thank you.

[@DamianHinkson]

you really know what you're doing Orchid mom....did you ever do aquaponics for your orchids? i think it would do well.

[@CatherineLittle]

Hi Astrid! Have you done an update on these two types of growing methods for catasetums?

[@SarahBecker]

thank you for this. I just got my first Catasetum and can not figure out what to pot it in. it is in Big bark but that is not good for my environment. good video!

[@artistenoire]

Big bark isn't a good potting mix for catasetums anyway. They need to have so much water that they would dry up in big chunky bark (i imagine).

[@givmi_more_w9251]

They do. My Wine Delight was potted in quite chunky bark, and it was a pain in the ass to keep it hydrated. It's now in sphagnum moss, and hopefully it will grow better this year, the new growth has just started to put down roots :)

[@artistenoire]

Ugh, fucking bark!!! The moss will do it good, surely!

[@aryamandayal7336]

Hi Astrid, I love your videos! I was just wondering how long does the water last while using semi- hydroponics?

[@artistenoire]

That really depends on the plant's thirst, the season, the humidity in the room, the temperature, the air flow, etc. But I'll give examples: If the room were 95F, the plant were in full and active growth, there was a fan blowing directly on the plant, in the middle of summer (long light duration), then the water could be gone in a few hours or less. If the room were 65F, the plant were dormant or slowly growing for winter, the air was still, and it was the middle of winter (short light duration), the water could be in there for a week!

[@katerinezayas9316]

I love your videos a lot of info really useful to people that like me are with catasetums for a few weeks.I have a question I bought my first catasetum a Fredclarkeara After Dark svo black pearl she is a tiny baby she came with one leaf I repot her do you think I did good very confused with the dormancy and the grow period

[@artistenoire]

In the northern hemisphere, they are coming out of dormancy now. Repotting sometime from February to early April is reasonable. I just repotted a bunch a couple weeks ago. Let the bulbs tell you how much water she wants. Once you pay attention to the bulbs, you will learn her preferences. But let me tell you, she wants to stay wet for most of summer!

[@katerinezayas9316]

I live in The Netherlands we are right now in "spring" early spring and my baby have just one tiny bulb and thank you so much for the answer

[@artistenoire]

gooie daag!

[@Fipes]

Hio Astrid, if you want to test a little bit around, I'd like to suggest Foam (like from a mattress) as subtraste.

[@artistenoire]

Haha, that's a wild idea! I don't know that it would hold onto water very well like sphagnum moss does. Maybe someday I could do an experiment.

[@Fipes]

I claim that the water holding capability is at least the same. I watched a talk at a university Hohenheim (Germany) about foam as substrate for Phalenopsis. Those orchids were really super healthy compared to the test group. Even old leafs did not turn leathery, they were juicy like fresh leafs :) Yes it is plastic and not bio, I know, but think of the advantages! It can hold a lot water very quick, there is enough space for ventilation and it lets in light. The perfect microclimate :) Googling on this topic did not help, couldn't find anything. So either I can not google or this is a super cool insider secret ;-)

[@yeaman992]

Have you ever tried aeroponics? Do you think it would have any advantages on orchids specifically?

[@artistenoire]

I mean, I am sure they could be grown that way. Would I want to take the time, effort, and cost to make a setup for that? Nope! Also, orchids can be naughty wandering plants and as many of them are sympodial, the new growths would probably have to be accounted for in an areoponics setup over and over. Maybe it'd be good for vandaceous orchids? They're monopodial and need lots of strong watering then strong drying. It might work for them. I can't bring myself to dip a plant in a bucket every day. Ugh what a pain! But with an automated system? Maybe!

[@yeaman992]

Astrid I agree 100%, it's definitely a big investment and a lot more effort with not a huge increase in benefits from what I've seen. I really think the people who use aero are trying to get finely tuned setup as humanly possible to reduce variables when doing semi large scale with one specific variety. By the way, love the videos and your makeup is on point!

[@artistenoire]

Thanks so very much!

[@TheOrchidSaGa]

This intro made me subscribe to your channel! O it is hilarious, I like that kind of humor.... I have seen more tutorials of you, I think you are doing a amazing job, but yeah, today I subscribed! (I do follow more people and so I do have to make a selection on who to follow and who not, otherwise there wil be way to many people that I follow! And I am a youtuber as well (Art tutorials) so I can not supprt everyone... But thanks a lot for your great tutorials )

[@sherrywalker4619]

Thanks for the comparisons! 😁

[@mikefekete7656]

hi Astrid how are you fertilizing you catasetum and what are you using ?

[@artistenoire]

I didn't fertilize them all of last year, hahahaaaa. I think you should fertilize them, but I was lazy.

[@mikefekete7656]

thanks Astrid love your video keep up the good job have a great day/week

[@emhartjes]

Could you not plant them in a larger pot with leca thereby the reservoir would also be larger.

[@lalanaperera7162]

Pls tell me what is the medium for catasetum 🙂

[@GoldenArrow297]

Thank you so much for an informative video

[@lauan09]

Have you ever seen our new method of germination seeds of catasetuns?

[@AtoZ-fk8rw]

And of you not bloom you will going in the trash , going in the trash, going in the trash... just love it 😂👍🏻 xD nice video! Thx :3

[@artistenoire]

Thank you, I worked very hard on my theme song

[@tksixangels44]

I do self watering. So far he likes it. I have a pretty decent size reservoir for him to take from.

[@dms0110]

Thank you, this was great.

[@katerinezayas9316]

Ok looking your videos make me buy today 2 catasetums I hope I can do well I bought the Taiwan Gold "Oranje" and the Fredclarkeara After Dark Sunset Valley they are coming in flowering size :)

[@artistenoire]

Lucky you, Katerine! I am sure they will be beautiful and smell very funky!

[@zinita7715]

my thirsty orchids come together in a large tub, where the water level remains constant through a toilet valve. So I can continue to use the benefits of hydroponic

[@nae_petey_son]

Still trying to figure this thing out.

[@laurieparis2203]

I dunno... that catasetum in the clear plastic hydroponic looked pretty stellar to me!

[@artistenoire]

They do well in it, but I can't keep up with watering enough to make it a good method in my setup! But It does work, you can definitely see that! :)

[@trang.nhatrang]

Astrid can we sit the pot in another container that fill with water (water level is higher than the 2 holes of the pot) so the plant can have enough water supply??

[@aprillethomas7840]

I like Trang Luu's idea; however, if the pot is in another container which has a higher water level, then the water level will be higher in the container the orchid is planted in. What about a container that the holes are higher in? Or what about some way of wicking water into the holes to the plant container from an outside water source that is lower? Just sayin'.

[@tedvoise7964]

need light for fatter bulbs,low light= long,skinny bulbs

[@elainetrostinsky3104]

Who is this one ass who clicked on the 👎? 🤔 And I say it with peace and love.

[@artistenoire]

Haha, Elaine! I wonder that on every single one of my videos. There's always some hater who gives it a thumbs down. But it's okay, I keep smiling and making videos.

[@easyteh4getperson]

i swear, it's like you're trying to convince me to join the catasetum cult but i dont have the room nor the time to water them everyday cuz i travel a lot

[@artistenoire]

Yeah, it would be hard to keep them in summer if you're gone for a long time. But in winter, it would be easy!!

[@gardengnomejay4122]

I have have a good question why has no one created a moss that last for ever?!😂

[@artistenoire]

I think they have, Jay! Check out Zane Wildiflora's video about Synthik! It is a synthetic moss made in Sweden. It's like a weird ball of yarn and people love it.

[@gardengnomejay4122]

Astrid yeah I tried it and hate it, makes a mess when watering if it dries out because it repels water at first. Plus I do not care for the appearance...kind of looks like the orchids are trying to crochet a cocoon or something😂