Lava Rock for Orchids 2 different ways | Wet / Dry / Self watering set up

[@NinjaOrchids]

👕👚Fabulous Orchid Swag! 👇🏼🤩 Https:/Teespring.com/stores/ninja-orchids-3 🌸

[@mariaestrada8040]

Great job Nina, they look very good. Those baskets are adorable, the orchid inside look great.😊

[@NinjaOrchids]

😍 I love my little baskets. They could do with a spray paint face lift, but while orchids are in them, its a no no! However I have some empty ones, unfortunately... *cough scale got to the tolumnias after I dropped the ball during a summer... so, maybe I should revamp the empty ones in the event that I get some new tolumnias one day 🤔 not on the list of priorities atm 😅 when in Spain... mañana!! 😂

[@mariaestrada8040]

Great ideas, thank you so much. Learning alot.

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi Maria 😍💐 so nice to see you again!! Thank YOU so much for taking a moment to watch this video and for your feedback on the content. I appreciate the feedback 🫶🏼 wishing you a wonderful day, lovely lady ❤️🌸

[@SimpleCookingC]

So good to watch nice and beautiful videos like this thanks for sharing 👍🌸❣️👌🔥👏🌸🎶🎵🎧🎼 Friend 🎼🎧

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi there 🤩💐 good to see you again! I hope that you are doing well 🤗 really appreciate you watching and your kind / encouraging comment, thank you so very much 🥰 hope you had yourself a wonderful Sunday 🌸

[@ingridfoessl1075]

Very Interesting,thank you.

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi Ingrid 🥰💐 thank YOU!! So sweet of you to leave me positive feedback, Ingrid! I hope that you had a wonderful Sunday! I had a weird weather day, but it did not rain... suddenly the wind picked up, it was very strange. Now it is a calm and peaceful evening, so... just a bit strange. 🤷🏼‍♀️😬 thank you so much for watching, lovely lady 🌸

[@FernandaNascimentoOrchids]

🦒🙌💐🧚 Pocket lover is now in a pocket of love, nice and cosy. It will develop wonderfully for you and bushy too. Great way of placing them even in the pot 👏Looking forward to the blooms whenever it feels ready!!! Happy cosy SUNday amiga mia, for you and all the 'chids and pets at Ninja orchids paradise 😃🤩❤️😍

[@NinjaOrchids]

FFF 😍🙌🏼🤸🏼‍♀️🥰💐 good evening, meine liebe Freundin! I hope that she feels the way that you say... I have no intention of touching this orchid for a very long time, so... little one better be eager to grow some proper roots. She seems a little hesitant since she arrived, but... lava rock and dens... what can go wrong? 😅 the wind you described yesterday, came late afternoon... the whole day was beautiful, a little overcast, but then all hell broke loose... it was the weirdest thing ever. Now it is all calm again. Just as well, as I am about to go and 'stretch' King's legs. No sahara dust though 👍🏼 I was wondering if it was going to rain, but nothing happened. Got a few more things done, ticked off the list... moving on to the next projects. 💆🏼‍♀️ hope your day was a SUNday and a FUNday 🥰 that everything went your way ❤️ thank you so much for watching, amiga mia ❤️🌸 have a cozy evening 🌸

[@stephenorchids4943]

Hi Nina great job nice repots video I think they will be happy with all your care 😘👍

[@NinjaOrchids]

Stephen, hi! 😍💐 I really hope that your Sunday was wonderful, Stephen 🤗 thank you so very much for watching and your feedback! I really hope that you are right and that they will do well. 🤞🏼 that little dendrobium is not a very happy root grower, since it arrived, the nubbins hardly extended at all, so... I am hoping that now that it is potted up... 🚀😅 🌸

[@andreaallum8859]

Thanks for that information lovely video for my lovely lady they all look great now they’re all in their pots some lovely roots on them little ones you’ve got there thanks for sharing speak to you soon

[@NinjaOrchids]

HI Andrea 🥰💐 good evening, lovely lady 🥰 thank YOU... so much for your sweet comment! I am so looking forward to watching these orchids settle in and progress throughout the season. 😊 thank you so much for watching! Hope your day was beautiful 🌸

[@helenacerveira9731]

Olá Nina, muito interessante o seu plantio, obrigada pelas dicas. Uma boa semana. 💚🇵🇹

[@NinjaOrchids]

OI Helena 😍💐 Fico feliz que você tenha gostado dessas opções de usar pedra de lava e como prender várias peças em um pote sem ter que fazer uma estrutura inteira de arame 😅 muito obrigado por assistir, muito obrigado! Espero que tenha tido um domingo maravilhoso, Helena 🌸

[@josejkoonthanam]

Very useful potting tips. Not yet tried lava rock for potting orchids Nina. Wish you a great Sunday.

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi Jose 🤩💐 I was responding to one comment and wrote what I wanted to say in this comment 🤣🤣🤦🏼‍♀️🤣🤣 thank you so much for watching!! Hope your Sunday was fabulous and I wish YOU a great start to the new week 🙏🏼🌸

[@elbeem20001]

I have recently discovered a "workable" medium of coconut husk, charcoal then gravel/pebbles (to keep the charcoal from floating away when dipped in a vat of water), in that order. So far, so good - this medium works for me in my neck of the woods - everything is outdoors. Lava rock is totally non existent in my quarters!! My new dendrobiums, mini cattleyas and oncidiums have caught on beautifully. I also use coconut husk WITH the twigs of the maidenhair fern: chop up the black twigs in about one inch lengths, and place OVER the coconut husk. So far, no fail!! Mind you I use coconut husk from inland, and not from the beachside. Currently we are in the dry season - so I need to water EVERYDAY!! My vandas on the other hand need to be watered twice a day!! My rainwater vat is diminishing!! I just had to share my "No Fail" medium with you. When the rains resume, I have planned to mount a few of the mature orchids on driftwood (cured and cleaned). I usually watch your videos for inspiration and knowledge. Only thing is the orchids on my island are limited in variety!!

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi Lyn 😍💐 so good to see you again! Hope that you have been doing well! I like the combination that you mentioned here 👍🏼 twigs of maidenhair fern, just like twigs of the tree fern, they are perfect, and you must have a serious patch of maidenhair fern to harvest from to be able to use it as media. I love the dedication of cutting the stalks to size 😅 me separating my media in to large, small, and xsmall... I thought I was going a little too far, but, nope! I have my media in size ready to go for when I need it, and it is just a small effort each time I finish recycling. The small batches are easily separated. Back in the day, I was doing bags of lava rock and bags of leca. What I have to separate now is a breeze 😅 makes me feel good. I appreciate you sharing your 'no fail' media options!! Anyone looking for inspiration in the comments' section will certainly benefit from your comment, and I appreciate that, thank you 👍🏼 thank you so much for watching, Lyn! Hope your day is going beautifully 🌸

[@elbeem20001]

@@NinjaOrchids You betcha!!! I took a look at the keikis (3 of them) in the maidenhair fern twigs this morning ... ROOTS SPREADING FAR AND WIDE!!!

[@NinjaOrchids]

🙌🏼🤸🏼‍♀️🙌🏼👍🏼😃

[@shirleyholt898]

Hi Nina, very nice work you did. Your ideas are great 👍. Love those little Tolumnia’s. So cute 🥰. 🤗👏🌸

[@NinjaOrchids]

HI Shirley 😍💐 thank you for your kind comment! It was a fiddle, for sure, but... methinks that the timing is perfect for these orchids. What a joy to have the right temperatures and not have to fuss with cold and miserable conditions 🙏🏼 thank you so very much for watching, Shirley!! Have a wonderful evening and a beautiful Sunday ❤️🌸

[@cherylpenn4509]

Love those baskets..... precious.

[@NinjaOrchids]

😍HI Cheryl! 💐 they are perfect for tolumnias! Happy to have found them. I may do a winter project and spruce the empty ones up with a new coat of white just to make them ready in the event that they will someday get new occupants 😄 thank you so much for taking a moment to watch! Hope you are having a wonderful weekend 🫶🏼❤️🌸

[@annadaccione332]

fabulous video re tolumnias, gives me hope to try this as I have not had much success with these beauties. Got several from a flask and at the moment they are in sphagnum but are looking a bit sick, but u have given me heart. Here's hoping. thank you.

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi Anna 😍💐 thank you for your positive feedback, I really appreciate it 🤗 you are very courageous to be growing deflasked tolumnias ... you go girl!! 💪🏼 keep the air flow around them high. Sphagnum is so moisture retentive that they will rot easily. I really hope that you are successful in getting them to mature! What a sensational success that would be 👊🏼👍🏼 thank you so much for watching, Anna 🌸

[@ladyhagaming]

i love dendrobiums , i have 3 so far .... two berry oda´s and one nobile

[@NinjaOrchids]

LadyHA, hi 🤩💐 welcome! I have not seen you here before, I think, so... if this is your first time here, welcome! And thank you so much for being here, I really appreciate it 🤗 love my Berry Oda and well, you can't go wrong with nobiles either! My complex hybrid is in bloom and has been for the past month, almost... gorgeous fragrance on both orchids! Great to have in a collection and I am glad that you are enjoying them 😃 really appreciate you watching, thank you! Wishing you a beautiful day, and once again, welcome 🤗🌸

[@ladyhagaming]

@@NinjaOrchids i am newish around here. it is the second time commenting on here...so I can understand why you think that I haven't been here before. I watched a lot of your content and very much liked it and enjoyed the orchids very much. thank you so much for replying. hope you had a great week ahead 😊

[@NinjaOrchids]

I thought I remember seeing your name, but I double checked my list and I could not see your name there, sooo.... I am a little concerned that I did not respond to your comment? I am so systematic as to responding to everyone, that, I searched your name before replying and only saw this one comment. IF I did not respond to your first ever comment, I am very sorry! I would not ignore a comment, ever... I wonder if there was something YT wise? Removing comments is a thing of their's and without any explanation. My apologies if you felt ignored! Thank you for your positive feedback on the videos you have watched, I really appreciate such encouragement! You have yourself a great week ahead as well, LadyHA 🥰

[@ladyhagaming]

@@NinjaOrchids no worries about me it's just very lovely to have other people whom enjoy orchids as much as I do . Plus I am trying to learn as much as possible, so when I get some more uncommon orchids I have a clue on the care 😅 thank you so much again for the very kind welcome. I make videos as well, just not orchids though. like you I try to reply to everyone. so I totally understand where you are coming from. hope you have a wonderful week ahead

[@NinjaOrchids]

I just subbed to your channel. I have no idea about gaming, but... I wanted you to know that I support your channel 😍

[@cateva_orhidee1982]

Dear Nina, Thank you for this video. I am very curious about the evolution of your dendrobium in lava rock. I think it will be doing great! I would like to switch more and more to inorganic media, so your experience is very valuable to me 🤗 Thank you!

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi there, Dana 🥰💐 I am happy to answer any questions you may have, or point you to videos that may have already got the answers etc. Or... make a video to show what I am trying to say 🤗 Thank you so much for this cute dendrobium! P.S.: the radiata is still holding on to the buds and today I soaked the pot to the top in CalMag for the new roots to get absorbing something 🤞🏼 Have yourself a wonderful rest of your evening! Thank you for watching this video 🤗🌸

[@miamianz]

Im yrying this wirh my dendrobium nobil they really dont like the florida heat or light after 9 a.m at least now fall and winter will be fine. And I don't want to overwater it and get root rot. With such delicate orchid.

[@NinjaOrchids]

HI Raul 😍💐 welcome! I have not seen you here before, so a warm warm welcome and thank you so much for being here, for watching and your comment. The support is truly appreciated 🫶🏼 yes, your conditions are really harsh for a long time during the year, and your intuition is correct when it comes to your light requirements. Also, the root rot, with your high humidity, despite a lot of airflow, the lava rock will give you grace when it comes to the tender new growths not rotting out at the base! I am sure your nobiles are going to love it in that set up. Its perfect for where you are!! 👍🏼 I hope that you are having a beautiful day in beautiful FL, and once again, welcome 🫶🏼❤️🌸

[@Christofblueberry]

I use lava rocks for sremi hydro for cattleyas and drendro, they are fabulous at retaining water which is also a downside . Most of my oncidiums and bulbophyllum develop rots in their bulbs and neww growths due to the fact that it retains so much water lol

[@Christofblueberry]

I also can conclude that lava rock in small pieces are very wicking, tbh as i mention earlier ,it develop rots on my oncidiums and bulbo which is a result from the small lavarock

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi Christopher 🤩💐 welcome! I have not seen you here before, so... first of all, a warm warm welcome and thank you so much for being here! I love lava rock as a media in self watering, and I would use it much more, IF it weren't so destructive on the root system when it comes time for repotting. But, for orchids that I know can stay in their pot or set up for more than 2 years, and those that live outside in my climate all year round, lava rock is my go to media. It is awesome! I am glad that I have a confirmation on the size of the lava rock determining that it does wick, to a degree... if not, then it is the water retention that makes it feasible for self watering 👍🏼 thank you for your feedback and thank you so much for watching. Once again, welcome! 🌸

[@TheVerdantTurf]

Currently watching this again because i'm finally repotting my Tolumnia Red Spread because it's not doing well on the mount and some of the old growths rotted off... the new growths just grow and mature but no new growths, no spikes as well. So I am taking this challenge and try potting it up. so mine i'll be using bigger chunks of lava rocks, pumice and charcoal on the bottom layers, but i'll still use small lava rocks for the top layer and hope for the best! 🤧 hoping for the best!

[@NinjaOrchids]

HI 😍💐 I love the lava rock for tolumnias! Mine did not fail because of the lava rock set up, they failed because of scale... so, just because I don't have many of my tolumnias anymore, that was me dropping the ball and pest related. I fought hard for years afterwards, to get them to come back, but my cold winters were then too much for them being so weak. I have 2 that were not affected by scale, and they are doing great with the lava rock. I hope that your's bounces back, my friend!! Thank you so much for watching the video, I appreciate your time and support 🫶🏼 hope your Monday was nothing short of fabYOUlous ❤️🌸

[@TheVerdantTurf]

@@NinjaOrchids Hey Nina! Yes I finished unmounting my Tolumnia Red Spread a few hours ago, there was a small stray clump that was a bit far from the main clump and is buried in the media if I pot them up without removing it. So I potted it in a separate pot! Hoping for the best! My Tolumnia Big Bang on the other hand is currently in bloom from it's secondary spike branching from the first spike. Upon observation, the big bang has new root tips, and it receives same care, light, and everything to the Tolumnia Red Spread, So in conclusion I think it's just my Red Spread not doing well in the mount anymore. Anyways, I'm planning to get another Red Spread Variety soon as there's a flowering one available. It's most likely my favorite tolumnia so i'm planning to have multiple of those 🤣❤️🤍

[@TheVerdantTurf]

Will post my tolumnia rescue/experiment situation soon! I'm a bit occupied rn since i'm mentally preparing myself on going out tomorrow since i've got errands to do! and I need to travel to the City Center (I'm from province) so it's around 1 1/2 hour travel. I'll also try and buy some orchid/gardening stuff as well if I have extra money tomorrow! 🥳

[@NinjaOrchids]

Safe travels and have fun shopping, amigo!! 🙌🏼👍🏼❤️

[@TheVerdantTurf]

Also Nina, do you think it's okay that I used small lava rocks as the top layer? I'd like to hear your opinions if you have some please 🥺

[@ronhazer4804]

hi Nina thx for the great advice and inspiration. Have you experimented with Lechuza Pon at all?

[@NinjaOrchids]

HI Ron 😍💐 welcome! I have not seen you here before, so a warm warm welcome and a big thank you for watching, for your time and comment. I appreciate the support very much 🫶🏼 I have not had the opportunity to try Lechuza Pon, no. From what I have looked up about it, it would be a great mix for many applications that I do here with lava rock only, and by that I mean, using the different sizes of lava rock (including small shards for other applications) but without the nutrients charged into the lava rock out of the gate. Do you have any questions about Lechuza Pon that you would like to run by me when it comes to orchids you would like to try it out with? While I do not have practical experience, I feel that I can speak on it if given more details as to how you would be using it, or are using it, based on the type of orchids and your grow environment. Let me know, because I am curious about it, however cannot afford to invest in it to give it a go. I hope you are having a great week, and once again, welcome! 🫶🏼❤️🌸

[@ronhazer4804]

@@NinjaOrchids hi Nina thanks for getting back to me so fast. So the experiment has started… I’ve potted a no id Paph and a Rhynchostylis gigantea seedling that was over watered in sphagnum with only two 1/2 inch roots surviving. I figure now is the best time to try Pon with the Rhy? Hopefully those new roots grow and adapt to it? Today I’m going to repot a phrag. Into Pon as well… Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. It’s surprising how little info is out there on growing orchids in Pon. I’ve been growing some plants in semi hydro with decent success but in my climate the cooling nature of LECA has caused some issues once the temperatures dropped. Two plants actually died! For that reason I want to give Pon a try. I’m in Vancouver B.C. so a definite cooler more humid environment than Spain. I think similar to Annabel in the UK from the orchid room channel? Thanks again Nina Hopefully someone out there has some experience.

[@NinjaOrchids]

@@ronhazer4804 thank YOU for getting back to the topic and sharing what you are doing! So, the no ID Paph is a seedling as well? I would like to just point out that pon is charged with fertilizer which they say has a duration of 6 months, and slipper orchids do not need high fertilizer levels. Keep an eye out for any leaf tips going brown, that will be your signal the fertilizer level in the pon is too high. A repot will take of that very quickly, so it won't affect your slippers, just a heads up as to what signs to look out for. The Rhynchostylis should be fine because they are heavier feeders. But the same will apply. Keep those leaf tips under supervision, just in case, and watch the surface of the media. Are your Rhync roots buried in the pon or on the surface? If they are on the surface, watch for any kind of browning of the tips, the velamen. That will signal fertilizer burn. I have lost a lot of orchids to leca as well. Since I am not able to afford to run heat mats during the winter months, the cooling effect of leca has been the cause of demise for many of my orchids in the past winters. My collection is going by natural selection. I am understanding who can cope with the conditions, and leca, and who cannot. My indoor lows can go down to 13ºC just to give you an idea of what I am observing happening with orchids in leca incl. evaporative cooling. It will be nice if, between you and me, we can do a podcast in a couple of years, and put out more detailed information on pon out there 😉 keep in touch with anything and everything. Incl. if I just wrote something that raises concerns. 👍🏼

[@ronhazer4804]

@@NinjaOrchids hi Nina Thanks for the reply and your feedback on what to watch out for. The fertilizer was/is my biggest concern with Pon so I actually spread it out on a tray and tediously picked out all of the slow release fertilizer by hand. Hopefully that will take care of that! With regards to LECA I’m on the fence about heat mats also $$. I’m at the 6month point from which I transitioned several orchids into LECA and a few have popped up from where they were sitting so I’m gonna reposition them in the same pot and while I’m at it I’ll clean them up and remove any dead roots. Hopefully that doesn’t cause any setbacks but I have no choice as new growths on an enc. Maria are hanging in the breeze… Thanks for your advice Nina I appreciate it and I would love to stay in touch with you and share the journey with you. Take care Ron

[@NinjaOrchids]

@@ronhazer4804 my kind of grower, Ron!! Picking out the slow release fertilizer!! Now THAT is right up my alley and I am happy to know that I would not be the only one to go to those extremes... well, for us they are not, but if anyone else is reading this thread, they may just think... Really? 😆

[@TheVerdantTurf]

Hello Nina! I'd like to ask if there's a difference between Red Lava rocks and the black ones? they appear to be both naturally occuring and no dyes involved but i'm curious if black lava rocks are also okay for orchids? Any input regarding this matter is highly appreciated! Thank you so much! 🤍

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi 😍💐 it is good to see you!! There is no difference to the orchids what color lava rock you use. I wish I could source black lava rock locally just because it is so pretty 😅 Lava which is black has a higher percentage of dark minerals. The dark minerals have a high concentration of iron and magnesium. However, not to be misinterpreted with 'excess iron and magnesium are going to leach out of the rock'. No harm to the roots. There may be some leaching but it is minute and over an extended period of long long time 😊 I hope this helps you with what you would like to do for and with your orchids! Thank you so much for watching this video. I hope you are having a great start to the new week 🫶🏼❤️🌸

[@TheVerdantTurf]

@@NinjaOrchids This surely helps, thank you so much Nina! I just ordered 4 of 1 kilo bags of small sized Red Lava rocks, 1 bag of a kilo of Medium Sized Black Lava Rocks, and a 1 kilo bag of Pumice as well! Red lava rocks are common here, but I must say that Black Lava Rocks are not hard to find here in PH! and they're also cheap! only thing that's not cheap is the Shipping Cost 🥴. But anyways, thank you so much for the input/additional knowledge, Nina! It helped a lot. I shopped for inorganic media because even though we have constant supply of organic media (Coconut Husk) it's not that ideal for long run since they degrade fast and attract small snails that chew off root tips! and unlike organic media, inorganic media can be reused, and I am in for the sustainability agenda! And also the very reason I bought potting media is because of the fact that Sir Tom Tom (From Orchid Fortress) gave me a lot of orchids, divisions from his own collection and some I would even consider specimen-sized! Especially the Nodosas that Sir TomTom gave me! And this batch is just the "half of it" as per him, because there's gonna be more orchids the next time time we meet! I was actually worried to the point that he may have divided every orchid Sir Tom has, just to share them to me 😭🤣. And yeah, I was a happy boy, untill now! I am smiling every time I look at these orchids! 💚

[@NinjaOrchids]

I have to tell you that, growing orchids in inorganic media has been a life saver for me, because in 2020 when I lost my job, I had no budget for orchid media. I would not have been able to do the repottings if I had been growing in bark, so.... yeah, I am not going to ever complain about inorganic media and the workload of cleaning / sterilizing. I am so grateful that I have what I have because I can repot when necessary and not loose more orchids simply because I cannot afford the media! 🙏🏼

[@TheVerdantTurf]

@@NinjaOrchids That's good to hear how sustainable and budget-friendly inorganic media is! and it'll be perfect for out climate since after this Intense summer heat, we're gonna have moonsoons and typhoons and all sorts of rainy season things thats gonna go on. So having lava rocks as the main part of the mix along with charcoal, I can literally minimize any potential rotting. Also, aww i'm sorry about what happened last 2020, Nina. I hope you're in a much better situation right now! Sending hugs 🥺💚

[@NinjaOrchids]

@@TheVerdantTurf I am so happy that you have the climate, perfect for orchids! Those rains are the best (can be a problem if new growths get too saturated) but, I dream of being able to have orchids in the rain! I do not know anything better than seeing orchids getting rained on 🥹 watch and admire your roots exploding!! On another note, and full transparency, I am in dire straits with my financial situation... hence, me pushing and NEEDING my channel to grow, or else, there won't be a patio, and there won't be orchids because I will loose the roof over my head. For that reason, there is a real sense of urgency (and sometimes panic 😬😓) Thank you, so much for caring!! The global cooties have turned my security upside down, but I am lucky that I did not loose anyone because of it, so... I am trying not to complain, just keeping my head down in the hopes that my channel gets more support 🙏🏼

[@siamak1]

Very informative. Thank you. Did I understood it correctly that the red lave rock is not the right media for the semi-hydroponic/self watering? It is only good for dunking in and/or flushing water/neturients.

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi Siamek 😍💐 there are opinions out there that lava rock is not adequate for SH or Selfwatering because it does not wick. And, although that is true, it does not wick, it still works really well for SH or Self watering because all the nooks and crannies are so water retentive, that, it does actually do the job as would leca without the wicking. So, inbetween flushing and filling the reservoir, the media acts like leca. I put that commentary in the video, so that people would not attack me for putting out misleading information that lava rock wicks. Covering my bases... but, the two other dens I showed in the image, have been in self watering with lava rock only, and the whole set up reacts the same way as leca. I can also control the lava rock in this set up, especially during winter. Seeing as lava rock 'does not wick', it can be considered a drier set up, which is great for dendrobiums that prefer not to have wet roots during winter. Then, with one flush, the media is wet again 👍🏼 and the status quo is restored 👍🏼 I hope I am making sense 🤞🏼 thank you so much for watching! I am enjoying our communication 😃 have a lovely evening 🌸

[@siamak1]

@@NinjaOrchids Thank you for clarification. I am going to use lava rock because it is substantially cheaper than other media here.

[@NinjaOrchids]

agree... it is much cheaper here as well 👍🏼

[@Otees.123]

Hey Nina 👋! Hope you are happy and healthy!💚 Does the Phalaenopsis schleriana need a cool down to initiate flower spikes?

[@NinjaOrchids]

HI Shmuel 🤗💐 I am doing ok, thank you for asking, and I hope that you are as well 👍🏼 schilleriana does not need a specific temperature drop to bloom, no. It is a warm to hot grower, actually, so... not really a fan of cold temperatures, but, as you saw in other videos, mine is doing fine, even with temperatures as low as 14ºC... which my summer bloomers did not handle very well (at least some are really struggling) schilleriana is a no fuss phal, amazing, considering that it is a species 👍🏼 really appreciate you watching, Shmuel, thank you! Have yourself a wonderful rest of your weekend 🌸

[@nicoleundendunn2534]

I was wondering how you sterilize your lava rock(scoria) to use again and what size do you buy? Also what brand and where do you buy yours from.

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi Nicole 🤗💐 I soak it in water for a night, at least, to get as much debris to soften and come off as possible. Then I rinse it with clean water and then I boil it in RO water. (in my case it has to be RO water because my tap water is so high in TDS, I don't want the lava rock to expand and absorb whatever is in my mains water, so with that being said, I boil it using the cleanest water source that I have) Depending on the size of the batch, I leave it boiling anywhere from 10 minutes to 30 minutes. After which I rinse it with boiled RO water again until I see the strainer run clean of debris, let it cool and dry and store in a sealed container so that it does not accumulate dust while not in use. I buy mine at my garden centre. Unfortunately I do not have a choice of size, but my bags have 3cm / 1 inch pieces all the way down to tiny shards that may have broken off. I sort through the sizes and separate them out accordingly for future use. I hope that this was helpful 😊 thank you so much for watching! I hope that you had a wonderful day 🤗🌸

[@LizE2654]

How does the water wick?

[@NinjaOrchids]

Hi Liz 😍💐 the water doesn't wick but it stays damp because of the nooks, crannies and crevices of the lava rock. The size of the pot together with the size of the lava rock makes a self watering set up even if there is no direct wicking going on. I have a video about that which goes through the details, if you are interested to check it out kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5bHY2ePj5aMnpY thank you so much for watching this one! I truly appreciate your support 🫶🏼 hope you are having a beautiful Sunday ❤️🌸

[@michaelmccarthy4077]

It really is a shame you can't get growstone to compare it to lava rock. Is there a reason you didn't just do a normal leca/self watering with this Den? You've got the other nobile hybrid in your usual setup, no? The only hybrid I currently have is the To My Kids that Michael's Orchids sent me, I trashed the rest. I'm pushing that plant hard to concentrate on just new growths by not varying the temperature, light, water or feed. After it finishes this next growth that is starting, I will let it rest and maybe get a good blooming out of it. Of course, with my luck, it will start another growth and I will have to give it an abbreviated rest and hope that it will still bloom.

[@NinjaOrchids]

Don Miguel 😍💐 hola jefe! I did not go the conventional leca route, because the roots on this den are so fine, and as we are heading into the hottest and driest part of the year, I did not want to risk loosing roots at the surface of the leca or jeopardizing the base with too much misting. Seeing as this den appears to be super virgorous, new growths can start again around August (from what I can judge based on how I see the current status of the base, with eyes already more pronounced) I have saved the other dens that lost their entire root system because of leca, and wanted to be 100% sure that this one will not take a nose dive before it has a chance to root in and grow in strength. I have one complex hybrid in leca which is growing beast mode style, but the var. cooksonianum is in pumice... as I had pumice that I was not using. I could have used leca for that one as well, but wanted to use up my pumice. I wish you luck with your intentions on the To My Kids, I always enjoyed seeing that orchid on Michael's Channel 😍 thank you so much for watching 😘 have a lovely evening ❤️🌸

[@Finsandflowers]

Soooo…. Back to woolly mammoth land 😳. In a broad sense isn’t potting like you’ve done with the tolumnia ALMOST the same as a mount? My little brain is whirling with the similarities. My other tiny brain twirl is wondering if when repotting a lava rock medium (media?!?) could you do it like your ‘wet’ method of potting with leca, but obviously in reverse?!?😳. I haven’t had to repot anybody in lava yet, but think I will try it. Super large tub filled with water, place pot in gently on its side and remove from pot while it is submerged. Ps I still gain new info even if second time. Third time viewing

[@NinjaOrchids]

Debbie, hi 😍💐 you are absolutely right, that the way I have my tolumnias, resembles a mount more than potting up. 👍🏼 same principle when it comes to care but not having mounts to deal with when it comes to bringing them inside during the winter. I tired tolumnias in semi hydro with lava rock only, but lost all of those. It did not work for me in my climate, and I can only boil that down to the fact that my indoor temperatures are too cold for them in the winter, and while the lava rock and semi hydro is not the issue (no evaporative cooling) the low temperatures are. So, if I had the opportunity to keep my tolumnias warm enough, I have a strong feeling that the lava rock / semi hydro set up will work without issues! If you repot an orchid that was in lava rock, it will all depend if the orchid is in active growth with a new growth starting, even if roots are starting. I would not submerge the orchid on the side in water, it could compromise the new growth, the swelling eye etc. So, while it is a gentle way of repotting, it really depends on what the orchid is doing to not risk loosing any new growths. I would use the pre soak method and submerge the pot upright to the almost surface of the medium 😉 or media 😉 or substrate 😉😅 and try to loose then orchid from the pot that way. Knowing full well, collateral damage is inevitable. However, once the orchid feels loose in the pot, then I would do what you suggest, and I have done that with a rupicolous laelia, remove from water basin, tilt the pot on it's side and start 'excavating' and ensure that the weight of the lava rock does not crack the existing roots. I hope that what I am saying is making sense? Just in case what I wrote sounded messy, here is a link where I did the tilt and unpot kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmKUh6Z4i9F-d8U let me know if anything I wrote made any sense at all 😬 meanwhile, thank you so much for watching, Debbie!! I hope you are having a great weekend and wish you a wonderful Sunday 🫶🏼❤️🌸