Orchids in glass vases "Assessment and Changes "

[@lindaebey7664]

Carolyn, I loved your singing and references to the " Teddy Bears Picnic " song I think of it often with fond memories from childhood. Our children's TV. Programming used to show that snipet of the Teddy Bears playing in the woods. Thanks for the memories.

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

LOL I loved it too and remember it on the radio, I am a bad singer or think I could remember the whole song :0) Love Carolyn

[@Dmeister406]

My background is in science and this has taught me to be very observant. Also, when trying to solve a problem, identifying the variables and constants is important. When you look at the orchids that you have in glass, the "constants" are the bark media, the pot material (glass), the watering regime, the fertilizer, the temperature/humidity and the light. The "variables" are the shape of the glass and the volume of the glass. The thing that strikes me straight away is that the orchid in glass that is doing so well is in a comparatively small glass vase and it's the only one that is conical in shape. I would hypothesise that the smaller volume and shape are both allowing any excess water to easily evaporate and not collect at the bottom of the vase. Wishing you all the best from Australia!

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

I agree 100% with you :0) I do want to keep the bark and the glasses I have and I am hoping my new idea, soon to be shown will help. Love Carolyn

[@haylinmilsam]

Look forward to what your walk in the woods brings! And, excited to see the yard transformation! You are a gem! Take good care.

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

Thank you! You too! Nice to have you visit. Interesting days, lots of yard decisions to make, as do not want the old fenced garden to be a huge bed of weeds , so getting short videos of some things to join together. Love Carolyn

[@mariebroderick3115]

Felt so bad you lost your favorite orchid. And that your medium bark is so hard to find. And costly. But you’re on top of the issue and hoping the best for your glass orchids. You give us information that helps us and informative. Can’t wait to see your garden changes ,don’t work too hard. love to all 🐶🌷⛰️☺️

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

Thanks for feedback, yes best to keep my eye on them till they settle in happily Love Carolyn

[@sheilabroad8192]

Yes Carolyn. With my bigger pots, I go 2 weeks . Unless Jack drills a lot more holes, I would cut way back on the water. I have larger pots and smaller pots. Some are in moss, most are in bark. I have my summer bloomers on a cookie sheet on top of a heating mat. Some like it hot. 😅 It sounds like you have it figured out. 🧐 Your traffic cones must have a lot of more drainage 😮

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

Yes traffic cones just have wire mesh, so complete drainage, nothing holding water the humidity from the heavy rubber traffic cone holds enough humidity. I am trying one more thing (wait till yousee) if not enough will drill holes in bottoms. It is interesting keeps brain occupied LOL

[@mariaverniers2816]

Glass is fine for water culture. When only the lower part of the roots are in water. And even so the roots have to dry out ones in a while. When you have different situations it's better to look at every plant individually. Sometimes I put a paper towel folded under the pot to suck up the water from within the bottom of that pot. Some plants like to be dryer. It's a fussy bizzness but it's worth it. My advice is to go back to pots that have holes in the bottom. "There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza dear Liza .." ;-)) you know the song ..

[@andreaallum8859]

That is why I took mine out of my glass vases because they were staying too wet and the bark that I brought was absolutely rubbish that was staying wet all round the bottom specially wear some roots so I stopped doing that lava rock. I’ve been in for a month now, new leaves are coming the roots are fine they look good perhaps just get a small bag of lava rock and try one of your plants to see what happens. I put all mine in lava rock now and if something do go wrong then it’s my fault, but there we go, hope you don’t lose more of your orchids because they are also beautiful but we all have problems with the bark at the moment. That’s why I changed. Thanks for the video. Bye for now. Hope your family is all well.❤❤

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

When trying new things it takes time for orchids to accept and be happy and for us to keep an eye on them for things going wrong and fix it. So very interesting and keeps us learning Love Carolyn

[@juanitagibbs2100]

Oh boy,I thaught to try the glass, not now, but at least you found the problem . So glad you found the problem. See you next time.👍

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

Yes if you try just one and maybe wait see how the experiment continues first Love Carolyn

[@rosemaryboast508]

Lovely to see you, hope you are all well. So sorry about the lost orchid. It always seems to be the ones that are special to us. Having very similar problems at the moment. Noticed two the other day not looking quite right. So checked them and they were very wet at the bottom. The bark we have bought, just seems so small and full of dust. Also has an old smell about it. So trying to track down some larger bark. Found some that was being sold for pet use. Nice size pieces and no dust. So will give it a try. Take care, love to you all. xxx

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

Oh that is a good idea! Jack ordered something new to try so soon as it gets here, yes bark is betting smaller and smaller no air flow at all Love Carolyn

[@gabrieleweidhuner5727]

Sorry that you lost your orchid. Hope you will find a solution to this problem.

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

Working on it, but not giving up easy LOL Love Carolyn

[@nanci6134]

IGood afternoon I really like the glass concept. I think by placing the orchid deeper in the glass vase as you demonstrated with the first repot, it ccreates a great humid environment for the upper portion of the leaves. I choose to place marbles in the bottom of the glass vases to increase air circulation

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

Great idea! I still like the glass just have to fix a few issues. :0) Love Carolyn

[@nanettealsop]

Hi Jacolyn - long time no see 😊 I think you have too much bark and, as you say, it retains too much moisture. I just recently changed half of my Phals into glass containers, with NO media at all 😲 and they are doing great. I do have to water about every three days (fill with water and leave for an hour then dump the water) and they are loving it and watching the re-growth is very pleasing. Don't know if you ever watched Rick L, who disappeared for a while, is now back posting and he grows a lot of his orchids just in lava rock and coconut chunks and they are growing like crazy. I feel your pain having to throw away a dead orchid 😕

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

Oh Yes Many times watched Rick and Subscribed to him,. was very Sad to see him suffering so much. Let me know how it continues with your glass vases. I like them and they seem much happier with the addition of the cork. Yes to small of bark to close held too much water. It does take time as they adjust, and me too! I am loving the glass just the same and feeling good about the change Time will Tell Love Carolyn

[@lewisbroadhead4964]

Hello Carolyn, Jack, Mum and family, The trouble and disappointment you are experiencing I have had too. Bark too small, lack of aeration and the bark also carrying fungal spores, a natural process of decomposition, but the pals picking it up and fungal explosions, and thus the orchid dies or begins to die, and roots especially suffer. I have changed from terracotta pots to glass, no holes, and no media, just fresh air and so far things are looking good, two months now. I put a little charcoal in the base of the glass vase to keep it sweet and spray the roots every two of three days depending on humidity levels on my barometer. We are in there 90's to 100% humidity at present, here in Whangarei, Northland, New Zealand, so just a little spray and about half and inch of liquid or less at the bottom. No filling the vase with water and tipping put, and allowing to dry so many days. None of that, so it takes me 5 to 10 minutes to go around the plants. The roots remain moist on spray days and semi dry/moist before I spray again. Sometimes a few roots will touch the water. Now at long last, I can see exactly what is going on with my orchids, and I also use strong glasses and a good torch so as not to miss those mealy bugs or scabs, as well. Also no more hefty pots and an unnecessary weight to deal with around the house, not getting any younger. Liquid fertiliser (mostly organic) on watering days and then just plain rainwater from out our roof tank on alternate watering days. Everything is light and manageable now, just need to be sure not to knock the glass. If I haven't enough charcoal, lava rock is just as good. Ricks Orchids uses lava rock and nothing else with remarkable success. So thumbs down to bark I'm afraid, but if it works for you do what you feel is best. Take Care and love your Maple Syrup which we purchase from our local supermarket. Love your channel and what you do with your plants Carolyn.

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

This is so interesting, have seen them growing that way before, I like it, but here not enough humidity in winter or summer. I am trying something though so we see how it works. We are busy planning a no work area where garden was, as do not want a million weeds out there. Going to be very nice I think!! Love Carolyn

[@anagilruiz118]

What you are doing is like semi water culture. Just some lava rock or pebbles at the bottom of the glass vase. Water only to cover the rocks and the roots clean and free just hanging and some just touching the water. Soak them in water with fertilizer and kelp every week and back to the vase where moisture is created by the evaporation of the water on the bottom. I keep my orchids like this and works for me. You see the roots all the time, which is good!

[@Jean-ve3uz]

Oh Carolyn, I am soooooo very sorry. I have had so many problems when I tried using different planters. It seems changing even the slightest variable can create havoc. So that smaller bark happening at the same time as the glass vases may very well have been the culprit. My heart goes out to you. Every time I think I have a handle on things I seem to get some unfortunate surprise that I didn't forsee. Take care sweet lady, I know you will work it out, but .... why do these things happen when you're so busy with other things!

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

I do think too much of the smaller bark means less air, and that to me is the big problem, and why it is staying wet, and the vases are bigger in shape than the one that is in the conce shaped glass. so Have ordered something to solve the issue. Not giving up yet. Love Carolyn

[@bltperky]

In cooler weather I water every two weeks. Your vases seem quite large but I’m only going by my environment. I enjoy your videos. 😊

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

No Cooler weather here, winter the furnace keeps house at 71 degrees Far, otherwise Mom is cold, and No Spring we just jumped to summer so No cooler days here

[@robinnitowski2009]

Carol I’m starting to use lecca and see it working. This is my new experiment. Love to watch you and miss you .

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

So many different conditions and areas and variety, fun to play till we get it right. The traffic cones are very happy and just want to perfect glass as traffic cones take up more space. We will keep trying see how we do Love Carolyn

[@grannyfranny3661]

😢 I am so sorry you have this to deal with. But I am confident you will figure it out. I have had some real doosies. Now I sometimes get scared for my fav orchids that I do something and rot the roots.

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

Oh Not giving up , just adjusting as bark was soken in bottoms not good, Have a Plan Oh wait till you see what we have been up to Love Carolyn

[@harleyinred]

Take care Carolyn 😍

[@007trudig]

Grief today. I reported some phals in cheap bark. The leaves turning yellow, no root growth, root rot. Never again. Leca for me! Must repot about 40, about half my collection.

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

OMG that is so sad. I will show you what I plan to do soon Very sad and seems a lot of people having trouble with bark lately. some friends are doing well with Leca, but I want to stay with bark but have a plan Love Carolyn

[@kathiebumpers1767]

Do you think they need more 'flow through' air from outside their containers? So enjoy watching you care for your orchids. I have a new leaf coming on mine and I'm glad to see that! Take care.

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

Yes, definitely That is what I think for the size of vase is bigger than the one I have doing so well. Think I have a good idea will share soon Love Carolyn

[@reginesievert9708]

Dear Carolyn. So sad to hear that you have lost your favorite orchid. Want to let you how I manage to water my orchids without risks of overwatering. I do have my orchids in plastic pots with holes and the pots are sitting in ceramic overpots. I do have a list of all the plants and befor I do water I check the weight of each plant . I have notes of the weight they have when they had dried. So if they don`t have reached this dry weight they won`t be watered...and if they had reached this weight they will be watered. But this rule is only for my Phalaenopsis plants...! Cause I do know that Phalaenopsis love their dry periods. In summer I do have to water very often..but not in winter...or sometimes early spring...it depends on the room temperatur and also if I have fresh bark..or if it is already a little bit older. Since I do use this method I never had lost a Phalaenopsis ecause of overwatering..! I do use my kitchen scale for this ! ❤🧡💛💚💙💜

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

Love that you found the perfect thing for you. When you change things for some orchids there is always a learning curb, and everyone and every home has many varying conditions, and sounds like you have fit Well in Hand!! Congratulations. Love Carolyn

[@reginesievert9708]

@@jacolynsorchids1361948friends thanks Carolyn. I do hope that you can figure out a new way that fits for your home. In the past I also had lost some of this precious plants...and nowadays you can`t get this special ones back....its so sad ! 😕

[@lisatodman3338]

Carolyn, I think getting bark from the woods will be inviting a huge host of other problems. Bugs, molds, fungi, who knows what. You should ask the nursery when you order orchids. Do you have a big box store like our Costco or Sam’s? Maybe they have affordable large bark? No matter the medium you should ask Jack to make more holes, IMHO. You might even try a near by lumber mill. I hope the three of you are all well, Maggie too!. Let us know what you decide. 🩷

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

Yes last time I did something like that still got messy so no bark from the forest and no cones from forest, but have ordered something, soon you will see. I am still thinking things will settle down, just something different, and the one orchid seems very happy so we will see how things go Love Carolyn

[@FernandaGarcias]

Bom dia Carolyn. De novo cá aprendendo. Tenho poucas orquídeas e faço hidroponia também. Coloco num vaso largo para o ar circular, coloque uma pedras limpas no fundo, noutros vasos não e coloco a orquídea limpa dentro com as raízes mergulhadas pouco na água 💦 Mudo a água de 3 ou 5 dias. As raízes precisam de circulação de ar… as cascas por vezes levam ovos de larvas 🐛 e não vemos como as raízes estão. A água fervo-a e deixo arrefecer ou com 6/7 ph, lavo o vaso com sabão líquido da louça. Não gosto de casca porque apodrece e por vezes têm ovos de larvas. Desculpa estar a escrever isto mas é o que faço com algumas. Qual o adubo que usas? Coloca aqui o nome?! Quando as folhas amarelecem é porque tem humidade a mais. Carolyn se fores buscar casca à floresta, ferve-a por causa das larvas e do tanino que é prejudicial às plantas. Aprendi alguma coisa. Beijinhos 😗

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

The reason I still like some bark in glass vases is for the good microorganism and have tried your system many years ago and did not work for me and my conditions here. My fertilizer is a 6 week schedule and each week is different. One is black tea with calimagic, epsom salts and cali magic, seaweed extract and calimagic, 2 of those weeks is musu fert or fertlizer of choice depending on flowering or higher nitrogen for growth. bloom buster to help keep flowers longer. List and imformation goes on and on over years. Love Carolyn

[@denniskillian]

I think it is the pine cones? they may be holding to much water or they are giving off some kind of sent or something? I would also drill more holes in the glass.

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

I agree may drill more holes in glass, idea to get air moving in pot better, have an idea! next video, if that does not work, than more holes, funny the one been in there a year actually more than that and is very happy Love Carolyn

[@yolilopez1992]

I think they need a bottom hole for sure,maybe extra holes around Vase . I know it might be delicate with glass.

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

Yes and yes it would help but before I do that going to try one other thing. Love Carolyn

[@juanitagibbs2100]

Carolyn have you seen or heard of orchard by Alexandra check him out he is also growing in glass he is interesting. He does not water very much check hi. Out. I like the idea of glass, and he uses glass and large bark. And he has no holes in glass. I want to try also take care 🙏👍

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

Juanita Yes !!!! I think I mentioned hime and his videos when I first started!!! I like what he is doing, I added the holes, just for my own reasons as he was tipping them over at one time, but now I think his older orchids he just adds a little water. Mine seem much better with the cork added, and he does use large bark also. I will continue to see how they go as I am learning and liking what I see so far. Love Carolyn

[@mikeerstad3705]

I've never tried glass pots....mine are all clay with porcelain baked over....and they are mostly 6" high at the most....two are in 8" pots.... I water every two weeks. My Miltoniopsis's are all starting to bud. I like to think about how these grow in nature, as in the Rainforest....in tree crotches with very little surrounding the roots.....Because some orchids have thick leaves like succulents,, they can go for quite awhile without water... Good luck finding larger bark....go over to the neighbors house during the night and scrape off all the nice bark....they'll never now....

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

The one orchid in the glass is so happy, so I am still trying to sort it all out. I think I have the perfect idea LOL Soon another video when what I ordered arrives Love Carolyn

[@007trudig]

My roots are green. Is the substrate you use coloring the roots?

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

If the roots get light they will be green, before potting in glass they were in pots where light never got to roots, perfectly healthy roots no matter color, as long as they are not too dry or too wet Love Carolyn

[@olimpiagambacorta5176]

Hi, I am by no means an orchid expert but aren’t those glass containers very large for the orchids that you have there ? I thought that orchids grow better in smaller containers. Not in small containers, but in much smaller than what you are showing. Perhaps that’s why they are staying wet.

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

I believe that to be a misconception. My traffic cones, my oldest and healthiest orchids in with lots of leaves are in very large pots, so the issue is more air moving around in the medium no matter what it is. The cork should solve that, and already noticing a difference. I was doing more in vases as the one I did over a year ago is doing so good, and as it is still in its (new endeavour) classification noticeable changes will take time, that is ok might be an experiment worth doing. Time will tell Love Carolyn

[@cherylpenn4509]

Im so sorry you lost your orchid, but Im just thinking that those pots are too large for the plants. Put them in smaller pots.

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

This could be an issue but the reason I put more in glass is because the one that has been one year is doing so well. Not about to give uyp but trying to make changes they will like Love Carolyn

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

Hoping to surprise the orchids soon and make them happy Love Carolyn

[@007trudig]

I was taught size of roots determines size of pot.

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

I know size of roots makes difference in size of medium Very interesting Love Carolyn

[@tess.campbell]

Chunks of tree bark from the woods will harbor all kinds of fungus, mold and critters unless you sterilized it before use. Looks like you are overwatering. I tend to do the same.

[@jacolynsorchids1361948friends]

You are so right and I have ordered something else so when it gets here you will see Love Carolyn