Prolonged rain damage.

15 years ago

All of my outside plants are basically growing bare-root. Either they are mounted, in a 'Pot in a Pot' situation, growing in empty pots or baskets or in pots which have a few 2" rocks added for stability and weight. We have just completed the most prolonged, persistent rain I ever remember in Southern California. For 3 weeks it poured on and off, mostly on. Nothing had a chance to dry out. I lost none of the plants, a few black leaves but no black new growths or bulbs. All is well. Some of my friends who grow outside and have plants potted in bark lost some plants.

There is one exception, a large Grammatophyllym speciosum which is in a 40 gallon pot full of bark. I'm so immune to rain damage that I never thought of protecting it from the deluge. Today I noticed that all of it's 20 new growths, by now 6" long and 3/4" in diameter at the base had rotted out. At least the main plant is OK so will get a chance to regroup.

I could have screamed when I discovered that but it's my fault. I plan to remove the top 6" of bark and replace it with the large rocks that work so well for me and also protect the plant from future rainstorms.

The entire experience confirms my conviction that bare-root plants do so much better when exposed to the elements than plants in a pot full of bark.

Nick

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Comments (8)

petite_orange
15 years ago
Hi Nick - I feel your pain. I learned the same lesson here in south Louisiana after a summer of monsoon-level rain. The orchids that were in pots (even then, very few) quite literally liquefied after a few weeks of near-continuous rain.
Hopefully the abuse will trigger those growth hormones in the Gramm.
Regards - Nancy in arctic Acadiana
stitzelweller
15 years ago
Nick,
Like Nancy in arctic Acadiana Louisiana :),

I feel your pain!

Every 2-3 years here in "tropical" Maryland, we have periods of up to three weeks of constant rain/fog/mist while my plants are outdoors. I use very fast draining media which is changed annually with many plants. It's the ONLY way to fly! I have been changing to LECA products however even that "solution" isn't the answer to every "problem".

eGadZooks! Sometimes, I am forced to think! Perish the thought!!

--Stitz--
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petite_orange
15 years ago
Stitz - what is LECA? Better than a stick?
Cheers - Nancy
stitzelweller
15 years ago
LECA = Light Expanded Clay Aggregate

if you Google it, you will learn much.

Mr Ray in PA discusses PrimeAgra on his website. It is one of the better products available.

--Stitz--
orchidnick
Original Author
15 years ago
I removed all the black stuff and soaked the plant in Subdue, no longer available in California, but I have some left over. Now the plant is drying out in 80F direct sun. Hope the plant is saved, on year's worth of growth has been lost. I could scream.

Nick
orchid126
15 years ago
Would it help if you turned the plant on its side for the duration?
orchidnick
Original Author
15 years ago
Good idea except it weighs about 150 lbs, takes 3 of us to move it.

Nick
orchid126
15 years ago
Glory be! That's one big plant. Then would an apron help? A plastic cone over the medium.