Paphiopedilum culture in unglazed pots soaking in water

1　Purpose 　　In this summer, I have hard as follows. When we use unglazed pot for plants, the temperature will be lower because the heat of vaporization decrease the temperature. So, I tried to grow Paphs who are suffered from this summer heat in using this idea. Now, I have some results and complete them here.

2　Materials (1) As you can see in Photo, the plastic pot planting Paphiopedilum will be placed in a unglazed pot. (2) Compare with the size of them, we had better use the same size of plastic pot and unglazed pot. In this experiments, there is about 3~4 cm between the bottom of two pots. (3) I used a plastic saucer that I bought 300 yen. (4) Usually, I kept water 1 cm depth in the saucer .

1. unglazed pot　　 2. Plastic pot　　 3. Their combination　　4. A saucer

3　Methods (1) 　In the 20th, July, 8 kinds of pots' combination were soaking in 1cm depth of water. Usually, the water was dried completely in the next morning. And water was supplied again. (2) 　The watering was repeated every day.

4　Results (1) The temperature on leaf, of unglazed pot , of plastic pot and green house humidity was measured. Temperature on leaves Temperature of unglazed pot Temperature of plastic pot humidity Date 36℃ 30℃ 32℃ 55% August 30 26 27 70 The first ten days of Sep. 20 20 20 90 The second ten days of Sep. 27 24 24 65 The last ten days of Sep. (2) In some day of the first ten days of August, I took of the plastic pot from the unglazed pot and found the good roots growing under the plastic pot. Comparing with two young seedlings of Paph. Gloria Naugle that are the same size at the first time, the size had big difference as follows. They were grown in the same combination but one was soaked in water and another was not.

1. Soaking in water　　　　　2. Not soaking When they were started in this experiment, the size was similar or NO. 2 might be bigger.

(3) In the first ten days, only 2 of plants grew their roots under the bottom but the others grew too latter.

1. The newest root (bending at the bottom)　　　2. The newer root stopped to extend now.

Continue to NO.2