We have some interesting news to report this week regarding our Phalaenopsis orchid. It's getting ready to bloom once more...

This is both interesting and mildly amazing.  It bloomed for almost six weeks back in March. Normally, we wouldn't expect it to bloom again quite so soon.  However, we've had great success with this little orchid.  I guess we shouldn't be so surprised.

For those of you that haven't heard the story... This orchid was nearly dead when we first got it.  We decided to "toss it" in the hydroponic tank as a last chance.  We didn't know if orchids would tolerate growing in a hydroponic system.  We gave it a shot, simply because the plant was already considered lost.  The little orchid really took to growing in our MegaGarden.  In fact, it's grown to be quite happy and healthy.  We've fed it a combination of Technaflora and House & Garden throughout it's life.  Both have been very favorable.  I can't site any scientific reason for the nutrient switch... I'm simply all out of Technaflora, but still have plenty of House & Garden in stock.

Here's a fresh photo of our little fellow:

Also, I've got a followup to previous posts... We've mentioned STG (Sure To Grow) in earlier articles.  STG is a relatively new lightweight growing medium.  They sent us some samples for evaluation, and we've been playing with it in the growing lab.

It's been long enough now that I feel comfortable commenting on it.  We've been trying it as an aeroponic medium using both cantaloupe and tomato as sample plants.  It's worked really well.  We didn't know how it would react in an aeroponic environment; so we tested it the old fashioned way.

I'm really pleased with the results.  It's stable, strong, and working very well.  Here's a photo from the base of our tomato plant:

The STG has kept the water contained nicely.  The top always stays very dry, and there isn't any sign whatsover of algae.  It's really working well.  The tomato was started in a "small block" (roughly rockwool sized).  Once it took root, the "small block" was placed into the center of a "larger block".  The plant expanded into the larger block.  Finally, we placed the entire larger block into a 6" net pot for the aeroponic unit.  We simply filled the remainder with their "loose fill" version of STG.  It plugged the gaps really well.  We're pleased with the results.