Hello Gerald, I will give my 2 cents to your questions: "Is algae a problem with respect to the health of the orchid?" "Properly watered what orchids would be exposed to algae? What I am asking is which orchids commonly available to the average home grower require being so continuously damp that algae would form?"
I don't think algae is particularly a problem with respect to the health of an orchid. The only orchids that I know of that would be exposed to algae are those grown in clear pots. Algae needs light and moisture to grow. The algae on the side of a clear pot probably stop some airflow and retains more moisture on the edge of the pot then if it was not there. Since the algae needs light to grow it will not grow too far into the potting mix and clog up the potting mix. As far as competition for nutrients, there is more then enough fertilizer flowing through most pots that this would not be a problem. My two cents Mark _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
