Growing Lady Slppiers in Water culture

[jerrymeola]

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Paphs are a fabulous orchid that grows almost everywhere in the world in heavily shaded moist to bog condition forests.

To grow them in a pot they should not be allowed to dry out and also not too wet to where fungus and root rot develope.

Even in nature when the natural conditions change a field of thousands one year will disappear the next year.

They are much easier to grow in water.

Since they are a low light level plant they are perfect for a living room or bedroom, even a bright bathroom. They grow roots very slowly and can live in the crystal vase pictured for many years.

And doesn't the crystal vase look so much better than a plastic pot inside.

All orchids can grow in water culture but outside you have algae, misquitos and you have to break the glass to repot.

Basically keep the roots in water and the leaves out. Leaves sinking intot he water WILL cause the leaves to rot. It is not easy to see in the photo but there is a metal holder I make to attach the plant and keep it at a consistent light.

The rots do not rot in water because fungus needs air to grow and there is no air on the roots. If the roots are out of the water rot can develope but I have not found this to be a big problem and usually disappears when the water is added.

Fertilize very weak a half teaspoon per gallon (balanced 10-10-10 or 20-20-20). You can use fertilizer with every water change (but it clouds the water over time) or every second or third time. You can change the water as often as you want for looks but every week or two is sufficient.

my test plant (10 months) had the flowers last 4 1/2 months and the new growth grew six inches in six weeks after the flower was removed. It has never been closer to a window than 10 feet. And it is neglected as it is not in the greenhouse. It has only been fertilized twice in ten months and about 4 water changes. But do as I say not as I do - even if they are very forgiving.

[vseraphim]

Can you add some pebbles on the bottom to make it prettier? If they are steralized???

[jerrymeola]

Versapim

My wife adds those pretty glass disks you find at Pier One. I would think anything will work.

It has the advantage of holding the plant in position better,but if they are too heavy on the roots it might cause a problem. My test plant had the glass for six months at about half full and it did well. I wonder if there is anything a little lighter that still will not float. Anything sterile (washing will be sufficient) and inert will not harm the plant.

The photo has a holder to keep the plant up but with anything else in the bowl it is not as necessary as the beads will hold it in place.

[Matt]

Maybe I will do this with my Paphiopedilum. I find this site to be very useful. Thanks for the advice.

[Lucinda Brown]

How do you make your holder that keeps the paphiopedilum in place? This looks like a great idea, I have many paph's, some mystery ones I bought on special, doing great but I'd like to try this, I've spent quite a bit just on potting medium. Thanks, Lucinda Brown

[Maba]

That is such an elegant look--I am amazed you can grow orchids like that. It seems to go against all the advice about overwatering and the roots needing air. But seeing is believing--that plant is obviously lovin' it!

[Dave]

Simply amazing! I never knew it could be done...I'm gonna experiment with some of my own .

[mythymna]

wow that looks like a good idea. I'm trying it with my paph that is on its last leg. The healthy roots are way short though. I hope that they won't rot as the water level goes down during the week.

[jerrymeola]

Lucinda the holder is just bent wire. I use the green vinal covered stakes from the orchid supply houses. It is bent to clip on one edge of the container and stick up to which I tie the flower stem.

The container in the photo is a Libby candle voltive holder. Since the opening is so large the holder is necessary. Many people use the leaves to hold the plant up but then you need a smaller opening in the container.

If you look at the photo carefully it seems there are two green stems slightly different in color. One is the holder. Done carefully they are almost invisible.

Mythymna - I have reserrected sick paphs with the water treatment, if they are not too far gone. since I have had the opertunity to see the roots of many paphs I am amazed at how small the roots are. I have had a flowering paph with only 2 roots each smaller than 1/2 inch. It is still living well.

All paph roots grow extremely slow. My test plant is over a year now in water and the roots have only 1/8 inch of new growth while the new leaves have grown 6 inches.

[mythymna]

Originally Posted by jerrymeola

Mythymna - I have reserrected sick paphs with the water treatment, if they are not too far gone. since I have had the opertunity to see the roots of many paphs I am amazed at how small the roots are. I have had a flowering paph with only 2 roots each smaller than 1/2 inch. It is still living well.

All paph roots grow extremely slow. My test plant is over a year now in water and the roots have only 1/8 inch of new growth while the new leaves have grown 6 inches.

Thank you so much for your comments. My mother in law gave it to me as a gift 2 years ago. I have kept a flowering dendrobium for 7 years (so everyone in the family thinks I'm the "orchid person") but never had luck with Phal's so I half expected I wouldn't have luck with with this Paph.. He're is a picture of it now that I've suspended it (as much as possible) with the roots in the water and the growth resting on an old egg holder (the kind you keep in your fridge):



Would you recommendI keep this on the mantle (1.5 yards from window) or put it in my east facing window (we live in southern England) or another window (we have a south facing window and a west facing window as well)?

Thank you for all your help. It's nice to go somewhere and not feel stupid for asking questions.

[jerrymeola]

My test plant has never been closer to a window than 10 feet, but I abuse this plant to see what it can take. Give the plant as much light as it can take without buring or showing signs of stress. Either condition you suggested should work well.

You can remove or leave the old dead leaves. Paphs do this a lot after flowering. The new pup you have growing looks very heatly and this is where you will get the next flowering.

[Maba]

If I had that pretty little thing it would be the prize of my collection. I would NEVER abuse it (I'm shocked!) I would treat it with tender loving care. And it would probably die. :-)

I am jealous of your growing skills Jerry. I console myself thinking that being in Florida helps!

[Flower power]

Hello Jerry
I was very interested in your experiment with growing the lady slipper orchid in water. Have you tried growing any other types of orchid in just a glass of water (ie no medium) I was thinking of trying Phaelanopsis?
regards
Derek (uk)

[ryan_d_cruz]

Jerry, thanks for another of your informative articles. Did you do any thing additional to increase circulation around the plant ?? also would adding an aquarium anti -algae agent to the water allow me to keep the plant in a brighter place or will it affect the plant

[eka]

Hi,

I have recently aquired two paphs. One is Maudie and one is a hybrid of Hsinying Lajo 'Ching Hua' X Ruby Leopard 'Kuo Jang'.
would either of these be hydroponically grown?
I've grown spathaphilum (sp?) Peace Lillies like this for years.
Also I have 2 types of fertalizers
Better-Gro Orchid Bloom booster 11-35-15
and
Better-Gro Orchid Plus 20-14-13
Would either one of these be ok for the water culture?
Thanks,
Monica

[jerrymeola]

Flower Power

I have seen on the internet where other people grow everything in water, but phals may be the most difficult. I have hear of it being done but have never tried myself. I chose paphs because of the elegant look and I have a hydroponic method of growing phals that I like. But take a phal you can risk and try it. They will be very top heavy and securing it will be your major issue.

Ryan if you do not mind the look of the algae it is actually very good for the plant. A couple I had outside turned very dark green with algae and the plants seemed to love it. Possibly outside you can find another type of container that is not clear glass to look better. You can only experiment. I have no idea of an anti algacide will work but have a gut feeling that anything that kills vegetation can not be good for a plant.

Monica your paphs will work fine. The bloom boost fertilzer is an attempt to force flowering. It does not work as well on orchids as other flowers. The Plus is heavy on nitrogen to grow leaves and make a larger plant. I recomend a balanced fertilizer but you can alternate between the 2 using the Plus twice followed by the boost. This will give the plant a balanced diet without the need to buy another package of fertilizer. You could also mix them 3/4 treaspoons of Plus and 1/4 tgeaspoon of Boost in a gallon of water and this will be balanced.