Hydroponics

[Sassismom]

Does anyone use this type of growing method?

[Sassismom]

OK, never mind, I found the proper thread for this question....

[jay]

Sassismom - Sorry I didn't see this post. I am on vacation and have not been keeping up. I grow all of my orchids in S/H (Semi-Hydroponics), which I see you have now found the thread. I created a thread to explain how to use this process. Please don't hesitate to post or PM me if you have any more questions. I will be back home late Tues 7/22/08 and will be back to regularly checking posts.

[Sassismom]

Thanks Jay, will do, as I'm sure I'll have lots of questions once I get switching some of my orchids over.

[jay]

Rule #1 - switch when they have active root growth. This will help them acclimate to the new conditions. If they are not in active growth you can have setbacks.

[Sassismom]

So I should take them out of whatever they are in now to see if they have active root growth? Then switch if they do.

[jay]

For many orchids new roots grow with new growths/leaves. Some, like Catts, will produce a new growth then new roots. I try to transplant when there is new growths/roots.

See this thread for a more detailed description on how to do this.

S/H method explained

[Sassismom]

Jay do you have all different kinds of orchids in S/H?

[jay]

Some orchids I currently have in S/H:

Cattleya (Loves S/H, two are nearly out of control)
Dendrobium (Growing like crazy)
Phalaenopsis (Had a couple that did not like the transfer, but several doing great)
Paphiopedilum (Maudiae go either way, some like some don't. My muli-florals love it)
Phragmepidium (Loves S/H)
Neofinetia
Oncidium Alliance (Onc., Vuyl.)
Cymbidium
The following are all part of the Catasetinae sub-tribe and love S/H.
Fredclarkeara
Catasetum
Mormodes
Cycnoches


I might be missing some, I am not at home to take a glance.

[Sassismom]

I have Catts., den.,phal.,paphs.,phrag.,oncid., and cymbidiums.
How do the cyms. like it. Maybe I could try one of those and a paph., oh and maybe a catt. Oh I have a den. that hasn't bloomed yet too, but does have lots of new growth.
Gee, I don't know where I'll start.

[jay]

I am just now trying Cymbidiums so I could not give a reliable report. I have heard others say that they love it. If you put a Catt in it, make sure it is growing new roots. They take a set back if they are not. Same with the Dendrobium.

Be careful with Maudiae type hybrid Paphs, some like it, some don't. I have one that is doing great in it, but I have lost 2 others.

I went to Lowe's and bought an out of bloom discount Catt to experiment with the process until I felt more comfortable to transplant others. It took off very quickly since it was growing new roots. Now I can't seem to contain it. Actually, if it doesn't slow down, I am going to get rid of it for space reasons. If I do, I will send it to you so you can play with it.

[Sassismom]

Deal.

What is a Maudaie type paph.? These are my three.

[jay]

Maudiae type Paph is one that has Paph lawrenceanum or Paph callosum in its parentage. They tend to have molted leaves. If I were to guess I would say that the picture on the left is a Maudiae type paph.

I have had good luck so far with a Paph. Mark Eickhoff, primulinum, and lowii. Do you have names of your Paphs?

[Sassismom]

No, no names, I bought them in the grocery store, none are in flower right now, but I think they are all mottled leaf...oh except maybe the middle might be the plain green leaf. It's not growing upright for some reason, it is hanging over the pot, except for the new growth it's getting is upright. The last one is delantaii or something like that.

[Sassismom]

I get confused when they don't have name tags. Do phrags. have mottled leaves? Because I have 3 with and 1 without and 1 of the 4 is definitely a phrag., just can't remember which one, if they ever bloom again, I'll be sure to put tags in them to help me at least identify which is which.

[jay]

The one on the right is might be a delenatii hybrid, but it is not pure delenatii. I don't think there are any Phrags with molted leaves, but I only have one. There are several non Maudiae type Paphs that have molted leaves as well, so that is not a sure fire way to tell.

If you are nervous about trying this, find a discount plant from a bargain bin to try it on.

[Sassismom]

Darn I saw a few of those today for $10. I didn't buy because they looked pretty bad.
They were phals, I should haved grabbed one.