Semi-Hydro success

[kazjak]

With the arrival of Summer I can't seem to find time to sit down and post anymore...... I've got a few pictures of recent bloomers all from S/H. I had more but I fat fingered the new camera and managed to delete a couple hundred pictures... Mostly of the kids... Some Noid Phals, a Bollopetalum, a Potinara, a Den(from Jerry) and my recently mounted Tolumnia(obviously not S/H) Wish I had the rest but oh well....

[tom499]

Lovely flowers Kazjak

Could you give some info on your S/H set up, I'm hoping to move my plants to this style while they are in active growth, but I'm still undecided on the style of pot to use etc.

Any help would be greatfully appreciated

[kazjak]

I use mostly deli containers but my Bollo is in a Juice container that I sawed in half. I'll post when I can get a chance. I also have a couple small cake icing buckets that I nabbed from my wife...

[jay]

Any clean container with a couple of whole in the side about an inch or so up the side will work. If it is too tall, then you can do like kazjak said and cut the top off.

Very nice flowers. I am curious to your watering/fertilizing schedule? This helps compare between different systems.

[kazjak]

I keep them topped off for the most part and every couple weeks I change it up with some MSU.... Every once in a while I try to rinse the salts out but I don't do anything crazy. Now that most are outside mother nature takes care of the salt build up. The more the plants establish = more watering... I have a Brassia that sucks it dry every two days. I really need to get some Physan though. The containers are really looking sludgy from the algae.

[jay]

Don't waste your time on the Physan. I have been trying to use it to battle algae in my S/H and it doesn't do much. I don't think the algae is hurting anything.

Congrats again on the great blooms.

[kazjak]

Here's my converted juice container holding my Bollo.... It's not fancy but it is functional.

[NancyG]

Beautiful flowers, nice collection. I use any clear or opaque container from deli or salsa etc. Just nail a couple of holes about 1 and a half inches from the bottom up on opposite sides for air circulation and you are good to go.

NancyG

[tizzycat]

Do you flush them through or if not what level of water do you keep in there. I like the idea of recyling the plastic containers in this way.

[solay]

Very nice flowers. I love the Bollo. the color is great. Thanks for sharing.

[patlee]

Well, the S/H has a lot to be said for it...Love that phal with the pink blush. As always, the Tolumnias are terrific and their mounts look too cool... Do you grow these outside,too?

[gerneveyn]

Algae won't hurt the plant, but it may clog the side drainage holes. Watering with a single fluide oz of bleach in a gallon of water should help clear up the algae. I did this and it cleared up most of it. I got this tip from Ray Barkalow's site firstrays.com but can't remember exactly where. You may also want to consider placing the s/h pots within opaque ones to avoid future algal growth.

[trunghongmon]

Very Beautiful flowers, nice collection. if i have i think happy , hihihi

[orchidjunky]

Originally Posted by kazjak

Here's my converted juice container holding my Bollo.... It's not fancy but it is functional.

I have the same bollo... just wondering does it ever get brown spots on the leaves randomly..?

[NancyG]

As long as the water is flushed out periodically it is fine. If we have a really hot period I let the water in the containers up to the holes sit in there. It usually evapotates if we don't get any rain.

NancyG

[cassier]

I like s/h. It does well for the plants. I experimented with an oncidium noid. Then moved on the 2 paphs. I have another paph in the house in hydroponics. The s/h plants are in peat gravel, works well for me.