What is S/H?

[desertgal]

Is there a guide for all of the abbreviations that I read on this forum?
I keep reading to plant in S/H but don't know what that is.

[latsyrc]

You'll have to wait for an expert opinion on this, but I can tell you what I think, anyway. S/H stands for semi-hydroponic, as far as I can tell. As for what that means, I guess that's what google is for!

[mayres]

Absolutely correct. Put into google the words semi-hydro orchids and go to the first site that comes up and you can read more than you probably want to know about how to grow orchids using this method. Many people in the orchid forums love this method and have converted nearly all their plants.

[jerrymeola]

When used with orchids s/h usually refers to the use of an expanded clay product like AliFlor, Hydro Therm or many others. Semi Hydroponic is the bottom watering of a plant with the clay product absorbing the water up from a reservoir to the roots. True hydroponic is growing in water and semi is half way there absorbing water as needed.

It is also used more loosely to mean growing in hydroponic rock without the absorption although that technically is not semi-hydroponic.

I use hydroponic rock extensively but do not use the water reservoir often calling this incorrectly s/h.

You can find the abbreviations for orchid names at

http://www.orchids.mu/Glossary/Glossary_A.htm

[BillC]

Hi, see the thread :Tutorial - hydroponic Lady Slippers , by Jerry. It will give you a better idea of the method used having many pics to illustrate the article.

Bill

[sandra]

Originally Posted by jerrymeola

I use hydroponic rock extensively but do not use the water reservoir often calling this incorrectly s/h.

Jerry, I just posted a question regarding this. Hope you read this post... I was at a nursery yesterday where all they use are the hydroponic rock for their catts and predominantly that as well for their phals with the addition of coir/charcoal/perlite to the top of the rocks for the phals. These were all potted in regular plastic slitted orchid pots.

What benefits have you found in using this over other mediums? Is regular fertilizing needed because of any less nutrients the rock provides? I bought a bag of Hydroton for a new catt and potted it in this but I'm a little nervous, unsure at this point.

This nursery also sells a mix for phals of 50% Hydroton, 50% coir (mixed with charcoal and perlite).

One more question, regarding a phal of mine suffering root rot. Has one good root left, another growing, I cut off the flower spike, soaked in a root stimulant for about 15 minutes, put in coir/perlite/charcoal mixed with Hydroton, didn't water, keeping out of sun. Should I have done something else or more?

[Tess1]

I can think of another explanation for s/h, but won't mention it, fred will slap me. I generally refer to my husband as d/h and was rapped over the knuckles for that, I had to explain that it stood for "dear husband", I had not heard of the other meaning. Never too old to learn, he he he.

[pikevi]

I was racking my brain to grab on something for s/h. The only thing other than semi-hydroponics that crops up is Shipping and Handling.

May be I will never learn about the one you are talking about, Tess1

I think the environment is affecting my gray cells too

[fred]

what about shade house

[chefatplay]

Fred, you're reading my mind. Shade house is what I assumed, but then started reading about semi hydro and felt I was wrong. At least if we're wrong, we're wrong together!

[sandra]

Sh%*ty Husband?

[slippery_biscuit]

Or, Super Husband !!

[linda_shel]

If you want to learn a lot about s/h go to firstrays dot com(sorry I can not put in an url yet) and read some of the articles there. It is very informative. I was pointed there by someone else.

[jay]

Here is the link to FirstRays.
I have all of my orchids except for one in S/H. I will be moving the last one after I get some more LECA.

jay

[jerrymeola]

Sandra

To answer your questions, I used to use expanded clay (aliflor) exclusively for dens and Cattleya. I did not use a water reservoir but liked the clay for growing outdoors in Florida. We can have 4-5 inches of rain every week during the summer.

The benefits were that it could dry out much faster.

A big disadvantage was the movement of the plants to shows knocked a lot of plants out of the pots. Too much movement causes the roots to rub against the stones. If they were re-potted each time everything was OK but sometimes the plants would be knocked out of the pots by the automatic sprinklers and go a week or more without being noticed.

I do not think these are problems you would have.

For a hobbyist, the biggest advantage is the elimination of guessing how much water to use and how often. I really like Phals in true s/h with a water saucer and clay pots. You can see the water in the pot by the water in the saucer and when the saucer is empty you can watch the clay pot lighten as the water is used.

S/H will move water evenly throughout the pot. This is a big plus with Cattleya.

Everything works and your asking me this question made me realize I change my medium often not because of the plant's needs but to adjust for the type of care I am giving my plants at the time.

When I can control water every day everything works well. I use a drier mix in summers during the rains and a wetter mix during our dry winters.

I always recommend to chose the medium that matches your method of caring for the plants.

[pikevi]

That's it, sandra. Thanks.

fred and chefatplay are sooooo innocent.

fred: you would not get mad at Tess1 for saying Shade house, would you?

[fred]

I dint think chefatplay or I are to worried about being wrong but shade house is the first thing I though of.

would I be made at Tess1. I will tell you later after I have cooled down

no not at all

[sandra]

Jerry, with my one stressed phal in Hydroton, would you advise a s/h environment? Could I just put a dish deep enough under the pot (all my plants are in clear plastic pots) and fill with water to create s/h?