what is hydroponic culture?

[DDS2007]

hi there !

could anybody explain that to a newbie eager to learn ?

thanks a lot

[fred]

DDS2007

I found the below links that may intrest you regarding you question.

I hope they help.

http://www.firstrays.com/hydro.htm

http://orchids.klanky.com/culture.htm

http://orchids.klanky.com/culture.htm

http://www.1-hydroponics.co.uk/web/m...dro/index.html

[flowerchild]

Fred you are just a fountain of knowledge!!!! You are a valuable asset to this forum, thanks for being here!!!! Cindy

[DDS2007]

thanks for the links , but i still can't understand. how are we supposed to keep our orchids in reservoirs full of water without causing root rot??

has anyone tried this?

it's so hard for me to order the kits on-line so i was wondering if i can mimic them myself., so does semi-hydroponics mean that i should repot my Phal in perlite, then keep it in a reservoir full of water?? do the pots themselves have a unique feature, or can i use any pot i like. do hydroponic kits come with a special "growing" solution or can i use regular fertalizer?



sorry for the extra-newbieness!!

[Fabolusus]

I decided to try s/h a while back after visiting the firstrays website. It does work, but I can't say that I have noticed a huge difference over my other orchids. About recreating your own setup: 1.There is nothing special about the pots. All you need is some kind of container with a few holes drilled or cut 1 1/2 inches from the bottom. 2. There is no special growing solution. However, you have to take into account that there is nothing organic in the medium, so go easy on the nitrogen. I'm not sure about using perlite, though. You have to use something that wicks. Here is a pic of my Phal bellina that I planted in s/h 6 months ago and has finally spiked.

The roots are not sitting in water. The water stays in the bottom inch and a half and wicks up through the material above to the roots. You can make your own pots using plastic deli containers and melting holes in them with a hot screwdriver or the tip of a glue gun. As fabolusus describes, they should be an inch or inch and a half from the bottom. Perlite is one medium that you can use. Make sure it's the large, coarse kind. Ceramic pellets are another, and are sold under many different brand names.

[BillC]

A method of growing plants without soil. Instead a practically inert wicking medium transports water and fertilizer to the roots by capillary action. Medium contains a multitude of free air spaces and thus delivers oxygen to the roots.
I have read that hyd.culture Orchids can be planted in any container (not glass) with no drainage holes at the bottom but a few extra holes 3-5 cm up at the sides of the pot. The idea is to provide a water reservoir at the bottom of the container from which the medium wicks moisture to the roots.
But I think a lot will depend on the medium used. Maybe different mediums mean different wicking rates with the possibility of the roots becoming too moist. I would like to read opinions from the senior members. Bill

[moneyface]

What I have done before with Brassias:

Grew them in charcoal + bits of spagnum in a plastic colander. This sits exactly on top( not into ) of a tray which collects water. The water evaporates and "steams" the media and orchid. Eventually, the roots grew into the water but never rotted. It's only an inch or so of water which dries out in 3 or 4 days and naturally tops up again during watering.

I suggest someone try growing in a Chinese bamboo steamer( dim sum! ) sitting on top of a pan with a simillar diametre.

I believe what rots roots is the brackish, toxic atmosphere of media + moisture. Moisture alone seems fine.