1st Foray into Semi Hydroponics - Two Phalaenopsis Gigantea Seedlings

[K-Sci]

I can still be deterred and make changes but here they are. They'll have to be moved to a mount at some point, but for the next 3-4 years this should do (if I don't chicken out or change my mind).

K-Sci

[estación seca]

I learned on cheap supermarket Phals.

[Ray]

I think the use of slotted pots might make it more difficult for the water to wick upward, but if your RH is high, it shouldn't be too much of an issue.

Gigantea is a hot grower, so you don't want to chill those roots.

[K-Sci]

Originally Posted by estación seca

I learned on cheap supermarket Phals.

They were $16.
K-Sci

---------- Post added at 02:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:36 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Ray

I think the use of slotted pots might make it more difficult for the water to wick upward, but if your RH is high, it shouldn't be too much of an issue.

Gigantea is a hot grower, so you don't want to chill those roots.

Central Mississippi summer daytime RH in my area is usually above 50%, 75% most days, and 100% after the almost daily downpours. The RH is higher at night when the ventilation fan is not running.


I did an experiment using Hydroton Original LICA pre-soaked for a week then placed in empty pots. I used various sized pot I have on hand. Some were slotted and some were not.


The LICA was dry on top in the moving greenhouse air by the end of most days, but always moist on top by morning. The pot size didn't seem to make a difference, nor did the slots, but the height had an effect with shorter pots remaining more moist.

I used slotted pots for these plants because the size was right. Plastic party cups are easily found and cheap. They could be used as an alternate. I have heard that Phals don't like their roots cooled by the evaporation. It would be trivial to change to plastic cups with holes near the bottoms.