Orchids Growing in Water? - Orchid Board

dianecty · #1 05-07-2008, 10:31 PM

I saw in another website (I can't remember where) that says it is possible to grow orchids in water. The author put his orchid in a brandy glass. He said the roots won't rot! He also said that new roots grew in the water!

Have any of you tried this? What happened?

Any thoughts?

Brambles · #2 07-06-2009, 05:51 PM

Hi there,

I recently cut a branch of my orchid right before all the flowers had fallen off and put the small branches in a glass of water. Indeed now the 2 lowest buds start growing new roots. Usually these experiments fail with me, so I'm unsure what to do next though... I'll post some pictures to show it's possible... but after the roots have grown, I can't say if they plant is viable.

Kind regards,

Brambles

seamonkey · #3 07-06-2009, 05:54 PM

hang on- the buds are growing roots?

that seems just a little unlikely. What kind of orchid is this? Pictures would be great!

camille1585 · #4 07-07-2009, 07:35 AM

Water culture does work, although I don't think it's a long term growing solution.
Just like for s/h, preexisting roots will die when you put an orchid in water. I know quite a few people that use water culture to rescue orchids (mainly catts). I have used it too. I had a mini den with no roots, very few leaves and was nearly dead. I didn't know what to do anymore, and tried water culture as a last resort. I cleaned up the dead roots, and suspended it over water to that only the base of the plant touched the water. I change the water every 1-2 weeks. And now, 3-4 months after putting it in, the plant has 7 new growths and quite a few roots starting to appear on the growths. I'm going to wait for the roots to be a few centimeters long, then repot the plant in s/h since it's used to having wet roots.