Phal in water culture..

[naoki]

Interesting, it goes against the basics of plant biology. How long has they been growing like that? I've seen photos of Phalaenopsis pulcherrima growing roots into a river in nature. Is it a hybrid with this species in it? But other typical phals are epiphyte. So conventional wisdom says that their root systems requires lots of air. The cause of "root rots" are frequently death of the roots first, then microbes start to decompose the dead roots. So microbes are accused for the cause of root rots, but they may not be the main cause. The roots could die from two main reasons: not enough oxygen for respiration or dehydration due to high water potential outside of root cell (frequent cause is too much solutes/salt). So I'm surprised that your phals can produce roots which don't die under water. If you put them in drier media, I'm guessing that the old roots will eventually die, but they will make new roots, and the plants may be happier for a long run. But it will be interesting to know how long you can grow phals like this.

[TyronSA]

Yes the entire root system is submerged in water. I cut all the dead roots off before i put it into water. Then it took about 3 or 4 weeks for the first root to show it is about 4 or 5 months now and this is how it looks now.. Normally i top the water off when the jar is 3/4 full from the core of the Orchid.

Here's what i did.

1. Let the orchid rest in a water and root growing fertilizer for 20min. (i use Seaweed)
2. Rinse it off
3. Cut all the roots off. You can leave the live roots on but it will rot away and there is a chance of the rot then spreading to the crown.
4. Tie the orchid to a spike support stick
5. Place it in a jar and fill the jar with plain water. Never let the water touch the crown.. If the orchid only has the crown bit let only touch the water but never more than 1mm.
6. Place the jar with orchid in a windowsill where it is hot enough for the water to evaporate to create humidity in the jar. DO NOT COVER it with a plastic bag.

This method works on all sorts of orchids.. i just put another vanda in water culture tonight because the roots started to die of under watering while i was away. I already have one vanda in water where it has grown 1 root that is about 6cm long now.

[TyronSA]

This was actually my last resort.. I tried the Spag and bag method but it only created mold in the bag because of to much humidity.. I was very relieved to see it actully put out new roots in the water culture then it created 3 new leaves in a period of a month since roots. It actually seems to be doing alot better in the water than on bark. And sorry to say but i have NO clue which type of Phal it is i can however show you a pic of what it looks like..

It is one of these 2 not sure though:

[Joyorchid]

See, shows what I know! Is this an advanced method?

[TyronSA]

by Advanced do you mean in experience or plant health?

If experience. Not really no but wont reccomend it if you have not done your research there is a few things that can go wrong.. But the most important thing is the heat and light it gets during the day.. morning sun works great for me..

If health.. would recommend you check your roots often if you see the plant is rapidly dropping leaves (dropping one and the next is already starting to turn yellow repeatedly) you should get it into water culture immediately.. Because that means the roots are dried out or rotten and its trying to save energy by dropping leaves.

Thats what my experience is but please dont take my word for everything i say.. As i said this was my first time and i did alot of research on water culture. Would recommend you do the same if you ever get to that position.. Hopefully you never do hahaha!!

[james mickelso]

This interesting. I think I'll try it. Lots of rescues screaming for attention at my local HD and Lowes.

[escualida]

AnonYMouse already said it but I'll repeat it just in case. By S/H I meant Semi Hydroponics, there's an entire section in this forum about it and I think it would be the best option for this plant because if you leave it in the water too long it will start to deteriorate, but if you put it into media that is too dry the roots will not be well suited for it. With S/H the roots will get constant moisture but will also get air as well.

Here is more information about this method:

First Rays' "Semi-Hydroponic - TM" Culture

Semi-Hydroponic Culture - Orchid Board - Most Complete Orchid Forum on the web !

[quiltergal]

I know of several people who have used water culture successfully. I think the secret is to change the water occasionally and make sure you leave some algae in the jar. The algae provides oxygen to the roots. That is why they don't die. I'm not sure how successful you would be moving from water culture to standard media.

[TyronSA]

Had to show you all this.. It is making a spike. Because of that i was actually starting to think to get all of my phals in water.. It normally takes my phals a year or 2 before they make a new spike this is about 6 months old since i got it and its making a new spike already.. I knew eventually it will make a spike but did not think it will be that fast.. Its making a new leaf as well.. The overall growth is much better in the water than any of my other phals in normal medium.. And i have decided to keep this one in the water as a test dummy to see if it keeps on growing like this. if so i'm converting all my phals to water culture..

[JanetL]

I agree with the other repliers. Your plant seems very happy growing in water. I wouldn't replant it into bark media all of a sudden. That may shock the plant.

I saw a youtube video of a woman growing Phal in glass vase with hydroton leca media. The glass vase has no drainage just like yours. She left one inch of water at the bottom barely touching the roots so that the pebbles can suck up water and it also provides humidity. I think this is the closest thing to the water media you're using now, and it may be a good transformation for your orchid.

I would try this if I really want to get it out of water: fill leca pebbles in its glass gar but keep the water level the same at the beginning. Ideally, the plant adept slowly to lower and lower water level as the water evaporates naturally. And change water and fertilize as usual. Keep an eye on it in this process. If it shows dehydration, increase water level. I don't think the clay pebbles kill the algae but I've never experimented on it. The pebbles are known to prevent bacterias that cause root rot. So, this may give minimum change to its growing environment.

How I water my orchids in glass vase / hydroton medium - YouTube