Blc Keowee 'Newberry' , backbulb in water culture.

[Sun rm.N.E.]

This was a wonderful surprise. I fished out this back bulb from the trash can the morning after I discarded it and placed it in water culture a year ago. The much larger front part of the plant that was planted in leca at the same time is growing well but has not bloomed yet.

Blc Keowee 'Newberry' is an older cross, Blc. Lorraine Shirah x B. nodosa.

[RosieC]

Wow, that's growing really well!

[Leisurely]

I still find water culture rather amazing. I have never tried it except on a single bulb that broke from my C. Bowringiana. I kept it in a glass of rainwater and it grew roots and now has three new growths but I transferred it to sphagnum.

The most interesting thing is that Blc Keowee like to grow dry but obviously, from looking at your plant it is quite happy in water.

Congratulations on a great job.

[LauraN]

Congratulations!
I've never tried water culture, but from the looks of your results, I just might have to give it a shot!
Thanks for posting!

[trdyl]

Congradulations! Looks great.

[Sun rm.N.E.]

Thanks for the positive comments.

Jerry,

I too transfer my plants to passive hydro in leca as soon as soon as they develop some strong growth. I find the 2 container method much easier in the house.

I can't say that I found recommendations made to grow orchids in organic media like bark or sphag very helpful to predict which orchid has the genetic potential to grow water tolerant roots. Change in genetic expression may take a long time with some such as brassavola and its primary hybrids but eventually most of them adapt and bloom. Some Potinara, Richard Mueller hybrids and Blc. take to it surprisingly quickly an Onc. Sharry baby is areal weed with 3inch wide pseudobulbs. i have to emphasize that I treat for infection vigorously and remove all decaying roots and stuff as soon as I see them. My temperatures seldom go below 60 degrees F.

The ones that never grew long-lasting roots in water for me were C. walkeriana and some of its primary hybrids and some climbing oncidiums species and hybrids close to their flexuosum and onustum heritage.

Laura, I don't think I would have ever tried water culture if I could grow so many types of orchids as well as you can.

[LauraN]

Thanks for the compliment, but even though I grow some orchids really well, there are others that I struggle with, and I love to learn learn new/different growing techniques!

[Blueszz]

It's awesome! Very beautiful!
Nicole