I think I have seen Ray from FirstRays say that he has grown them that way. When I was originally trying to do a full s/h method with them I got root rot. I have evolved with all of my mixed collection (Phals, Paphs, Phrags, Catts, Milt) to my current system which is the use of the same media you would use with s/h but instead of having an inch of fluid in the bottom of a s/h pot, I have my pots sitting individually in plastic saucers. With frequent from-the-top watering in an amount to be sure that the pots are not sitting in fluid above the drainage holes I can be sure of prompt and good drainage while still having fresh availability of water/fertilizer/oxygen going to the roots.
Ray has said that you could grow orchids in marbles if you got the watering method adjusted right. Since I like to fiddle/water about every day, I have to be sure of good drainage. The media is just there for anchoring the plants; the rest is balancing water/fertilizer/oxygen for the roots and the plant and that takes time to learn your particular environment.
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