How long do you give a plant that isn't thriving before changing away from S/H
 

I put most of my collection in semihydro a few months ago, around March. Several of them seem to be doing great, several seem to be doing fine, and several seem to be struggling. I've read that it's a classic blunder to switch plants back and forth between growing methods without allowing them to adapt. How long is long enough? When should I start thinking about converting the struggling ones back to bark?

I don’t grow in semi-hydro but from reading on here I know it’s best to make the switch when the plant is actively growing new roots, so that it quickly grows roots adapted to SH since the old root system may fail to adapt. Did you do that, or did you switch everything even if it wasn’t growing new roots?

Then after Dimples' question, what are the plants? What are your growing conditions? Are the plants' roots deep enough into the S/H container that they stay moist?

I feel like it's a matter of when the plants grow roots. When they grow roots they become established (if it goes well). If they try to grow roots and for some reason.they all die upon contact, I might consider changing the potting situation. If they haven't tried to grow roots yet I hold my breath untill they do.

Basically when I transplant a seedling I assume all the old roots will die and, ideally, be replaced by new ones STAT. Once they are transitioned the the potting up is easy and seamless (just keep the waterline the same)

I've had different experiences than others. The old roots on my plants mostly live for quite a while after moving to S/H. I am careful only to move when new roots are growing.

hmmm, i dunno man, i would trust your gut instinct. if it looks like a plant isn't adapting, then trust your instinct and make a change. forget internet rules. it doesn't make sense to see that a plant insnt doing well but to then just keep waiting until it dies, or before its too late, to change things. especially if they are not anything too awful special. and also if they are phals.

got any kelpak on hand?? it'll help a lot to stimulate new root growth whatever you decide to do.

Timing is important, but that does not guarantee success, as the plant still has specific cultural needs that might not be being met.

For example, you might put a complex hybrid phalaenopsis and a Phal. bellina in S/H, both with actively-growing roots, but the hybrid does great while the bellina doesn’t. Why? Possibly because your growing conditions plus the S/H environment is too cool for the bellina.