Growing orchid in no medium
 

Hey guys. New here. I have three phals that I'm experimenting with no medium. They are in a glass vase and I water the roots every day. I will take pics tomorrow. One phal has been in no medium for almost a week now and doing well! I like that I can see the roots! My question is - has anyone ever done this and continues to do so. I mean obviously Ill move it back to bark media later because I cant water everyday if Im on vacation but was just curious with this method and have been for a while and finally took the plunge! Thoughts???

I'm sure you can do it. It isn't too dissimilar from them being mounted except the roots aren't on anything. I always feel that Phals are only "happy" though if their roots are gripping tight to something. Just my opinion though.

I've done it with my very first orchid, after I got root rot in it. It had one tiny root at the time. I watered it daily and kept it that way for about 18 months when it had grown one more root.

It didn't really grow roots well that way though. Like Ben says it is not dissimilar to growing mounted, however I got the feeling that when I moved this one in to a tiny pot (where the medium dried so quickly I was still watering every day) that it's roots were happier and grew better. I think they do like to grip something.

The culture you describe is called "vase culture" and is sometimes used for vandaceous plants. I have about a half dozen Vanda & Ascoscenda that I am growing this way. Mine seem to be doing well, I hope yours do the same thing!

Thanks for your responses everyone. Much appreciated :)

It's a common growing method for Vandas which seem to like hanging roots. In my (limited) experience Phals like to grip something more. However it may well work, as Phals are part of the Vandaceous group of orchids.

I grow almost all of my vanda hybrids bare root like their bigger standard vanda sisters. They do well but yes they need watered often. Thankfully I have an automated misting system to do just that even though sometimes it's fun just to water them by hand too.


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