How to tweak S/H conditions to meet plants' needs

[katsucats]

Originally Posted by Mr.Fakename

While browsing for info, I read that about you:

Did You Know: the inventor of the semihydroponic orchid method, doesn’t grow his phals in semihydro? It’s true. His phals are potted in sphagnum moss.
(The Down Side to Semi Hydro (S/H) and Full Water Culture (FWC) for Orchid Care >> Here But Not)

I won't speak for Ray, but I've come across this article many times and in my opinion, every one of his points apply for any medium. In my own experiments (and I must preface that I'm nowhere near as experienced as Ray or the other posters here), I can tune a S/H-type system by:

• Raising the reservoir to increase the length of a wet cycle.
• Wait longer before refilling to increase the length of a dry cycle.
• Decrease container height to increase moisture at the top of the medium.
• Add sphagnum, perlite, Monto clay, polyester fabric mesh, etc., to increase moisture gradient height (so pot height could increase).
• Use Hydro Crunch LECA to decrease moisture gradient height (as opposed to Hydroton). Hydro Crunch is more even in size, but doesn't wick as high, properties which could be preferable or not, depending on what you're going for.
• Add Monto clay (e.g. turface, seramis) to decrease pH. In my own test, LECA pH went up to 7-8, whereas Monto clay was 6-7.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Mr.Fakename

Funny you mention that Ray.

While browsing for info, I read that about you:

Did You Know: the inventor of the semihydroponic orchid method, doesn’t grow his phals in semihydro? It’s true. His phals are potted in sphagnum moss.
(The Down Side to Semi Hydro (S/H) and Full Water Culture (FWC) for Orchid Care >> Here But Not)

That guy ought to be a politician. I've read his posts. Jerk.

He ignores the "cultural conditions have changed" parts, because it suits his agenda.

[Leafmite]

Someone in my orchid society grows orchids in full hydroponics and has been doing this for many years with success. The orchids she brings into our meeting and the show are AMAZING.

I really enjoy seeing the different ways that people grow orchids.

[Mr.Fakename]

Originally Posted by estación seca

People disagree with me but I think Phals are marginal unless you can keep them much warmer in winter than most people keep their houses. People do manage to keep them alive and flower them in these conditions.

Various OB members over the years have shown excellent Phal growth with heat mats in winter. This solves much of the problem. I have a sunroom with warm to hot winter days. Phals do so well for me in S/H I don't grow them any other way.

Your experience confirms my thoughts; and I also agree on the fact that Phal mostly prefer high temps.
I have yet to see one doing bad at 30°C, but they considerably slow their growth down in low 20s.

A heat mat or cable was on my wish list. Sorry Netherlands, I don't trust your weather.

Originally Posted by katsucats

I can tune a S/H-type system by:
Raising the reservoir to increase the length of a wet cycle.
Wait longer before refilling to increase the length of a dry cycle.
Decrease container height to increase moisture at the top of the medium.
Add sphagnum, perlite, Monto clay, polyester fabric mesh, etc., to increase moisture gradient height (so pot height could increase).
Use Hydro Crunch LECA to decrease moisture gradient height (as opposed to Hydroton). Hydro Crunch is more even in size, but doesn't wick as high, properties which could be preferable or not, depending on what you're going for.
Add Monto clay (e.g. turface, seramis) to decrease pH. In my own test, LECA pH went up to 7-8, whereas Monto clay was 6-7.

So many possibilities, that's exactly what I wanted to try!

Checking the pH is a great idea.

What failures and successes did you encounter in your experiments?

Originally Posted by Leafmite

I really enjoy seeing the different ways that people grow orchids.

That's very true, it's awesome seeing people come up with brilliant ideas to tame their conditions and get the best plants they can

[Hybrid]

Originally Posted by Ray

Having invented the technique many years ago, I did a lot of experimentation and found many plants that were easy to grow that way. At first, like many others, I concluded some plants "liked" it while others did not. And then a funny things happened....

As more and more people tried it out, some were very successful with plants I had completely ruled out, while others failed with plants I felt were super easy. Hmmmm.... Lesson learned that "S/H" doesn't completely describe "orchid culture", just water delivery and the use of an inert medium.

Now, I no longer grow plants that way that I once did (phals - my conditions changed when I moved), but all my slippers seem to love it still.

I know Arthur Chadwick of Chadwick & Son Orchids who was featured in the Smithsonian. His advice to me is that each orchid - even within the same species - have different likes and dislikes. He said do what works for each plant. I know we hate to lose a plant, but I took his advice and transferred two equestris to S/H. One grows well in it. The other didn't benefit from that type of watering system so when I noticed a difference in its health, I transferred it back to my normal growing medium.