First attempt

[Dusty Ol' Man]

This is my first time going to S/H, and it looks like I timed it right. During the recent storms here my new LC took an unfortunate tumble and was thrown out of its pot. The medium in that pot was not optimal for my area, (a mix of small bark, sphagnum, charcoal, and vermiculite) but was ok until the new growth produced new roots (and my busy work schedule allowed me time to repot). There are new roots growing and everything seems in pretty good shape.
The new potting is LECA and rock wool cubes according to Ray's instructions. I'm hoping for the best here.

[Shadeflower]

good luck with it dusty.
I hope we see an update to this trial even though I know it won't be this year or anytime soon (unless it dies lol).
I would be too scared to try rock wool but I do like trying out new methods. Too many times people online will dismiss something without even having tried it so I certainly won't diss it even if I would have my doubts using rock wool and hope you get as good growth as on my recovering dendrobium Blue Happyness is showing.
If you can believe it or not it had lost all its roots at one point, was a shrivelled mess but now finally after a year of undecidedness it has decided to grow. So fingers crossed for yours.

[Roberta]

DOM, good timing. Not so sure that a Catt needs the extra moisture from the rock wool cubes, especially since you're in a pretty humid environment, but if you keep watering under control, shouldn't hurt.


SF, Great looking roots! Dens are tough! With their tendency to wake from the dead in the spring, I never count them out until they stay permanently dead for a year or so, or shrivel to threads. As long as there is green, or even a rather brown cane that still has substance, there is hope. Well done.

[WaterWitchin]

Lookin' good DoM! I've been using the rock wool cubes for...ummm... maybe half a year or so now? Really wish I'd kept track of when I got it first time. Need to look that up. So far, I've been really happy with the way it performs along with LECA in semi-hydro. I like the way it keeps the dry line pretty much all the way up, even when I don't get a chance to water timely.

If you grow in conventional semi-hydro, there isn't a need to worry about too much moisture or keeping watering under control regardless of tribe. (And no offense to Roberta...we just grow differently.) The only thing I do differently water-wise is with something that needs a drier period... for example, Nobile Dens and Epi Radicans. I let them go for a longer time period before watering for awhile in their winter time period. And have a few Ctsm in SH which were potted in SH fashion, but never watered yet. Can't comment on them, because my first year growing Ctsm.

And indeed ShadeFlower, nice recovery job on the Den. Those new roots sure appear to be liking whatever you're doing! What medium is that you're using? Is in in semi-hydro, or just regular watering technique and no reservoir?

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Thanks for the comments, everyone.
Shadeflower - I'm happy to see those happy roots and that your den is going to be fine. Good job.
Roberta - I chose this particular medium mix following what Ray said about how it works for him. Since he lives in similar humidity and temps I thought, why not? I will be keeping a close eye on the new growth and roots. The plant is growing outside and we have been having big storms recently (currently). SH will allow that excess water to drain better than the mix it was in, which was drenched and not nearly airy enough. Time will tell.
WW - Yes, water is my main concern, with the rains lately, but it will dry out some this weekend, and I'm forming plans for a shelf to protect it and others from the excess rain and still allow them to get the light they need. And yes, we all grow differently. Roberta has great success and gives valuable information. I grow by the seat of my pants, Watchung and learning each new plant as I go. I have pots waiting for a couple minis I hope to acquire in the not too distant future. A cattleya and a phal. Each will go into SH. One will be outside, the other inside the house.
Thanks again to you all who give a wealth of information and dispell the myths promoted by all the internet posts and videos. Gleening the correct info out of the mess would be so much more difficult without you and this forum.

[WaterWitchin]

Roberta has more knowledge in her pinky than I have in my entire body, orchid-wise. I just know a lot of schtuff about SH from doing it so long. You can't really overwater in semi-hydro.

[Roberta]

Actually, a lot of orchids sacrificed themselves to teach me what little I do know... it's the journey that is so exciting. And for S/H, I'm a novice.