Quick Semi- Hydroponic Course

[Ray]

Yes, I did originate S/H orchid culture.

When I lived in PA and grew my plants in a nice warm, humid greenhouse, the phals did great grown that way.

When I moved to NC, with no greenhouse, the phals did great outdoors in the hot, humid summer, but the first winter I had them here and brought them indoors into a cooler, drier environment, I found they were suffering, so I moved the phals out of S/H culture. All the rest of my plants have been-, and still are in S/H culture.

The guy who makes those videos likes notoriety, and doesn't seem to be too careful about what he says to get it.

[isurus79]

Originally Posted by Ray

The guy who makes those videos likes notoriety, and doesn't seem to be too careful about what he says to get it.

He used to post quite often here on OB. I can't recall his handle though. Might be worthwhile to get him back into a thread on the topic and set the record straight.

[estación seca]

S/H doesn't change the basic temperature requirements of any plant.

It's a method of watering that extends watering intervals past what is common in bark, and lets plants thrive when the owner cannot refrain from watering plants often.

"Self-watering" pots don't work for everybody. In my warm climate they don't work at all.

Plants need to be moved to S/H at an appropriate time: when making new roots. Moving plants to S/H at the wrong time is equally as harmful as repotting plants into other media at the wrong time. S/H is not a rescue method for sick plants.

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by isurus79

He used to post quite often here on OB. I can't recall his handle though. Might be worthwhile to get him back into a thread on the topic and set the record straight.

I don't have memory of him at all. But that was back in my occasional lurking days. Doubtful there would be any "setting the record straight" though. Usually someone who does the "my way is right and your way is inferior unless it's my way" thinkers don't tend to have prolonged engagement here.

---------- Post added at 03:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:48 PM ----------

Originally Posted by estación seca

S/H doesn't change the basic temperature requirements of any plant.

It's a method of watering that extends watering intervals past what is common in bark, and lets plants thrive when the owner cannot refrain from watering plants often.

"Self-watering" pots don't work for everybody. In my warm climate they don't work at all.

I agree with that extends time between waterings or allows one to water more often part! I'm of the former... it's a very forgiving way of growing when one tends to push the watering envelope often (me). Self watering pots, to me, don't really follow the original tenants of semi-hydro. Unless one is disassembling the pot each time they water, and I say what a waste of time spent. Nor could my pocketbook afford that many self-watering pots..."ouch!"

Originally Posted by estación seca

Plants need to be moved to S/H at an appropriate time: when making new roots. Moving plants to S/H at the wrong time is equally as harmful as repotting plants into other media at the wrong time. S/H is not a rescue method for sick plants.

This part I would agree with only for someone learning how to grow well in semi-hydro. I move new plants into SH regardless of how they were growing before I receive one. Does acclimation take longer? Sure, sometimes. But once one has that learning curve down and isn't just "practicing" to grow in semi-hydro, I've not found it to be that big a deal. And I do use SH as a rescue method for a "sick" plant given to me by someone to save. If "sick" is defined as was being poorly grown, insect-ridden, etc, and/or at death's door.

---------- Post added at 03:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:01 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Clawhammer

1.) Pour LECA into container with two holes about an inch from the bottom.
2.) Put orchid in there when they are growing new roots.
3.) Water every day.

This is a good place to start, but I would have a deeper reservoir on anything other than maybe a 4" tall pot, and watering every day? Not this gal!

[Ray]

Originally Posted by estación seca

S/H doesn't change the basic temperature requirements of any plant.

Absolutely correct, BUT it may (depending upon the local environment) change the temperature profile within the pot and medium, which can be good or bad, or inconsequential.

If it cools the roots of a plant that likes warmth, Oops.

If you try to grow a plant that is probably “too cool” for your growing conditions, the evaporative cooling might help you out.

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Since we are discussing this in some detail, I recently had my three catts blown off the table they were sitting on by a freak storm. All three in S/H. They landed on the deck and spilled out of their containers. One of the minis broke in half, leaving me with one set of 4 pbulbs with new roots, and 4 without any roots. After repotting as best I could after gathering up the scattered leca, I gave Ray a call to run my idea by him and get his advice. (Thanks Ray). I made a temporary s/h pot out of an empty water bottle, and filled it loosely with rock wool chunks. Then put the plant into a bucket of kelpmax solution to soak overnight. Next day I filled the pot with the solution and placed the plant on top. This I put in my garage where it is warm and humid and deeply shaded. (One north facing window). Now hoping for the best. I'll report my results in this thread.

[SADE2020]

Originally Posted by Dusty Ol' Man

Since we are discussing this in some detail, I recently had my three catts blown off the table they were sitting on by a freak storm. All three in S/H. They landed on the deck and spilled out of their containers. One of the minis broke in half, leaving me with one set of 4 pbulbs with new roots, and 4 without any roots. After repotting as best I could after gathering up the scattered leca, I gave Ray a call to run my idea by him and get his advice. (Thanks Ray). I made a temporary s/h pot out of an empty water bottle, and filled it loosely with rock wool chunks. Then put the plant into a bucket of kelpmax solution to soak overnight. Next day I filled the pot with the solution and placed the plant on top. This I put in my garage where it is warm and humid and deeply shaded. (One north facing window). Now hoping for the best. I'll report
my results in this thread.

Good luck. I also follow darkness and extra humidity after repotting.
We should have "terrible accidents thread photos and experiences". I have a few stories myself.

---------- Post added at 09:07 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:59 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Ray

Yes, I did originate S/H orchid culture.

When I lived in PA and grew my plants in a nice warm, humid greenhouse, the phals did great growth that way.

When I moved to NC, with no greenhouse, the phals did great outdoors in the hot, humid summer, but the first winter I had them here and brought them indoors into a cooler, drier environment, I found they were suffering, so I moved the phals out of S/H culture. All the rest of my plants have been-, and still are in S/H culture.

The guy who makes those videos likes notoriety and doesn't seem to be too careful about what he says to get it.

I am sorry @Ray, I still don't comprehend the Phals process when you move it to NC. You move it to a warmer place and during winter the phals were moved inside your home? I may be missing something here .. What could bark provided in that situation that SH couldn't? A complete dry-out process?

[Shadeflower]

As if Justin would come back here after being accused of "doing it his way or no way at all"

He is very clear what he posts is to improve the success of people. He does not and has never done it for the fame, What I like about Justin is he doesn't do things for money. Something that should be noted. There are plenty that do do things to boost their business. Not a criticism but it's easy to forget why someone might be criticising someone else. Three can be many reasons. Justins reasons are for the love of orchids. Everyone can believe he might have other motives but I have watched his video's and unlike other people I could detect no hidden motive.

I think his point of view is extremely valid, I agree with everything he says and I do grow with self watering pots. Unlike him I love them but you have to get things right. It is so easy to get a semi-hydro setup wrong (like he did). Some plants drink more than other plants. So if you'd pot them identically one would be too wet, the other would be too dry.
There are a lot of things that can go wrong and that is all Justin wanted to point out but he like many people with an opinion got driven away, if people didn't want to listen to him, he wasn't going to force anyone but I am really grateful for all the flasking info he has published for the community.

Everyone here is quick to think of Justin badly for having criticized Ray. Ray invented the method, a lot and I mean a lot of people have tried and a lot of people encountered the same problems that Ray encountered bringing them indoors in a dry environment which is a problem for lecca (but not for bark).
A lot of orchids will have died. Justin understandably wanted this to change.
Since then even Ray has discovered that adding rockwool to the lecca is beneficial and that is all Justin was saying, as it was, the method did not work perfectly all the time and just needed something more added to it.

I think his points are valid but should be a guide and a warning of the things that can go wrong but if you are aware of all those things and aim to avoid for example the lecca drying out completely at the top(which dessicates roots) then things will go well.

[SADE2020]

Originally Posted by Shadeflower

Hey sade,
it's good to see you are doing your own research.

Thanks!!!

Originally Posted by Shadeflower

: to me an important question should be why even try semi-hydro. If you end up watering every day then it doesn't save any time at all. If like me you use it with self-watering pots so that you can let the pot do the watering for you it saves time. If you have 100 orchids to water then it saves a lot of time.

My main objective is to water less, don't want to go into self-watering, I like to water my plants, and cleaning here and there is not a problem, keeps me busy, but I am looking for efficiency within that.

---------- Post added at 03:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:57 PM ----------

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Quick answer to your question, Sade, "I would like to comprehend within a general principle what kind of plant developed better in SH in a High humidity environment."
Anything you grow will develop better in higher humidity, and works well with SH.

Thanks, WW
All comments considered. My objective is the same as yours, so we are on the same page!!

[Mr.Fakename]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

I don't have memory of him at all. But that was back in my occasional lurking days. Doubtful there would be any "setting the record straight" though. Usually someone who does the "my way is right and your way is inferior unless it's my way" thinkers don't tend to have prolonged engagement here.

I'm going to respectfully disagree with you (and others) here.
While not overly familiar with his work, I've read several of his articles, and I respect what he does.

He did experiments with potting media, pH, lights, propagation by seed and so on; and every time he was clear about variables and outcomes, explained what he did, why and how.

He might not be always right and he might lack 'peer reviewing' to put his stuff back into perspective, I think he makes a lot of good points, he genuinely loves to share about plants, and he sure can grow them (in his conditions).

I'll shoot him an email and see if he's willing to 'set those records straight'.