Transitioning To Semi-Hydroponics

[Randy S]

Hi All,

I thought I'd throw my two cents worth in relating to the changeover from "normal" media to Semi-Hydroponics. I have just gotten back into growing orchids in the last six months after about a thirty year absence and I've got around sixty plants of various types so far. All the different "recommendations" on what type of mix to use for each type of plant was causing my brain to fry! Then I found Ray's site and it was like my prayers had been answered. It sounded like just what I'd been looking for. Over the last month or two (after helping Ray pay his mortgage  ) I have been transitioning the whole collection (I've got about forty so far) over to Semi-Hydroponics. I will tell you that so far it HAS been the answer to my prayers. The plants that made the transition at least two weeks ago are sending out new roots into the media and all except one are doing great! I will be keeping everyone updated as things continue to progress. I've got to say that so far the biggest plus is that I can water on my schedule. If I have extra time four or five days after I last watered I can do it again and then not have to worry for a week or more. I can do it every two or three days if I want. It doesn't seem to matter because it simply refills the resevior, dampens the media and the excess runs out the drains! It is perfect for my crazy schedule.

Ray has everything you need at "The Store" and has been doing it a long time himself so he has the first hand experience to help with problems or just answer questions.

I'll update again in the near future.

Randy
New "Semi-Hydroponicist"

[Snowden]

Welcome aboard, Randy! Out of curiosity, what kinds of plants are you growing?

Like you, I'm a new convert (three months in) and I'm also very pleased with what I see so far.

Keep us posted!

[Randy S]

I feel I must put a disclaimer to the post I placed above. Ray, of First Ray's Orchids who is very experienced in Semi-Hydroponics, recommends that anyone considering transitioning to Semi-Hydroponics should normally only change a couple plants over to begin with and get a feel for the different requirements that Semi-Hydroponics have over other types of media. This will put only a couple of plants at risk as a newbie gets their feet wet so to speak, no pun intended. There are certain requirements that need to be followed to ensure as trouble free a transition as possible for each plant and so under most circumstances the transition for a collection should be undertaken over an extended period of time.
Randy