Converted over 100 plants to S/H

[sailor]

Just jumping in to say hello.

I have been collecting for a few years and have over 120orchids. About a month ago I converted all but 12 over to S/H setups. With that many plants, it takes all of the guess work out of watering and fertilizing - probably saves me 4 or 5 hours a week. And my plants are doing FANTASTIC.

I have a large sunroom supplemented by four 440 watt, 6500k compact florescents. I have over 30 plants in bloom right now with at least a dozen more in bud, sheath or spike.

So why aren't my last 12 orchids in S/H? Well, I have some Vandas in baskets and a 4' tall potted Vanda Josephine that are not good candidates. I have several large Slippers. I just can't get the damn things to quit blooming long enough to convert them and I don't have the heart to break some LONG blooming cycles. I have a Paph Sedenii Blush in a 12" pot that has been in constant bloom for almost 2 years. It is a sequential bloomer and has 9 active bloom spikes right now. Dozens of buds & blooms. I'll post some pics when I figure out how. --- Ed

[ScottMcC]

what types of plants do you have in s/h?

this reminds me, someone should really compile a complete list of what genera do well in s/h, vs not well. I know Ray has some guidelines on his site, but they need some updating too...

[Marco]

I have all my phals in s/h and they love it.

[20jlr]

I have Phals, Onc. and Catts. all love s/h. I can't even imagine growing without it. I was always killing orchids before as I was a calssic over waterer.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by ScottMcC

this reminds me, someone should really compile a complete list of what genera do well in s/h, vs not well. I know Ray has some guidelines on his site, but they need some updating too...

I agree. It would be just too simple to turn to a list and check to see if your candidate was on the list. I agree Ray was probably the origin of this practice, but there are lots of folks on this board that have hands-on experience. I plan to start soon, but would like to be able to turn to a resource for this info (beyond what is here already).

[Wendy]

It would be nice to have all your orchids in s/h. I tried it but it didn't work for me. A couple plants did okay but the majority went backwards. Some day I may try again because back when I did try it, I was using tap water. Our water is liquid rock so that may have had a lot to do with why my plants did so poorly.

[Oscarman]

Hi Ed, welcome to the Orchid Board.

I am sure many of us would love to hear what you have in S/H, myself included. Having switched only 20+ orchids to S/H, I am on my way.

[Tindomul]

Thats alot to switch over. I hope you did it little by little. Anyway, welcome to the board.
I have three Catt types in S/H and all are doing great with new growths and roots. I have two Phal types in S/H and both doing great, one is recovering successfully from mites, and the other is in spike.

[OrchidTess]

Dayum! I was nervous about converting one to S/H! But 100!
The list of what will do well and what will not is a great idea.

[mlrao]

i am having dendrobiums, phals,oncidiums and vnda in shade house, in Bangalore India, reagarding watering i will check the potting media if it is wet i will not water, this will avoid over watering of plants