Phalaenopsis in water culture

[dabblin-n-orchids]

Originally Posted by Ranchnanny

Very Very Interesting. The only house plant I grew well in water were African violets. They would rot in potting soil but thrived in water.

Sheridan

I find this a little odd my experience with african violets (and I am by NO stretch of the imagination an expert) is that there is nothing they hate more than wet feet. NOTHING. If I water them before the soil is completely dry they pout severely.
But it could be like orchids and they make specialized roots for water. Well heck they're so easy to propagate I might just try it . . . . .Oh no another project. As a poor space challeneged college student I have NO idea how I'm going to do or afford all these projects you people start inspiring

[greenbean]

Michael, as someone in a very similar situation, I can confidently tell you this is just the beginning.

[Des]

Originally Posted by greenbean

Michael, as someone in a very similar situation, I can confidently tell you this is just the beginning.

Yes, a plant person stays a plant person and I started when I was about 10 years old!!

[dabblin-n-orchids]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
well i always knew . . . . .I like playing in dirt to much NOT to be a gardener . . . .You people have inspired an orchid wish list and project list a mile long . . . .I now HAVE TO HAVE orchids I didn't know existed a week ago

[Becky15349]

Hi All! I've recently started things in water culture too and I really like the results I'm seeing! My plant that has been longest in water culture is a Pot. Rebecca's Delight 'Moonglow' that has been in water culture since 11-17-08 and it has grown about 20 water roots and the new growths have tripled in size. Since its been over two months since I put it in, I'm hoping by the 4th month, it will bloom

[OrchidInEveryWindow]

You ask many questions, grasshopper!

First of all, when I finally got fed up with ants building nests in my orchid pots, I took all of my orchids out of their orchid bark, washed off the roots, and put them in vases of tap water. Yes, TAP WATER! Oops! Big mistake. I didn't know it at the time, but there is slime mold in our Miami tap water, which loves orchid roots to grow in. So the mold began turning the roots all slimy, and I had to keep changing the water almost every day.
Then, I started using filtered water, and the problem started to go away.
I read that orchid roots need oxygen, which they were getting with the frequent water changes. But that was more work than when I had them in pots. So I found out that algae can be added to the water, which infuses the roots with oxygen. Little bubbles can actually be seen clinging to the roots. That also took care of the remaining mold problem.
So I began growing algae in separate tanks using fertilizer and an aquarium pump for aeration to keep it growing until the water was a pea soup green (in my West facing window). I starting using that to do water changes, when I would wash the roots, remove rotting roots, and keep the algae from becoming too thick on the roots. That's usually about once or twice a month now. By that time, the algae in most vases is about used up and has to be refreshed.
In between, I top up the water with filtered water, and sometimes add a little dilute fertilizer.

Not all orchids can be grown this way. I lost about half of my collection by slow death, but the ones that have survived seem to be doing just fine. I even have a tiny Sedirea Japonica miniature orchid in a little apothecary vase which just grew a new leaf after months of doing nothing. So sometimes you have to be patient and not give up if they don't start growing right away.

I hope this answers your questions (and conjures up many more)!

Patchouli seems to be particularly fond of water culture! I'm going to have to start pruning mine if it keeps growing so fast! It's been in flower for about two or three weeks so far, but it's the leaves that have the smell when you crush them. Smells like incense!

Jasmine seems to work too, but the flowers only last a day before dropping off. Very fragrant though!

Good luck!

[greenbean]

Eeeewwww! Slime mold? I'll have to watch out for that with my water. I don't know if it's a problem where I am, but it's better to be cautious. Thanks for warning us!

[Sun rm.N.E.]

Hi Orchid

I find your successful experiments very informative. I was about to order some algae when all my water culture setups have developed healthy colonies on their own. I am hesitant to interfere with a well functioning eco system. I still have a lot to learn about the life cycle of algae colonies which do seem to age and need some type of maintenance. So far I have been simply relying on mechanical removal using a little hydrogen peroxide if needed, just enough to maintain fresh algae growth. I also routinely clean the plants (cut off senile back bulbs and roots) but would not say that I have been very meticulous about this most of the time. I find that with mature hydroponic orchids that have good roots and a constant supply of nutrients keeping old pseudobulbs with senile leaves serves no observable benefits. I usually just keep about 3-4 of the newest pseudobulbs and propogate from the old ones only if I think it is worthwhile.

Evan, we certainly have to be vigilant and deal with the growth of undesirable microbes in all wet and warm places as they arise. (There was an epidemic of fatal pneumonia in veterans who have attended a convention in Philadelphia years ago. They all inhaled the microbes living in the centrally humidified nice dark and warm heating ducts of the hotel.)In any kind of water culture many grow faster. On the positive side, unlike pot culture, most of the time they are easier to diagnose early, treat radically, and as often as necessary. I too found something like "slime mold" growing in some of the media about 10% of the time and just microbial growth interfering with healthy algae growth resulting in brown deposits on the containers another 10%. I think most orchids we buy come with billions of bacteria, spores etc., so even if your water is pure you would eventually experience problems whether it is water or bark culture.
I have successfully treated most of these with either drugstore peroxide, Physan solution, and more radically, gentian violet 1-2%.

[VickiC]

Hi!
You answered my questions perfectly.....thank you! Actually, you answered them so well that I'm at a loss for MORE questions (at the moment). Don't relax too soon, though.....knowing me as I do, I'm guessing that I'm come up with more later. Thanks for your help!
Vicki

Originally Posted by OrchidInEveryWindow

You ask many questions, grasshopper!

First of all, when I finally got fed up with ants building nests in my orchid pots, I took all of my orchids out of their orchid bark, washed off the roots, and put them in vases of tap water. Yes, TAP WATER! Oops! Big mistake. I didn't know it at the time, but there is slime mold in our Miami tap water, which loves orchid roots to grow in. So the mold began turning the roots all slimy, and I had to keep changing the water almost every day.
Then, I started using filtered water, and the problem started to go away.
I read that orchid roots need oxygen, which they were getting with the frequent water changes. But that was more work than when I had them in pots. So I found out that algae can be added to the water, which infuses the roots with oxygen. Little bubbles can actually be seen clinging to the roots. That also took care of the remaining mold problem.
So I began growing algae in separate tanks using fertilizer and an aquarium pump for aeration to keep it growing until the water was a pea soup green (in my West facing window). I starting using that to do water changes, when I would wash the roots, remove rotting roots, and keep the algae from becoming too thick on the roots. That's usually about once or twice a month now. By that time, the algae in most vases is about used up and has to be refreshed.
In between, I top up the water with filtered water, and sometimes add a little dilute fertilizer.

Not all orchids can be grown this way. I lost about half of my collection by slow death, but the ones that have survived seem to be doing just fine. I even have a tiny Sedirea Japonica miniature orchid in a little apothecary vase which just grew a new leaf after months of doing nothing. So sometimes you have to be patient and not give up if they don't start growing right away.

I hope this answers your questions (and conjures up many more)!

Patchouli seems to be particularly fond of water culture! I'm going to have to start pruning mine if it keeps growing so fast! It's been in flower for about two or three weeks so far, but it's the leaves that have the smell when you crush them. Smells like incense!

Jasmine seems to work too, but the flowers only last a day before dropping off. Very fragrant though!

Good luck!

[AboutOrchids]

Originally Posted by OrchidInEveryWindow

First of all, when I finally got fed up with ants building nests in my orchid pots

Wow - I hadn't even thought of that! I hate ants in my orchid pots.

Originally Posted by OrchidInEveryWindow

I read that orchid roots need oxygen, which they were getting with the frequent water changes. But that was more work than when I had them in pots. So I found out that algae can be added to the water, which infuses the roots with oxygen.

Other ways to oxygenate water include stirring the water, breaking the water surface, or adding bubbles. Bubble gadgets do all of these to aerate a fishtank and add oxygen for the fish. I use a spray mister to aerate my water-culture jars, but you could even use a straw and blow bubbles (just don't inhale.)