Semi-hydro and (lack of?) healthy microbial/fungal activity

[Ray]

"XS", thank you for the learned comments.

Since the publication of Charles Rhodes' article in "Orchids", I have been overwhelmed with folks wanting to do wholesale conversion of their collections, and rarely do they listen to my suggestion that they start slow. (One couple ordered over 400 liters of PrimeAgra and several hundred pots, so I argued for a more controlled conversion with all sorts of info to back up my stance, and they agreed to cut it way back. The "started small" with about 250 liters and abour 150 pots...)

[Oscarman]

Beautiful plant Ray!

So far my plants moved to S/H have been doing wonderfully. Even my recently aquired C. dowiana is growing well in it. I am not having as much luck with Phrag. Olaf Gruss though.

[weng]

Hi Guys,
I was extremely apprehensive of switching to inorganic media too. However, my own trials by deflasking into both organic and inorganic media showed no observable difference. But because organic media rots and can take the plant with it, I have only used inorganic media for the last 10 years.
As for worries about beneficial mycorrhiza in inorganic media, I have self-seeded orchids sprouting up everywhere where others grow oxalis
R: #2382
All greenery belongs to self-seeded Cynorchis fastiaga seedlings growing with a Phragmipedium in perlag - a much denser version of perlite.

Re: #3038
Spathoglottis plicata seedlings growing alongside the mother plant in 'Seramis' (fired clay granules not unlike crushed terracotta pots).

Weng

[xscd]

Thank you weng for your information about not only inorganic media but about the fungal activitiy.

And thank you Ray for your many patient and informative posts and articles regarding inorganic media and the semi-hydro technique.

Placing plants into inorganic media is a little hard to get used to for me coming from a traditional gardening background that focuses on improving the soil especially with respect to living microorganisms. But then again, placing orchids into virtually nutrientless bark chips, perlite and sphagnum moss was difficult for me to accept as well, and with carnivorous plants, not only is the planting medium virtually free of nutrients, but fertilizer of almost every kind, in however small a quantity, is damaging to the typical carnivorous plant's roots.

So, my previous experience with orchids and carnivorous plants, both of which I grow fairly well now, has prepared me in a way, I guess, for the step to inorganic media and associated cultural techniques. Although I'm a little apprehensive about it, I'm also very interested in learning to work with the media and techniques.

So, once again, thank you.

[bodaciousbonsai]

Hello to all, heres another idea to take you for a spin for the semi hydro growers. I have had great results from using those polymer plastic beads that swell up when you add water. the orchid gets as much water it needs. thus the roots will not rot from sitting in hydrotron thats soaked with water. it seems that it doesnt algae up as fast either.plus there is still plenty of air for the roots to grow crazy in. The best part is the plactis beads slowy releases water to the roots. they will not be choked out by sitting in pure water. I love sharing information, I love to experiment. Do or die I say! they always do, so thats a great thing.
God bless and have a very merry christmas everyone!
Clay P.S. Oh you do have to rehydrate the beads once in awhile... only use this method for the water loving orchids. not twig epi,s

[Ray]

I have experimented with those acrylate polymers and have several issues with them:

1. The irregular shape allows them to pack too tightly, choking off the air space.
2. The particles change in size as they expand and contract with changes in water content, making it hard for a plant to get established.
3. They degrade over time when exposed to fertilizer minerals. It's not decomposition, but a change in function, making the in-pot environment an ever-changing one that I don't have time to mess with.

[bwester]

Originally Posted by Ray

PS: If you have a complaint Blake, at least have the decency to make it directly, and not as an off-topic snipe.

I did and received no response at all

[bodaciousbonsai]

Was I sniping???
Sorry if so : 0 (

[Ray]

Originally Posted by bwester

I did and received no response at all

Sorry Blake. I do not recall getting any direct contact from you at all, and I can think of a couple of potential reasons: about the end of October/beginning of November I experienced a series of PC crashes and rebuilds, and if it came in the middle of that, I probably simply lost the message. Another possibility is that the way the subject of the message was worded let it be picked up as spam and automatically deleted.

I truly am interested to hear more about your issues with the medium, as I have not seen them myself and have not heard others commenting similarly. As I said, there's a lot more to growing than just the medium.