Deep water culture

[Louder Than Hell]

Hey there
I want to show you this method I'm testing on a poor rooted mini-phalaenopsis



It was starting to dehydrating tough in my "orchidarium" ther's 80% RO. instead of making roots made 2 buds and started a leaf so I've started this test on her.
Note the root starting


After 1 day of DWC leafs are much more turgid. After 10 days the leaf that was just started has come to this

The root also got much bigger.

i'm having some problem with mold but i'm going fine with oxigen peroxide so far.

Anyone has got any experience with this hydroponic rather than s/h?


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_water_culture

[camille1585]

Water culture works really well to save near dead orchids. I had a great experience with it, and I know that others on OB have as well. It works especially well at bringing rootless catts back from the dead. I don't know how phals like it. If you type 'water culture' in the OB search tab, you should bring up some interesting threads.

I had a little den with no roots at all, leaves falling off and the canes were dying. Becky suggested water culture, and now after about 4 months there are four nice new growths with some little roots. I keep the water level with the base of the plant, and change the water every 10 days. There's lots of algae making the water green, but I think it might be providing nutrition. I add a drop of fert once in a while.

Once the roots are a few cm long, I'll be potting it up S/H, since a plant grown in water should have no trouble adapting to it! I have been told that water culture is not a long term way of growing. The existing roots on your phal will likely die off, since they are not tailored to a water environment. But you should hopefully see some new roots pretty quick!

Here's mine:

[Louder Than Hell]

Originally Posted by camille1585

It works especially well at bringing rootless catts back from the dead.

I have no experience with s/h to make a comparison but i suppose this method may provide more water to the plant, as the water bubble burst and wet the all the plant bottom but ensuring a lot of oxigenation as well...but that's just theory

If you type 'water culture' in the OB search tab, you should bring up some interesting threads.

I've read one long thread bout it and that's how my idea come in mind I gonna search for more threads

There's lots of algae making the water green, but I think it might be providing nutrition.

I suppose they would steal nutrients but they also make oxygen that's good for roots

Once the roots are a few cm long, I'll be potting it up S/H, since a plant grown in water should have no trouble adapting to it!

I'm gonna try this method as stable condition. To achieve this I gonna try feed the plant with complete nutrients at the right ph and EC but i'm still using tap water with just some nutrients

[Matt]

Looks like an interesting idea. Great suggestion Camille, Ive a few leafless dendrobium canes Ill try this out on. They didnt acclimate to SH very well on my first attempt.

[Becca]

I've have a cattleya and and an Amesiella monticola in water culture. The cattleya had no roots, started making little nubbin roots, but those have pittered out and only one root has finally grown into the water. It's not out of the clear yet, I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for it. For the Amesiella monticola, will it had a few roots but was going down hill fast. Only one root adapted to the water culture amazingly, it was previously mounted. No new roots and now one by one the leaves are falling off....I pretty much consider it a gonner but won't toss it until it loses all of it's leaves. Give yours a try, you never know how it will do!

[Matt]

Right on, Becca. My lil sticks have no roots or leaves. I really cant lose much here as is now

[Louder Than Hell]

What concern me the most is how to control mold? Maybe letting the water for some time let develop mold antagonist in the water? Just like those micro organism in aquarium filters.

I think i gonna aim to 600mS EC but i'm not pretty sure bout PH. Maximim nutrients intake is around 6 but 'chids like acid medium. Anyone for PH?

[camille1585]

Mold has never been a problem for me, even when I didn't change the water for 3 weeks. Are you having problems with it?

[Louder Than Hell]

I took 2 pics but for full resolution you gotta follow this and then you can zoom in Picasa Web Album - LouderTH - DWC Phalaenop... and this Picasa Web Album - LouderTH - DWC Phalaenop...

I suppose this is mold but just now, taking the photo, I note that the base of the root (where mold is developing) is getting soft and darker. I should just cut it off right?

[Sun rm.N.E.]

Hi Becca

I too put the monticola in water culture after healty new roots in S/H quickly succumbed as soon as they hit the salt laden pellets. To my surprise, it has a new growth even though it has not received the best of care.

Good luck to both of us.