Semi hydro Update

[Ocelaris]

does anyone have any pictures of their Paphs' roots? Just curious how wet you all keep them, and how often you fill/drain?

[Gilda]

Give me some time(cooking dinner right now)and I will take some pics of the successes..there have been failures too but healthy mature paphs seem to have done well. 1 inch reservoirs have done the best.

[Gilda]

Originally Posted by Ocelaris

does anyone have any pictures of their Paphs' roots? Just curious how wet you all keep them, and how often you fill/drain?

Here you go..I water/fertilize when the reservoirs are almost dry. There will still be moisture in the rocks. I water all the way around the top till it runs out from the reservoir . I have some that are thirstier than others..more roots = more uptake. I am not watering as often since the weather has cooled down. No as much evaporation...SH has worked well for paphs that are healthy and mature...the ones I have not had good luck with is bad roots/no roots to start.. Hope this helps !

[caseydoll]

I have to butt in and say WOW Gilda!!! Those are such beautiful healthy 'chids! Do you have any tips on keeping the algae away? Everything looks so nice! Thanks for sharing.

[Gilda]

Originally Posted by caseydoll

I have to butt in and say WOW Gilda!!! Those are such beautiful healthy 'chids! Do you have any tips on keeping the algae away? Everything looks so nice! Thanks for sharing.

Thanks , and you are welcome! I keep the SH pots in cache pots(square tall black plastic pots) . A qt. round SH pot fits nicely in a square 5 inch pot. I turn the 2 holes toward the corner of the square pot so water & air flow are not restricted. The SH pots can be removed easily to check roots etc. It also keeps the SH pot from "peeing" on my floor ! I don't have to watch which way the holes are pointed when I water. I gow in a sunroom on bakers racks.

[Ocelaris]

Wow, those do look awesome! The root pictures are exactly what I need to look towards when I will be growing healthy paphs! hard to say correctly, but it's an inspiration to work for! So many times the flowers is all we see, but now I KNOW what the root system should look like also.

The black pots are perfect! what a wonderful idea! I was going to go through all sorts of crazy elaborate ways to do the same thing, but your way is better and simpler! Thanks so much for sharing!