Vandas in semi-hydro?

[cambridgestephen]

Just keep the root exposed at the surface, a bit like a mini mangrove swamp and mist them in the morning and they seem happy, am growing this one in clay beads,
S

[jghall333]

Thanks so much. I really appreciate it.

[Hedge]

I see from your profile you keep Rhyno. gigantea - do you grow this in your method of S/H? and whose brand of clay balls do you use? I am having some success with J Arthur Bowers Hydroleca, but it is very light and wants to float away.

[cambridgestephen]

Best to put the beads in a basket in a clear pot so is better ventilation within the pot, if you get the beads too wet the roots will rot even though the roots have grown in the beads, FYI this is hard with ryns as roots grow very slow, don't tend to like me. Also with the beads as the roots grow you can uproot them a bit to expose the roots more or pour the excess beads away to expose the roots more as the roots grow which helps the aeration and avoid the roots dying from lack of humidity. If the plants are young I put moss under the basket within the pot which encourages the roots to grow down towards the source of moisture. Still experimenting with this technique, best to spray the pots rather than water as if they dont dry out within 3 days you will get root rot, mine tend to dry out every day which keeps the roots healthy. I can almost hear the sh+vanda=murder brigade cringing at this thread, In my experience central heating+bare roots=death...

[trdyl]

Originally Posted by cambridgestephen

I can almost hear the sh+vanda=murder brigade cringing at this thread, In my experience central heating+bare roots=death...

Let'em cringe. If it was not for experimentaion we would not have orchids in the multitudes of medias we have available today.

[Ray]

I have had some real good success with cattleyas and vandaceous plants using PrimeAgra in EcoWeb pots - no photos, but here's a Den. bigibbum example:



There is LOTS of air flow through the EcoWeb walls of the pot, and the tray bottom does retain some moisture, but it is not neatly as long-lasting as a typical S/H application.

If that is still too wet for your growing environment, using the EcoWeb cubes in place of the LECA will help a lot.

[nutgirl]

Originally Posted by trdyl

Let'em cringe. If it was not for experimentaion we would not have orchids in the multitudes of medias we have available today.

Absolutely!

Maureen

[cambridgestephen]

Interesting, I will have to post a picture of my clear pots with moss in the bottom, then with a basket of clay beads sat on top...

[shadytrake]

I'm not purchasing any more Vandas until I keep the ones I have from death.

LOL The Ascda that I removed from s/h is now back in a basket and has a nice lovely spike with 6 blooms.

The others...jury is still out. I think I don't have enough humidity. I need to read more about them. I don't have the hang of them just yet.

As far as s/h...most of my collection is in s/h and most are LOVING it!

[Hedge]

I like the ideas in this thread and I've decided to adapt them for my project plant -warm group - Rhyno. gigantea. As it has been supplied in very coarse bark in a plastic basket, with three or four strong roots sticking through, I have decided to stand this on a small pot within a wide glass vase, with stones around it, which I intend to keep wet to cause humidity within the immediate area of the roots. I am siting this in my bathroom window sill which faces due East and is always warm, and is very humid at least twice a day. Also the window glass is obscure and there is a lace blind for days when it is very bright or nights very cold. I'll post pictures in the results thread

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ject-warm.html