Resting orchids in semi hydro

[cnarciso]

So after reading a lot of positive accounts of semi-hydro both here and on Ray's fantastic website I decided to try a little semi-hydro experiment with some of my paphs to see how it would work for me. However, some paphs require a drier winter rest (read: most parvis), of which I have a few. So my question is, how can plants in semi hydroponics be rested if the LECA medium should never be allowed to dry out? Anyone have any tips and wanna chime in? Are these types of plants simply unsuitable for semi hydro or is there some trick to giving them the rest they need to not die off in a couple years?

It is my goal to eventually move all of my paphs over to semi hydro if this little experiment works out since I have trouble keeping their medium uniformly moist.

[Jerry Delaney]

Hopefully, Ray will see this post and give you a real answer. I'm not sure it's the same thing, but I have a number of nobile and other dendrobiums that I quit watering altogether about the first of October and they don't see water until the flower buds are well formed. I believe Ray has said that the roots in S/H are different than roots developed in other media and the change is permanent. I can believe that since the roots in the dendrobiums seem to immediately turn green upon watering.

[RosieC]

I've read somewhere that Ray gives then a rest in terms of fertiliser and lower light, but still waters them. Not sure though, so hopefully he will see this and answer. If not it may be worth sending him a PM to ask his advice.

[cnarciso]

Thanks for the thoughts. I will wait a while and see if he answers since the information is not urgent and he is probably very busy. If he hasn't answered after a while I will shoot him a PM and ask and then share what he tells me with everyone else.

[johnblagg]

you could also keep them a little dryer if you lower the water level in the res....I have a few s/h containers I have several holes at different levels and I seal the lower ones to keep wetter and unseal to dry them a little. A dab of hot glue usually is enough for this and lets you adjust moisture levels some

[cnarciso]

Originally Posted by johnblagg

you could also keep them a little dryer if you lower the water level in the res....I have a few s/h containers I have several holes at different levels and I seal the lower ones to keep wetter and unseal to dry them a little. A dab of hot glue usually is enough for this and lets you adjust moisture levels some

An interesting idea and very good suggestion. I may try incorporating something similar when I actually get around to making the pots. Right now laziness of vacation has taken over and most of my plans have remained just plans .

[DelawareJim]

I just withhold the ferts to simulate dormancy. Seems to have worked well so far.

Cheers.
Jim