The Brita likely did nothing of any value for your orchids - remove a little chlorine, maybe, but nothing that would have an impact on pH.

Physan every couple of weeks? I think you poisoned them!

Really?? I used a weak dilution, and would usually flush and then go back to the fertilizer mix after a day or so. I thought this was okay. How often should physan be utilized?

I use it no more frequently than every 6- to 8 weeks, and flush immediately after use.

Wow. I had no idea, duly noted. Thanks, Ray.

I've not done too well with phals in S/H either. Mine do seem to have taken root, and I keep them on a seedling mat. Part of the problem may be that I have small 'chids (Phal stuartiana and schilleriana) in medium size Leca and a 3.5" pot. I have an experiment going with 2 Schilliana seedlins, potted at the same time one in S/H one in garden store orchid mix. Neither one is doing especially well- may be my water- too hard. I'm not abandoning the experiment yet, just not putting anything else into S/H yet.

I have a mixed collection of orchids. Some in s/h, some in bark, some in..... and the list goes on. Potting medium has to not just work for the plant but for the individual. We all desire the same results: healthy blooming orchids. So for that, it takes a bit of experimenting and growing. With each type of medium there will be gains and losses and we all learn.

Years ago I grew most everything in osmunda. For those on here familiar with osmunda, going to little clay balls to replace it would have been ludicrous back in 'them days'. But here we are! And folks who have grown orchids the greater part of their life are no different than the newbies - they try new mediums to see how things grow and experience the same ups and downs. All part of everyones growing (plants and people!).

I know very little about the dynamics of S/H or water culture, but other people's experiences seem to indicate that it can work well for certain plants, but is definitely (even considering possible lapses or mistakes) not for others. Experimentation and observation seem to be the only means of knowing what works and what does not work. I do applaud those at least willing to try. AL

Actually Al, I'll expand your statement a bit: "it can work well for certain plants under one individual's conditions, but is definitely (even considering possible lapses or mistakes) not for others."

I, for example, cannot grow dendrobiums that way, while many others view that as "easy".

I have killed every vandaceous plant I have tried, while I just got an email from someone the other day extolling the virtues of it for their culture.

What it comes down to is that "semi-hydroponics" really only defines the use of an inert medium and its delivery of water and nutrient to the plants, while there is a great deal more than that needed to define "orchid culture".

Your points Ray are well taken and from everything I have read, oh so true. AL

It's sad to hear some on the forum not have much luck with s/h. I live in Colorado and it is painfully dry here sometimes because of our arid climate and the fact that the partial pressure at our altitude equals exceptionally low humidity throughout much of the year. For me, s/h is God-sent. I grow nearly every single phal I own in s/h. The few exceptions are those simply waiting to start new root growth before putting them INTO s/h. I have several vandaceous orchids and for those, the vase works best for me-- easy to just fill it up and let it soak half the day and then empty it so they can dry out the second half (yeah...half the day in water!!!!! But the plants LOVE it here because when the water is emptied, it takes a few short hours to dry the roots.).

Anyway, like Ray said, it is whether or not this method will work for you under your conditions-- for me, its perfect.

Currently blooming is my first orchid and phal and s/h plant... its a NOID but I call it Monster because of its size-- over two feet across, with, well...many blooms.

http://ryans.smugmug.com/Nature/Amar...93_qURaP-M.jpg

Ray its interesting that you haven't had much luck with dends in s/h. I have but one and it seems to really take to it-- though I do admit, when I put it in a much larger pot, it struggled a bit-- but it is blooming for me now with new growths.