Disa in SemiHydroponic culture

[NealW]

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone has tried Disas in SH culture. It seems like a good idea since the disas like to be moist all the time. I just repotted a D. Uniflora into a SH setup. Still, I would be interested to hear from anyone with experience growing disa in general and in SH specifically.

thanks,

Neal

[RJSquirrel]

hi neal..not myself but camp one seem to be the disa growing kings...

Disa Growing Tips

DISA= Growing in shallow water

* Water level should be about 1" at the bottom of the pot
* Circulate water and provide oxygen into the water; for small water tub growing, an aquarium air pump can
be used
* If water is not circulated, change water every 1 - 2 weeks
* To flush out accumulated salts, water from above every week

but heres the kick...
"Temperature"

* Ambient temperature should be between 35° and 85° F
* Temperature of the roots should be between 35° and 70° F
* In summer, keep the roots cool (below 70° F); if so, the Disas can tolerate up to 100° F for a short period
* In winter, keep the night temperature below 45F to promote underground growth; as long as the roots are not
frozen, Disas can survive below freezing level, but with some possible frostbite on the leaves


you can grow them in SH as long as you also grow them in the fridgerator.. some use old coolers for this DISA growing.....I would like to try one myself but I know I cant live in the temps a DISA needs.

[Discus]

There are several hundred species of Disa, but you're most likely to come across D. uniflora or it's hybrids. I find them very finicky plants that like to keel over. In the wild, they do sometimes experience very hot weather, but they usually grow right next to streams with their roots (and often leaves) in the shade - and the roots are cooled and bathed by the icy streams.

I saw somewhere on the internet someone who had modified a chest freezer to cool down water, which was then intermittently pumped into the Disa growing container above - this was somewhere in the USA where it's rather hot, and it looked like it worked well. Ah, here it is.

I suspect if you keep the roots cool and moist (and they don't have day in day out baking hot, dry conditions) all will be well.

They seem to do best in sphagnum.

I imagine that the "cool stretching" idea on Ray's site might help too, but as I haven't managed to get suitable substrates to try it, I haven't.

Do let us know how your plant does, as I was also wondering how Disa would do in S/H!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I think it'll work.

They like low pH (somewhere in the mid 3's).