hydroton s/h start up - Orchid Board

magicatt · #1 08-09-2011, 09:37 AM

So my hydroton came in the mail yesterday (free shipping from amazon.com if anyone is interested), I put it in two five gallon buckets and filled them with water and this has been soaking over night.

Today I will carefully soak off any bark on the roots of my mostly, catts, blc's, etc... If a peice of bark is really stuck on there, do I just tear it off or should I cut the root off? Does it really matter to the plant if there are plenty of roots?

Then I will pot in opaque plastic containers with holes about a inch and a half from the bottom of the container.

How soon can I expect any excitement like new roots, plumped up p-bulbs? I am a chronic underwaterer (you should see the mass of wrinkled, thirsty plants begging for a drink.) I am too ashamed to post a pic.

I would'nt be suprised if my plants all die of shock from the availability of water...

: I bow to you god's of semi-hydro. Wish me luck.

Kelo · #2 08-09-2011, 09:53 AM

[QUOTE=magicatt;427190

Does it really matter to the plant if there are plenty of roots?

How soon can I expect any excitement like new roots, plumped up p-bulbs? I am a chronic underwaterer (you should see the mass of wrinkled, thirsty plants begging for a drink.) I am too ashamed to post a pic.

[/QUOTE]

I don't grow mine the s/h way but in answer to the root answer, yes, very much so but it wont to much harm if you cut off dead or dying roots. If they are healthy there should be no need to cut them off unless there is medium on there that you REALLY don't want. I would imagine that the odd piece of bark etc on the roots wouldn't be too important since the breakdown of small individual pieces wouldn't affect the plant in the way that a lot of souring media would.

If I got anything wrong here I will accompany your shame LOL.

Ray · #3 08-09-2011, 02:41 PM

If you are a "classic underwaterer", then you can expect the old roots to die and rot in the constantly moist conditions of a s/h pot - and that is precisely why you need to time the repotting to coincide with the initiation of new roots.

isurus79 · #4 08-09-2011, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray

If you are a "classic underwaterer", then you can expect the old roots to die and rot in the constantly moist conditions of a s/h pot - and that is precisely why you need to time the repotting to coincide with the initiation of new roots.

Ray is definitely the guy you want to listen to when dealing with s/h! I was going to say the same thing. Only repot your plants into s/h as they are throwing new roots on a new growth. Your plants will likely die if not repotted at the correct time. I also like to cut off most of my old roots before I put them in s/h, hence the need to do it when new roots are coming out. Like Ray said, your old roots will probably rot in s/h, so cutting them off helps prevent a mushy mess that will allow for rot to creep into your plant. I've only been using this technique since Feb 2011, but I like the results so far! Good luck!

magicatt · #5 08-11-2011, 06:58 PM

Well, you are definately right about the root rotting thing. I see some already turning to mush and others that are green and moist on the same plant. I'm cheering those roots on.

Overnight I've experienced plumped up psuedo bulbs and wrinkled leaves are smoothing out. It is amazing how fast they are recovering. The water level is still the same in the pots. I thought it would all be drunk up overnight they were so thirsty. I guess in another day or two, I will un-pot each one (24 so far) and wash out the mush root mess and see what I have left over.

I was very careful not to pot these plants with any roots below the water line. I left about an inch of media between the root and water. I hope that helps.

I would really like to see some bloom action on these this winter. I bought them about two years from blooming so this should be the winter it happens.

I'm hovering over these like a hawk. Anything else I can be doing to help them along?

nenella · #6 08-11-2011, 07:41 PM

Stephanie you have had some excellent feed back..If it were my plant, I would want to cut off all root rot as you see it appearing...The only 'other ' thing I can think of that is 'said' is that if you have a way of heating from 'under' the pot (as in a 'heating mat/ or placing your pot on top of a radiator) this heat also helps stimulate root growth... Also, I believe that adding a bit of rooting hormone to your watering regime,to promote new root growth It helps alot!
Good Luck and keep us posted.

Eyebabe · #7 08-11-2011, 09:58 PM

The Prime Agra or Hydroton must be well washed several times. I have washed mine as many as seven times before they "rinse clean".
Furthermore, you need to soak the media for one to two days in your solution of "choice".
My "choice" is half strength rooting hormone, half strength nutrient, and a small amount of antisceptic.

After all this, you can begin your s/h.

Remove all organic matter from your roots and trim them nicely to encourage new root growth.

Ray · #8 08-12-2011, 11:18 AM

Why would you add an antiseptic to the soak water? The LECA certainly harbors no life forms, and you're sure not adding it with rooting hormones or fertilizer.

I don't know this for a fact, but might not the antiseptic decompose the hormones?

magicatt · #9 08-13-2011, 12:13 AM

I will cut out the mush root mess for sure.

I have some root tone hormone powder. Can I use that mixed in some water? How much a quarter tsp per gallon? I don't know how to use it for orchids, I use it on my african violet leaves...I will afford a heat mat in two months from now. Several actually.

I keep my house in the seventies so not too cold I hope. I didn't do my phallies because everyone here seemed to concur that they don't like cold feet and I cannot afford the heat mats just yet. They all look plump and juicy today. Tomorrow I will unpot each one and clean up any root rot mess. Some of the roots still look green and nice so I am cheering them on. Thank you for all the input and advice.

Ray · #10 08-13-2011, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magicatt

I will cut out the mush root mess for sure.

I have some root tone hormone powder. Can I use that mixed in some water? How much a quarter tsp per gallon?

NO! It is WAAAY to strong for use on orchids as a powder (it will kill, rather than induce rooting), and it is insoluble.

Such powders are intended to be coated on woody cuttings, and stay near the plant for a long time, so cannot be water soluble. If you want to use a rooting hormone, get Hormex or K-L-N.

Quote:

Originally Posted by magicatt

I keep my house in the seventies so not too cold I hope.

Whether that is too cool is dependent upon the relative humidity. If it is high, evaporative cooling will not be an issue, but if it's low - air conditioning, for example - the evaporative cooling effect could be significant.