My S/H experience: 4 years later..

[orchidjunky]

Hi all..

I haven't really been on this site in a long time but I'd like to share some pics and my experience with s/h over the past 4 years.

I'll just start out by saying that back in 2007-2008 I really went orchid crazy and bought over 30-40 orchids many of which were in either bark or sphagnum moss. I learned about S/H mostly from this site and, being the risk taker that I am, transferred my entire collection to s/h with hydroton being my medium of choice.

(Yes I know this is not recommended but I was OK with the idea that my entire collection could be lost...being a scientist myself the experimentation aspect of this transfer is what drove me to do it).

To make a long story short, from my original collection only 8 had survived.. I really don't think it had anything to do with the media change..I think I attribute it to my location. For the first year I had them in s/h they were all in various windows that all received lots of afternoon light and most of my plants did quite well during this period.

Unfortunately I had to move from that location and got stuck with an apartment with only one good window. So any orchids that stayed in this window really thrived. Anything else tended to decline.

I think one good thing came from all of this which is I am now less inclined to "impulse buy" orchids like I did before!

In any case.. here are pics of 2 of my orchids that have really done well in s/h. One is a Cattleya which has bloomed for me many times with each new growth and the other is paph primulinum x paph sanderianum. This paph I grew in my window sill and for a good 3 years did nothing but finally bloomed last month!

[Merlyn]

Nice ones !

[Phal grower]

Really nice and healthy plants. I like the petals on the paph. I have just started to experiment with S/H and the verdict is still out. So far I have an Onc. that is thriving and a Phal that I just started. I like to experiment also so I am trying a Onc. Sharry Baby in water culture.

[Bud]

Those are beautiful flowers. You have happy & healthy plants. Good growing !

[camille1585]

Nice survivors! A shame that you lost so many of your plants. I don't think I'd ever have the guts like you did to transfer everything at once. I did just 2 in the fall, and am still nervous about them!

[tucker85]

Those are two very nice orchids. I love the color on that cattleya.

[daniel]

same here i did s/h for 3 year .....not good for me 2 lot of root rot... they do not like that.... i almost lost my collection ....they like to dry out for many day.... so i made many bottom hole to drain out all the water in the pot and to air the roots about a year ago and boy they are very happy now i have really nice flour that last a long time no more failing leave and the leave now grow large and no more black fly when u see small black fly u no that u have root roting

[Connie Star]

My experience with S/H has been disappointing, but then I've only put phals in it. I don't think they like the cooling effect that the wicking produces. I also have hard well water, and not enough space, or plumbing, for an R/O system.
If I try it again, it will be with paphs.

[orchidjunky]

Originally Posted by Connie Star

I don't think they like the cooling effect that the wicking produces.

I think this is true for most orchids... Definitely need to be in warmer temps to try s/h. Like I said my orchids did best in the window where it got lots of warm afternoon sunlight!