Orchids growing in semi-hydroponic

[Spook In Spain]

Hi my name is Steve im new to keeping and growing orchids of any kind. Have been collecting and growing since April this year, Have a number of Phalaenopsis, Dendronobium Nobile, Cambria orchids from local garden centers here in Almeria Spain.
Have been interested in Semi-Hydroponic growing method and have created 2 experiments one with a Phalaenposis and the other a Dendronbium Nobile repotted into a home made pint pot with a small resovoir athe bottom with a wick into the resovoir stretching into the upper part of the pot. Pot is filled with clay pellets soaked overnight. Transplanted both orchids and filled the resovoir with a soloution of Extract of Seaweed.
This was back in the beginning of August.
As far as the phalaenopsis is concerned it has produced new leaves from the center and a new plant from a node
which is now almost 1 and a half inches tall and doing well. The dendronobium has a new side shoot which is now almost the height of the original cane.

My question is once the new cane shoot is siimilar to the original, is it advisable to change the liquid feed in the resovoir for some thing different as The instructions for the sea weed extract favors for root growth only.

[RosieC]

This is probably the sort of question for Ray who I know said he was not going to be online for a couple of weeks.

However my understanding is that he uses a mixture of MSU and seaweed all the time and has got on so well with that method that he sells a combined product in the USA for people to do that.

Seaweed helps root growth but it's not a fertiliser, so if you are not using a fertiliser as well then I would add one. You can get something called "Akernes Rain Mix" which is the same thing as MSU fertiliser and is available in Europe. I'm not sure where you get it from where you are but try searching online (I get it from one of our members who imports it from Europe to sell in the UK).

Anyway, the fact that your have such a large new cane sounds like it's liking your care anyway

[Spook In Spain]

Many thanks for taking the time to reply, i look forward to possibly hearing from other peoples experiences. For me its all uncharterd territory and experiments.