S/H Questions before commitment

[Houston]

I would really like to try S/H, but have a couple of questions before committing.

• Once the roots have grown below the drainage hole, do they not rot from sitting in reservoir water?

• I would like to put my orchids in terra cotta for indoor presentation, has anyone done this?

Cheers!

[Pilot]

No they will not rot in general. Do not confuse a rotting root with failure as roots have a life cycle too. They come, they go.

I grow my plants in glass containers. Not ugly like plastic but durable and with a diamond bit, you can easily add the drain holes.

As for using terra pots...of course. Find a standard container and slip your booming plant inside it for display.

[Houston]

Thank you Ryan. Have you tried lava stone in place of fired clay balls?

[Bud]

I have read of a member post about his S/H method using lava rocks....
as long as it works, why not?

[Pilot]

I've never tried lava before but I do have a lava slab that some plants use. It does seem prone to salt build up faster than clay, even with frequent flushing. But it's worth the experiment.

[RosieC]

Roots that grow down into the reservoir grow to be tailored for that very wet environment and many people report they grow well there... but then there is plenty of root which is getting air.

I put my orchid pots in out cache pots which are decorative. The only problem S/H caused with that, is that if they resevoir is still right up to the drainage hole when you come to take it out to water again, it's easy to get water spilt everywhere as you take it out, not a problem over the sink but I used to try and water mine in-situ and get water everywhere

[magicatt]

My roots have grown down into the water and they are doing fine. Been that way for months with no sign of dying yet.

Just find a container big enough to slip your s/h pot into and viola! Decorator pot!

Just a word of warning. Wait for new roots to start emerging before potting in s/h. Trust me on this.