Semi-Hydro + Cymbidiums + Nutricote + Timed/Slow Release Fertilzer + Advice

[empiref]

Hello all,

I have browsed the board for an answer to my specific question and couldn't find what I was looking for, so I was wondering if someone can help me.

I grow all my orchids in a Semi-Hydro setup. They are all doing great. I am currently using a specialized Orchid fertilizer that is expensive. I am also supplementing my orchids with Kelpak every 14 days.

My Cyms are in 13" pots, I currently have 3 that are already in Semi-Hydro and recently acquired 3 others which I will be moving to Semi-Hydro when the weather gets warmer and the flower spikes are gone in late March or early May. I am also in the market to expanding my cym collection to 27 different cyms not to mention my other 1 Phal + 2 Oncs + 1 Calanthe + 2 Pleiones.

I want to know if I can use Nutricote with my Semi-Hydro setup. I already read on this forum that the pellets will fall into the reservoir at the bottom, but I was thinking of splitting the pellets into 4 equal amounts and placing them into a small pantyhose bags and burying them about an inch deep inside the Hydroton.

I also read on this forum that someone heard in an orchid class through an expert that you should use 3-4 pellets of Nutricote per inch in diameter of pot.

I have read that many growers have had great success using timed release fertilizer in conventional media but no info regarding Semi-Hydro setups.

about 1 Kg of Nutricote costs USD 13 (excluding shipping)
About 1 Kg of the specialized fertilizer that I use costs USD 240. (excluding shipping)

Here are some pics of my cyms that were moved last year into Semi-Hydro.

The one in bloom appears to be a One Tree Hill 'John's Quest'. It had 3 flower spikes, I broke one off trying to straighten it when it was still very small and tender.

The other one I acquired recently for USD 15, don't know the name, it has a honey-like scent!

Thank you in advance for your time and help and best regards to all.