I've had mixed results, I love the technique for some types of plants and have recently moved more into it, for others it doesn't work for me.
My conditions are too cold for Phals to grow in S/H, as S/H will slightly lower the root temps and as my temps are on the low end for Phals anyway. I grow them in leca with great success now, but not with the S/H watering style.
Oncidium types do best for me in S/H. They are still an alliance I struggle with, but the ones in S/H are starting to really do well for me now. One I moved into it in the spring is flowering for me now for the first time in years
I have a Zygo which was almost dead and was rootless. I got it going again in S/H and it only struggles if I let the reservoir dry out now. I wouldn't put that one in anything else.
I like growing Phrags in S/H and have recently been trying Paphs as well. Yet to see how that goes. Some Den Phalathe types I'm also trying in S/H just now. We'll see.
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Originally Posted by Ray
As to the "more work" subject, I suppose that has to do with your setup. In the greenhouse, where I don't have to worry about containing the drainage, it's an effort minimizer. Heck, I even have an overhead system on a remote control, so I can stand in my kitchen window at 5 am before going to work, push one button, and for the next 20 minutes, it's a monsoon.
Folks who have to cart plants to the sink may have a different opinion, but there are ways to control that in the home, too.
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This is what I have found on amount of work. I don't have such a great setup of pressing a button (now I want one
) but I can just go in the greenhouse and pour water over everything and the S/H ones just naturally keep the reservoir they need and it's all really quick.
When the Oncidium types come into the house for winter it becomes more of a faff. However just now I've developed a good system of carying a bucket round with me. I hold the plant/pot over the bucket, pour water in the top so it runs out, then when water has stopped coming out I tip just slightly so the reservoir is just lower than the maximum level it can be, so it does't slosh out as I put it back on the window ledge, then put it back in place. Seems to be working well so far
Hybrid Mode
