Pros and Cons of S/H?

[mtorchid]

You haven't lived until you've tried asparagus-vanilla ice cream! ;-) I think the title of this thread implies that it's not just pros/cons of s/h, but pros/cons using s/h in this or that environment for this or that orchid. The devil is always in the details!

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by Ray

An editorial comment here: Asking "what are the pros and cons of S/H?" is like asking "what are the pros and cons of asparagus?". There are situations where it is totally appropriate, some that are totally inappropriate (dessert?), and others that are in-between.

LOL... that's what I just said, Ray.

And I must humbly disagree about asparagus for dessert. Then again, I also sometimes eat it for breakfast.

---------- Post added at 08:13 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:14 AM ----------

Originally Posted by BettyE

No, Marc, but I grow in a greenhouse, and during the Summer, I water once a week. Of course, I do have a mister going during the heat of the day. ( I live in Texas )And, YES, I'm going to try the two or three holes at the bottom of the pot. Is one or two inches above the bottom correct? Thanks, BettyE.

Here's a picture of holes only on the side of pot, Betty.



The one on the left is pretty much "traditional" S/H. The one on the right is glass, and was a real tough one to drill because of the curved surface, so only one hole.

If there's a hole in the bottom, it isn't really S/H... it's just using the LECA as a different growing media than bark, charcoal, etc. The reservoir of water in the bottom is what makes it semi-hydro growing.

I have a couple of orchids that are in really tall vases, and I put the holes further up. I have a couple of specimen catts that are in plastic punch bowls with the two holes on side.

For me, how much reservoir to have at bottom has to do with the size of the pot and the particular root requirements of the orchid.

For what it's worth.

[mtorchid]

<For me, how much reservoir to have at bottom has to do with the size of the pot and the particular root requirements of the orchid.> I couldn't agree more WW'in. Kudos to you for drilling through glass- I would need to have an ambulance crew nearby if I tried that! The glass vase is an attractive display- very nice!

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by mtorchid

I couldn't agree more WW'in. Kudos to you for drilling through glass- I would need to have an ambulance crew nearby if I tried that! The glass vase is an attractive display- very nice!

Thanks. Drilling through glass is actually easy-peasy... after you break a few in practice and buy a good drill bit.

[allla]

Has anyone tried SH in bark for Vandas? I am reluctant to clay pellets and I was planning to put some pebbles under the bark and keep the water reservoir only in the stones.

Is this change going to create an issue?

PS
What is the minimal number of holes to a pot for a Vanda in SH?

[mtorchid]

Originally Posted by allla

Has anyone tried SH in bark for Vandas? I am reluctant to clay pellets and I was planning to put some pebbles under the bark and keep the water reservoir only in the stones.

Is this change going to create an issue?

PS
What is the minimal number of holes to a pot for a Vanda in SH?

Since Vandas are frequently grown in wood-slatted containers, I don't know if the bark/pellet mix (in a plastic pot) might be too wet for it. Some of my "likes to dry out between waterings" orchids do great in baskets filled with clay pellets sitting atop a tray of moist clay pellets. Technically it's not s/h because the "reservoir" is high humidity, not water per se. You might give it a try, though!

[Ray]

Originally Posted by allla

Has anyone tried SH in bark for Vandas? I am reluctant to clay pellets and I was planning to put some pebbles under the bark and keep the water reservoir only in the stones.

Is this change going to create an issue?

Yes. For one, bark will decompose, crumble, and suffocate the root system of the plant if you keep it constantly moist.

Secondly, bark does not wick well at all. If you only keep a layer of LECA wet, you're not going to have enough of a water supply for the plant.

Originally Posted by allla

PS
What is the minimal number of holes to a pot for a Vanda in SH?

The holes are there only to provide a maximum depth for the reservoir; they play little to no role in the air flow through the medium. The shape of the pellets provides plenty of free air flow.

In fact, if you increase the number of holes, the evaporation rate will completely outstrip the LECA pellets' ability to wick water upward, and you are no longer using S/H culture.

[allla]

You are right Ray from a SH point of view and wrong from a prooven otherwise let's say point of view. there is a long thread of messages going back a few years with people growing successfully in glass containers, with bark and no holes in French. Not every orchid, quite a few though catts slippers, phals, den phals, deciduous dens, bealara, oncidiums etc. True no Vanda trials with this yet or perhaps nobody wants to share... The roots take their water from the flooding and then from the humidity in the pot. Bark does not wick probably it just exudates humidity for a while.

It's a no work method as watering is filling up the container after a while draining it all. I have been doing this since November last year - of course I am a beginner; it really works though. Can't give a frequency of watering I do what the lady said - water when the roots are white and not before. True it is bark alone and no LECA and you are right Ray in 3 years probably it decomposes, whatever decomposes has no time to rot though it is going dry and then washed out when I drain so no mush or dust remains to clog anything.

I hope I haven't upset anyone. Why don't you try to go see for yourselves on the French side of the net? It is 100% true.

I did not know about LECA drying out because I have not used it. Thank you for telling me this. I could not understand why one den was happy and another one struggling (I left some in their original coco peat/choir and sat them on LECA on top of a reservoir - just for the sake of enjoying their flowers longer).

While my plant in SH died because it needed heat this winter, the bark in vase plants were ok.

[AnonYMouse]

I practice Ray's S/H method on some plants and I have some plants in bark sitting in water.

The plants in bark sitting in water require a damp environment (never dry out but needs air circulation). These will probably easily transition to S/H but I'm just too lazy.

Despite your success with bark in water, I wouldn't try it with most of my plants.

[WaterWitchin]

Just my opinion, but one's own micro-environment is key to what works. Right along with one's time or lack thereof, plus many other variables too numerous to list.

The bottom line, for me, is if I can keep an orchid alive for five or so years plus it blooms with regularity for me... I must have found something that works... for me.

There's no magic to S/H any moreso than mounting or type of bark or medium. What matters at end of day, is does it work for you? The rest is just speculation until proved in one's own environment, culture, and orchids picked that will comply with the rest.