How to bulbos and gongora fair to S/H? - Orchid Board

jb_orchidguy · #1 11-18-2016, 11:59 AM

I'm getting back into orchids and converting a lot of things over to S/H in the GH. I'm also getting heavy into bulbos. I'm read where Ray said anything can be grown in S/H, but then I have also read certain plants don't do well in S/H. I am wondering if bulbos and gongora will do ok in S/H. I know I am out of luck getting a stanhopea into S/H, but I am curious about the other. Thanks! and I am excited to be getting back into orchids again after being heavy into the nepenthes scene.

JB

estación seca · #2 11-18-2016, 02:55 PM

Many Gongora send flower spikes downward. The ones that send spikes horizontally or a little upward should do well.

The problem with Bulbos is their roots can be very shallow. I couldn't get it to work with standard S/H pots, holes an inch / 2.54cm from the bottom of the container, but I can make it work with a pot set into a deeper dish that functions as the reservoir. I suppose I also could have drilled holes closer to the top of the 1 quart / liter food container I use for S/H pots.

jb_orchidguy · #3 11-19-2016, 02:05 PM

Thanks for that tidbit on Gongora. I thought they all did horizontal spikes. Which is why I didn't j derstsnd then not doing well. I guess here is to trying it with a seedling! And makes sense with the bulbo. So it so much distance between the surface and the reservoir. I'll have to try it with an extra too!

James O · #4 11-30-2016, 05:42 AM

When you say

Quote:

Originally Posted by estación seca

The problem with Bulbos is their roots can be very shallow

How short do you mean?

I've just acquired a bulbophyllum and the roots are about 5cm long. Would that be long enough?

estación seca · #5 11-30-2016, 10:47 AM

The plant's roots need to reach the water. If there is water in your reservoir, the level of sufficiently-moist LECA depends on the distance from the top of your reservoir, rate of evaporation from the top and the wicking ability of your LECA. You could set up an S/H pot, keep it watered and then take it apart to see where is the level of moisture.

I think the plants might send roots deeper if they sense water down there.