S/H for really large orchids - Orchid Board

BlueArmedBandit · #1 05-25-2017, 10:39 PM

I want to try semi hydro with my Gram. Scriptum and I have been searching the forums to see if anyone else has tried with a plant on the large side with no luck. Here is a pic of it in a 8 inch pot. Any help would be great!

Dropbox - Photo May 25, 9 34 07 PM.jpg

estación seca · #2 05-26-2017, 05:19 AM

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

Go to a hydroponics shop and lift two, 50 liter bags of LECA at the same time. Now imagine one bag in the pot, the plant in that pot weighing as much as the second bag, and a pot sturdy enough to contain all that weight. Are you strong enough to lift that?

Salixx · #3 05-28-2017, 09:23 PM

I don't see why you couldn't do it, though these things look quite beastly in the long run. Depending on how big yours is already, you could probably start out with a 5gal paint bucket and see how it goes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by estación seca

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

Go to a hydroponics shop and lift two, 50 liter bags of LECA at the same time. Now imagine one bag in the pot, the plant in that pot weighing as much as the second bag, and a pot sturdy enough to contain all that weight. Are you strong enough to lift that?

That's what utility carts are for!

I'm only partially kidding.

Orchid Whisperer · #4 05-28-2017, 10:07 PM

Instead of LECA can you try either styrofoam chips or peanuts alone, or mix a significant percentage of styro in with some LECA? Either would be significantly lighter than a bunch of 100% LECA that is wet.

Fair warning, I do not grow Grammatophyllum.

estación seca · #5 05-29-2017, 01:25 AM

The foam will not wick water up in the pot. There is a limit to how high water will wick up any medium. The height limit does not change as the pot increases in diameter.

Orchid Whisperer · #6 05-29-2017, 07:44 AM

Re: wicking: makes sense.

In that case I would skip the semi-hydro and just assume you will need to water from above.

Grammatophyllum is a genus I have avoided because IMO the are way too huge to grow inside the house. Probably fine in a large greenhouse or outdoors in a climate like Hawaii or Puerto Rico.

BlueArmedBandit · #7 06-01-2017, 01:20 PM

Thanks for all the replies guys! I went and bought some Leca and it wasn't too heavy once I switch out the bark. Right now I am just sitting it on top of a plastic pan filled with water until I can find a clear plastic pot big enough to fit.

estación seca · #8 06-01-2017, 02:09 PM

Consider buckets. A 5-gallon bucket has a carrying handle.

Ray · #9 06-01-2017, 02:14 PM

The biggest S/H pot I ever tried was a cymbidium in a 18" diameter x 24" tall florists cooler bucket I had converted to having a 4" deep reservoir.

It stayed in the greenhouse.

velvet-ears · #10 08-14-2018, 01:53 AM

BlueArmedBandit, it's been awhile since your original post... How did it go for your grammatophyllum in semi-hydro? The reason I ask is because I was just gifted one, and I want to grow it in semi-hydro too. But I haven't been able to find any info from anyone with actual experience. It would be awesome to hear that you were successful with semi-hydro! Any advice?