Growing orchids bare-rooted in pots

[Rebecca817]

Has anyone tried growing their orchids bare-rooted in pots, without any kind of media (bark or leca)? I'm not talking about water culture either, where they sit in water for a period of time.

[Ray]

It certainly can be done - I have grown vandas with no container whatsoever, just hung on a wire - but just about any plant will grow better if it is mechanically stable, which it does by attaching itself to a mount, or by sinking its roots into potting media and "gripping" the pot.

[Rebecca817]

Ray, I was thinking of using plant wires to secure them to the pots.

[Ray]

That might work, I suppose, but you want to try to eliminate any potential movement.

The plant will still want to "anchor" itself in the pot, so will grow roots toward the sides of the pot. If there is any movement when the root tips are at the sidewall, they can get damaged, and may stop growing. That includes while watering...

[Orchid Whisperer]

I have a Rhynchostylis and some strap-leaved Oncidiums growing that way now. I strongly recommend terracotta pots for the purpose.

I have also grown Cattleyas that way.

[Rebecca817]

Thank you, Orchid Whisperer!

[randbrod14]

Have done that by accident (all of media falls through basket) and they always seem to do well.
As a side note, I was tired of looking at my dendrobiums with stalks growing in every direction but up. I cut off the ones growing horizontal and placed them in a pot with lava rock. Within 4 weeks, I have new growth on all of them! Added a cattleya and it has new growth also!

[estación seca]

Some plants do better than others like this. Many people say bifoliate Cattleyas, Brassavola nodosa and hybrids, and Rhynchostylis are ideal this way. You wouldn't want to do it for most plants with high water demands.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

What you propose is possible for some epiphytes that do not have high water needs, as ES had mentioned. It also depends on where you are growing. Places with lower humidity levels would probably not be conducive to growing in this manner. A relative humidity of at least 50% can allow this method to work, any lower, and there will be problems.

As have been stated, Vandas, Rhynchostylis, Ascocentrum, Renanthera, Vandopsis, and all their hybrids seem to do well this way.

[Rebecca817]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

What you propose is possible for some epiphytes that do not have high water needs, as ES had mentioned. It also depends on where you are growing. Places with lower humidity levels would probably not be conducive to growing in this manner. A relative humidity of at least 50% can allow this method to work, any lower, and there will be problems.

As have been stated, Vandas, Rhynchostylis, Ascocentrum, Renanthera, Vandopsis, and all their hybrids seem to do well this way.

King, I have a Colmanara Masai Red bare-rooted in a terra cotta pot in my little walk-in greenhouse. I keep the humidity between 60 - 95% humidity. Since it's been raining for 3 days straight here, the humidity is at about 100%.

---------- Post added at 09:28 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:22 AM ----------

I forgot to mention that since to remove the media and started growing my Colmanara bare-rooted, it has 9 new growths.