SH Transplant Experiment - Orchid Board

thepiecesfit · #1 06-10-2014, 02:39 PM

Doing an experiment. Purchased a noid phalaenopsis orchid at Trader Joes in bloom with tightly packed sphagnum moss. It has about 8 unopened buds. I gutted the media, it was so soaked i could probably squeeze a glass of water out of it. Transplanted it into Hydroton media that was washed and soaked overnight. There were many healthy roots.

Fast forward two days later the buds are opening and the orchid didn't seem to skip a beat. Hopefully it keeps going strong. I have read that moss to SH is a pretty seamless transition. I know this is a cardinal rule violation, but seems like its working. Thoughts?

bellini girl · #2 06-10-2014, 05:49 PM

Are you growing in SH? or just the hydroton. In true SH your container would have a reservoir about an 1nch up from the bottom with 2 holes . Check out firstrays.com for a visual. (Ray is one of our members)

thepiecesfit · #3 06-10-2014, 06:25 PM

No its S/H. I have a few of Ray's pots. That's where I got my information from. Have a couple other plants doing well in S/H also. Just wondering what the outcome of this will be. Don't you wish you could speed up time ?

Joyorchid · #4 06-10-2014, 10:22 PM

I have had quite a few phals transition without losing roots from moss to s/h.

Ray · #5 06-11-2014, 07:27 AM

The whole transplant shock issue is dependent upon three factors: what has changed, in what direction, and how much.

Moss to S/H isn't really much of a change in terms of moisture, but can be (as in the original example) a major improvement in "breathability".

BettyE · #6 06-13-2014, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thepiecesfit

Doing an experiment. Purchased a noid phalaenopsis orchid at Trader Joes in bloom with tightly packed sphagnum moss. It has about 8 unopened buds. I gutted the media, it was so soaked i could probably squeeze a glass of water out of it. Transplanted it into Hydroton media that was washed and soaked overnight. There were many healthy roots.

Fast forward two days later the buds are opening and the orchid didn't seem to skip a beat. Hopefully it keeps going strong. I have read that moss to SH is a pretty seamless transition. I know this is a cardinal rule violation, but seems like its working. Thoughts?

I, too have been experimenting with the one, two or more holes about an inch & a half from the bottom of clear plastic pots or glass containers. So far, the two phaleanopsis have not even noticed the change. Most of my other orchids are in clear plastic, also. They all have four slits up four sides, with several holes at the bottom. The orchids are all doing great, but yes, I DO water once a week! ( only every two weeks in Winter...)If I notice any changes, I will post them.
BettyE.

Ray · #7 06-14-2014, 11:23 AM

Betty, for S/H culture, you only need (and only want to have) two, 1/4" holes in the side, as close as possible to each other, about an inch or so from the bottom.

The open spaces between the LECA particles provide more airflow than most organic media do in any pot.

Too many openings in the pot accelerates the evaporation of the water, defeating the wicking of the water upward by the LECA, which is the goal. (All of the slots and the like in "orchid pots" are specifically intended to accelerate the evaporation, so that the water trapped between media particles - which is what suffocates and kills the roots - dries up faster.)

I mentioned the holes being "as close as possible", as inevitably, a LECA particle will block one hole. if the other is close enough,that "offending particle" will also prevent the other from being blocked.

BettyE · #8 06-14-2014, 11:38 AM

Ray, that is exactly the info I needed. (and I believe that includes many of us!) It all makes a lot of sense to me now...I will slowly change over to glass & clear plastic pots with only two holes an inch from the bottom. This will take me a while, as I have over 75 orchids, & do all the greenhouse work myself. Thanks again for the information...BettyE.

WaterWitchin · #9 06-14-2014, 10:23 PM

Hopefully on topic, I am most interested to know, Ray, if you have thoughts regarding putting the holes higher on the pot, when transferring over to S/H.

Some pots I've chosen are very tall. So I put the holes higher up. Some plants I've put into S/H grow extensive root system, depending on the orchid. Thus, my thought has been a taller pot.

Have you any words of assistance, other than always an inch or so up?

Or anyone else who's been doing S/H long enough to assure a variation thrives?

thepiecesfit · #10 06-15-2014, 05:58 PM

Seems like a no brainer. Wanted to try S/H with a Phal? Find the orchid in soggy moss and transplant! Almost guaranteed to work without much hassle. This should be good starter for anyone wanting to try Semi Hydroponics. Orchids in bark can stay in bark. We have recently transplanted a clivia miniata into S/H also. Roots are similar to that of an orchid.