Full water culture

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

I haven't done it myself Subrosa, because I had been making predictions (both uneducated and educated - some about what I have read, and some due to foreseeing circumstances due to logical thought processes - basically common sense).

I'm not opposed to FWC - that's for sure. I'm just wondering why it is done. Is it for the novelty of it? I'm only wondering about it - because there appears to be quite some unnecessary continual tinkering involved with that technique. That's really where I'm coming from only. Not opposed to it. If it works nicely for some people, then that's nice.

I suspected as much, because our conversation sounds disturbingly like several I've had with people who have limited to no experience with semi-hydroponic culture when the topic of whether or not Cattleya roots need to dry out between waterings comes up. The reason I do it is simply because it works. Plants grow and flower under this regimen, which to my mind is the whole point of keeping them. Semi-hydroponic culture doesn't work well for me with Vanda, and while growing bare root in a basket does, it's a lot more work. As far as this tinkering you mention, I don't see it. I put a plant in an orchid basket. I sit the basket in a vase which holds it at a constant level. I fill the vase to a specific level, and try to change the water weekly. Sometimes it's not to be, and I simply top off the vase to the original water level. When even I can't take it anymore, I wipe the algae off of the vase. And that's it.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Subrosa

the topic of whether or not Cattleya roots need to dry out between waterings comes up.

I only allow for dry-out every once in a while - such as once a week. I had mentioned the same thing in various posts, but can't remember which posts. My reason for doing that is to just keep whatever might cause a problem in the pot at bay. In general, the roots of my plants can remain wet --- most of the time.

My growing area has nice air movement.

One main concern I have with FWC is algae growth ----- yes.... in the pot, but also on the roots. Do you get algae growing on the roots of your orchids? And does it build up? If so, then what do you do about it? Leave it? And have you ever had issues with any FWC orchid taking a dive in health out of the blue, or something bad abruptly occurs?

Another main concern I have is the need to tinker with the pot or the plant, and wash things, and fill the pot up continually. But if you are able to keep doing this for a few decades without issues, then that's ok by me.

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

I only allow for dry-out every once in a while - such as once a week. I had mentioned the same thing in various posts, but can't remember which posts. My reason for doing that is to just keep whatever might cause a problem in the pot at bay. In general, the roots of my plants can remain wet --- most of the time.

My growing area has nice air movement.

The main concern I have with FWC is algae growth ----- yes.... in the pot, but also on the roots. Do you get algae growing on the roots of your orchids? And does it build up? If so, then what do you do about it? Leave it? And have you ever had issues with any FWC orchid taking a dive in health, or something bad abruptly occurs?

I do get a light coating of algae growth on healthy roots. The only time I see strings of algae on roots is when I first transition the plants and some of the submerged roots die. It doesn't seem to cause a problem. My longest term plant in fwc is a little over 2 years for a V. falcata, and growth has been steady. Last summer it outgrew the 4" orchid basket in a vase it was in and I upped it to a 6" basket resting in a goldfish bowl.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Subrosa

My longest term plant in fwc is a little over 2 years for a V. falcata, and growth has been steady. Last summer it outgrew the 4" orchid basket in a vase it was in and I upped it to a 6" basket resting in a goldfish bowl.

That's a significant amount of time - which is very nice to hear. Nice result Subrosa.

Thanks for answering my question about the algae as well.

And - also for letting me know your reason for applying FWC for some of your orchids. I appreciated the information about the algae side of things - from your experience with FWC.

---------- Post added at 11:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:34 PM ----------

I forgot to mention something too - I really like (a lot) your method of supporting the roots in a basket. That's a very nice feature.

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

That's a significant amount of time - which is very nice to hear. Nice result Subrosa.

Thanks for answering my question about the algae as well.

And - also for letting me know your reason for applying FWC for some of your orchids. I appreciated the information about the algae side of things - from your experience with FWC.

---------- Post added at 11:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:34 PM ----------

I forgot to mention something too - I really like (a lot) your method of supporting the roots in a basket. That's a very nice feature.

Being able to maintain the plant in a consistent position relative to the water eliminates the need to, as you said "tinker" with the plant. Before I started doing it, quite often the plant would slowly sink lower into the container, which absolutely required tinkering!

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Subrosa

Being able to maintain the plant in a consistent position relative to the water eliminates the need to, as you said "tinker" with the plant. Before I started doing it, quite often the plant would slowly sink lower into the container, which absolutely required tinkering!

Thanks for mentioning that Subrosa. These details you mention are really golden for those getting into FWC. As in sharing of that particular knowledge and technique. And mentioning what to expect - and how to handle that situation effectively. Your basket support method is really clever. That's really thinking inside the pot!!

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

Thanks for mentioning that Subrosa. These details you mention are really golden for those getting into FWC. As in sharing of that particular knowledge and technique. And mentioning what to expect - and how to handle that situation effectively. Your basket support method is really clever. That's really thinking inside the pot!!

When I switched most of my collection over into s/h I wound up with a bunch of those orchid baskets just sitting around. I had also purchased a bunch of vases at a local thrift store for use as s/h pots for Cymbidium, but I was only drilling them as needed. When I started messing around with fwc I was initially trying all kinds of arrangements to hold the plants in place when the idea hit me. I've found that most typical mass produced glass vases will hold a 4" basket very nicely.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Subrosa

I was initially trying all kinds of arrangements to hold the plants in place when the idea hit me. I've found that most typical mass produced glass vases will hold a 4" basket very nicely.

Nice work Subrosa. The beauty here about this basket method is that a basket could be made to suit a particular pot by means of 3D printing.

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

Nice work Subrosa. The beauty here about this basket method is that a basket could be made to suit a particular pot by means of 3D printing.

No doubt, but that's definitely outside my wheelhouse! I'll just take a basket with me while hitting the local thrift stores when I need to set up another plant.

[Brooke_Orchids]

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