Orchids in water culture

[Sun rm.N.E.]

Joan

I would not put anything in the solution that would change the pH of the solution unless you want to experiment. It may also be more difficult to clean when you start having dead algae or decaying matter accumulate inevitably if you use the method long-term.

When I use disposable plastic cups or containers i simply put the cups in flower pots or some attractive sturdy container. Otherwise they usually get knocked over.

[Sun rm.N.E.]

Juliet

I have been experimenting with water culture for well over five years. I lost most of my orchids during a move and lengthy remodeling where other people cared for my orchids. This was a desperate attempt to save a couple as well as my favorite bromeliad which eventually went on to produce 8 pups. In 40+ years of growing in other media it only produced 3 max.

However, I had little success with some of those smaller, or climbing oncidiums like onustum, flexiosum, viperinum and their primary hybrids. Now I am trying your vase method with them. I am glad you posted pictures of results you had after sufficient time to be convincing. Please keep us informed of your results.

[Becca]

Sun rm N.E., when you convert and orchid to water culture that has good roots. Do the good roots die off and new roots grow in to replace them? Or do you find that the good roots adapt to the water culture? Also you mentioned you change the solutions more then once a week....so is that twice a week, three times a week? Have you tried this with paph's or phrags yet?

[Sun rm.N.E.]

Becca

Yes all roots not developed for water culture will have a short life. However as you can see in this picture of a Den keiki, rotting roots (center of picture where I pinched off the rotting parts) can actually put out new functioning branches which seem to help develop brand new roots. You can also see the brand new roots, so I am not concerned that the old ones will not last long. It is producing a new growth and did not seem to skip a beat. It really depends on the plant. Some Oncids that did very poorly eventually showed typical signs of virus. My cheap virus test

I must add that I use growth stimulators, KLN in this case. Just a couple of drops per gallon with every change after the initial heavier priming when I first put them in water culture. I also try to keep the ambient temperature above 70degrees F most of the time.




I have not tried Paphs and and Phrags. Phals I found too much of a bother since the water kept creeping up into the crown which required too much cleaning. However, someone on another forum grew a couple of Phrag. seedlings in a vase and reported that they bloomed ahead of schedule.

[nenella]

Originally Posted by Sun rm.N.E.

Becca

Yes all roots not developed for water culture will have a short life. However as you can see in this picture of a Den keiki, rotting roots (center of picture where I pinched off the rotting parts) can actually put out new functioning branches which seem to help develop brand new roots. You can also see the brand new roots, so I am not concerned that the old ones will not last long. It is producing a new growth and did not seem to skip a beat. It really depends on the plant. Some Oncids that did very poorly eventually showed typical signs of virus. My cheap virus test

I must add that I use growth stimulators, KLN in this case. Just a couple of drops per gallon with every change after the initial heavier priming when I first put them in water culture. I also try to keep the ambient temperature above 70degrees F most of the time.




I have not tried Paphs and and Phrags. Phals I found too much of a bother since the water kept creeping up into the crown which required too much cleaning. However, someone on another forum grew a couple of Phrag. seedlings in a vase and reported that they bloomed ahead of schedule.

Hi Sun first of all, Thankyou for sharing your water culture techniques & ideas with us! about your miss adventure with phals..I would like to share what is happening to one of my phals which maybe of help? I don't mean to hijack your thread & apologise in advance If I am.
A white Phal noid I have had for roughly 4/5 years . It was originally planted in bark, flowered & reflowered for a few years. We moved house whilst it was in flower & My cats (then kittens) knocked it over, the top broke off leaving 3/4 leaves on it. I repotted in bark & a basal keikie formed on it. I repotted it about a year & a half ago for the second time (since it 'broke') & this time potted in mostly leca a bit of bark - I can see a few pebbles of perlite in there too.
I one day started putting it the pot to drain over a tupperware pot it fits perfectly into & leaving the water at the bottom..the roots started growing into the water & I now have 3 roots whose 'ends' (5") are now growing 'in water'... & it is now in flower! here's a couple pics .. it could be a way of transfering phals to water culture ? (Although I intend putting this one in S/h as soon as it has finished flowering!

[Brookpoint]

Originally Posted by Sun rm.N.E.

Becca

Yes all roots not developed for water culture will have a short life. However as you can see in this picture of a Den keiki, rotting roots (center of picture where I pinched off the rotting parts) can actually put out new functioning branches which seem to help develop brand new roots. You can also see the brand new roots, so I am not concerned that the old ones will not last long. It is producing a new growth and did not seem to skip a beat. It really depends on the plant. Some Oncids that did very poorly eventually showed typical signs of virus. My cheap virus test

I must add that I use growth stimulators, KLN in this case. Just a couple of drops per gallon with every change after the initial heavier priming when I first put them in water culture. I also try to keep the ambient temperature above 70degrees F most of the time.




I have not tried Paphs and and Phrags. Phals I found too much of a bother since the water kept creeping up into the crown which required too much cleaning. However, someone on another forum grew a couple of Phrag. seedlings in a vase and reported that they bloomed ahead of schedule.

am starting some orchids in water culture and wanted to know about the initial priming with KLN How much and for how long. Have enjoyed all the info from you on water culture. Hope I can be successful. thanks B.

[betoguerrero]

FANTASTIC!!!! I can't believe it!!!

[Buds!]

Hi everyone,
Just a quick update.
I have spikes on my catts and Sharry Baby in water culture!
Will post pics as soon as they bloom!
Water culture has been great for me, I was away for 8 days and I didn't even have to worry about them! I was greeted by spikes when I came home!
I feel so brave now, I am going to take the plunge (ha ha) with my Beallara Marfich 'Howards Dream'.
I've had it for nearly two years and it is another non performer.
Has anyone tried water culture with Beallara Marfich 'Howards Dream'?
Juliet

[Sun rm.N.E.]

Hi Juliet

Thanks for sharing the good news!

When I look at orchid growing as a creative experiment it becomes more like a game. I enjoy any success like you do and accept failure easier. Which brings me to Beallara Marfich 'Howards Dream'. This orchid was as difficult as Sharry Baby was easy and I gave up on it twice even though it produced water root. However, my first one showed signs of virus. I also saw a gorgeous mature specimen in the greenhouse of a local grower and it was twice as tall as my Sharry Baby "Short Sharry" so I will not try again.

I should note that the thousands of Oncidium alliance hybrids offered in the mass market differ greatly in their capacity to adapt to growing in the home in any media since they were mass-produced to bloom as quickly as possible and not to produce healthy plants that grow well for us. Let's not even think about the abuse they may have suffered during shipping, storage and at the supermarket. They are like the mass-produced chicken that were not allowed to walk and few would survive if we put them out in the yard. So I think it is a wonder that we can get so many of them to become healthy plants.

Have fun and enjoy watching you buds develop. I hope you know that Sharry baby spike takes a long time to mature.

[Buds!]

Originally Posted by Sun rm.N.E.

Hi Juliet

Thanks for sharing the good news!

When I look at orchid growing as a creative experiment it becomes more like a game. I enjoy any success like you do and accept failure easier. Which brings me to Beallara Marfich 'Howards Dream'. This orchid was as difficult as Sharry Baby was easy and I gave up on it twice even though it produced water root. However, my first one showed signs of virus. I also saw a gorgeous mature specimen in the greenhouse of a local grower and it was twice as tall as my Sharry Baby "Short Sharry" so I will not try again.

Have fun and enjoy watching you buds develop. I hope you know that Sharry baby spike takes a long time to mature.

I know what you mean when you said you nearly gave up on your Sharry Baby! I felt the same way! So I thank you again for sharing your 'Water Culture' knowledge! Now I am looking forward to FLOWERS... I don't mind waiting, it is a big spike already and branching out. My first ever onc. spike !

It will be interesting to see what happens to my Howards Dream, I have nothing to lose- that is my new attitude towards orchids... love me or leave me

One more question, have you tried water culture with onc. ornithorhyncum, onc. incurvum or any of the onc. twinkles?
Cheers,
Juliet