Hello all,
I have searched a bit for information on paphs and phrags in semi hydro. At this point, it's finally warm enough for me to try a few orchids in SH. I selected a few that had good new root growth and now it is a waiting game to see how they do. The ones I have moved have been a few phals, encyclias, and a small cattleya.
I got the impression that paphs and phrags do well in semi hydro, but I have questions. With the phals etc it was easy for me to identify that the orchid was in a phase of putting out new roots. I don't know how to do that with paphs or phrags, although obviously I can see new I don't know the proper words yet, shoots?, at the surface. I've also gotten the impression that paphs are not as resilient (or near-immortal) as for instance phals seem to be, in that they can't lose all their roots and then magically sprout new ones (not that I have ever accomplished that with a phal). Since it is expected that current roots in a fast draining bark-based media will rot when moved to SH, what is the procedure for moving paphs and/or phrags to SH and can it be done when they are already blooming size?
Hopefully these questions make sense. I don't have to move these orchids to SH and if it is too risky, I won't. I do have a seedling sized paph that I have somehow kept alive, it has been very forgiving while also demanding. These orchids make me a bit nervous because I can't see their roots. But if my SH experiment goes well (the plants will have to make it through the winter before I conclude the experiment) I'd love to move more to SH just to simplify watering and care. I have been informed that it is highly stressful and anxiety producing to water my orchids when I have to leave them, but leave them I sometimes must, hence the tentative steps toward SH.
edit to add: I posted when I thought I was previewing, anyway, if given my lack of experience it's best to just leave the paphs & phrags alone, that's also a wonderful answer! All help appreciated
Paphs & Phrags in SH
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