Experimenting with my Phragmipediums: Semi-Hydroponics

[@havetohavehoya4598]

I have learned so much from you and enjoy your updates. I grow phal species in semi-hydroponics-they grow in clear plastic 16 oz cups. The drainage holes are only about an inch and a half from the bottom they use all the water in about 5 days. They are on a heat mat, I water with distilled water and they are all doing great. I was wondering if the reservoir's may be a little deep? Thank you for sharing.

[@MichaelsOrchids]

Orchids tend to use of water much faster on the heat mat, as long as you can keep up with that I say there’s no problem!

[@beatricegreene3836]

Michael, that was ingenious 👍 I know this is about a 2 year old video but I just received my first phrag. from my orchid meeting yesterday. It was in semi hydroponic and I repotted it new balls. My question to you is how well did this experiment work and did you make an update video on the success. Thanks, Beatrice

[@lovestwiggy]

I think it is a great idea. I'm very interested in the results. There is one thing I think would make this setup safer because I didn't see a check valve on the air tube. If there is a power failure the water could end up in your airpump. A check valve will prevent that from happening.

[@MichaelsOrchids]

Thank you for the feedback, that’s really good to consider!

[@Marie-lp4ey]

Hi - Thank you for all of your helpful videos. I have been learning a lot. I am wondering if I can grow my phals in glass jars (with no media and no water) and mist the roots daily and/or soak weekly. I really like the idea of having the roots visible as this is the best way for me to gauge the health of my plant and I am not a very experienced orchid grower. I have looked into semi and full water culture but I am not so sure about these methods although others have had great success. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[@MichaelsOrchids]

Hi Marie! Thank you so much for watching, I’m glad you find my videos helpful! I can’t really speculate on whether or not that method would work, it is so wildly different from the kind of growing I do. But nothing answers that kind of question better than experience. So I say just jump in and see how it goes!

[@Marie-lp4ey]

Thank you! : )

[@josephpiccone8357]

Ok so first off love the video. It is always great to see plant lovers like my self experimenting. I can tell you adding a bubbler or aka o2 infusion stone. Will help any plant .i have been using them for over 20 years.and nothing but good results. I will give you a growers tip. I noticed that you are using hydroton rock media. Absolutely make sure that you pre wash them extremely well with very hot water.so that all loose sediments are not present. If not it will change the make up of your water. Even if you are using distilled. The smaller the container the easier it is to become unbalanced. Meaning ppm.parts per million ms.salt content and ph.level. i highly recommend buying a Hannah meter with ph.ms and ppm well worth the money. Also in your video you said that you use a solution. If so you must change out the hydroton or boil clean about every 30 to 60 days. If not the hydroton rock media will collect high amounts of ms.aka salt and your leaves will begin to turn yellow and rot.and will not be able to photosynthesis the sun light.and digest the nutrients. But the actual problem that caused the yellow leaves is the high salt witch encapsulate the roots from absorbing nutrients. This is called root lock and is bery common and always overlooked. Sorry if i am long winded just passionate about plants. Good luck have fun

[@judithsarcochilus1080]

Intersting, but you may be overthinking things. My phrags are super happy is semi hydro, but I prepare the media recommended by Rays Orchids website (pre soak) and I flush regularly as suggested by Miracle Orchids on her Youtuve channel. My thoughts are that what you are doing may work fine but is more than is required for success. In any case, thanks for sharing the video and I will be watching to see how it all works out.

[@MichaelsOrchids]

Hi Judith! You may be 100% correct, I just want to see if there’s anything I can do to improve my outcomes. I’m not sure if it was my environment in Colorado or something else I was doing, but my Phrags have not been successful at all. I’m hoping this changes my fortune a bit.

[@growproteas1148]

how often do you flush? daily?

[@judithsarcochilus1080]

No, not daily, but I am sure they wouldn't mind that - I just don't have the time. I do it before every fertilizing (or at least try to) which is weekly and, if I can find time, a couple of times during the week. I have only started doing the more frequent flusing recently after watching some videos by other phrag growers. I only have 9 phrags, so it is manageable.

[@judithsarcochilus1080]

I am sure they will love it, it just seems pretty complicted, or maybe just too high-tech for me... :) In Colorado you probably had a pretty dry environment, will it be better where you are in California? That might help too.

[@yukarihamann]

I been taking care of my Phrago only for one year in Leca and she gave me several flowers last year. When I purchased her I was told that when new baby starts to grow, the older plant will die. My new baby are growing bigger and mother plant has only two leaves now but slowly getting brown from the tips. I run water from the top of Leca once a week and she is doing fine.

[@MichaelsOrchids]

Yes, I think flushing more regularly is key! Thank you for sharing Yukari :)

[@MADD_Crafter]

What a cool experiment.. I cannot wait to let time pass and get an update.

[@MichaelsOrchids]

I’ll keep everyone posted! Thank you for watching Lorena ❤️

[@FITZIEBLUE]

best of luck !!! and thanks for the other links and, what sort of drill bit do you use on the glass containers and how thick should the containers be to allow for safe drilling? I've got giant double spiked Phals (that i saw on display at the supermarket and took all three home with me) that are now falling out of the new containers i re potted them into; i wake up in the night to the sounds of clay beads cascading all over the hard wood floor. The old inside plastic containers had them root bound and after i cleaned away the old rotten inside moss plug and the outside bark medium , those big fat roots didn't want to get shoved back into the same sized plastic containers. I ran out to a local nursery and sized up two sizes....but the flower spikes keep these kids tipping over... i put them and the plastic 'orchid' pots back into the non draining ornamental vases, but that's no good for air flow....

[@MichaelsOrchids]

I don't follow any specific rule on thickness of glass, but as long as you're very gently and don't push down while drilling (just allow the drillbit to do the work) I've never had a problem. Here is the tutorial video, I actually link the exact drill bit in the description! kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmSzfKdjiq-dpqc#action=share Glass is the way to go because it is sturdy and heavy enough to offset the spikes!

[@FITZIEBLUE]

Thank you Michael !

[@intisioana993]

Nice idea! I used to have 2 aquariums and now I grow orchids... most orchid lovers seem to like both :-) I remember that the noise of the pump was anoying... you can reduce the noise by using a silicone cushion underneath it to reduce the trepidation... I also remember the fact that some air pumps need to be placed higher than the aquarium / plant containers to prevent the water from the pipes to go into the pump... mabe for this one it's not the case but I would check the prospect. It would be neat to place the phrags in a paludarium or in an aquarium directly in those plastic containers for terrarium plants. Kisse and good luck!

[@MichaelsOrchids]

Thank you Intis! I’m kind of loving the idea of using a full-blown aquarium as a tray, I will keep you posted when I move forward on that! ❤️

[@sunahyun6339]

Wow that's a great science experiment and a great idea for providing fresh air to the roots! Love it!

[@MichaelsOrchids]

Thank you Sunah, we’ll see how things go from here!

[@michaelmccarthy4077]

I'll be interested to see how this works out. I haven't ventured into Phrags yet simply because I've read that they can be temperamental little imps (of course, they say the same thing about Zygos, especially in Florida, and mine are doing great). I'm curious as to how long the airstones will last, given that in the standard aquarium they last only a year at best, which may be a hassle to replace them. You might have gotten the same result with the tubing all the way at the bottom (no airstone) laying flat - the open end would be perpendicular to the base of the container, some pea gravel over the hose and the leca on top. The bubbles would be larger but the water movement would still occur, you're still disrupting the surface of the water which is how the oxygenation takes place, which is what you are looking for.

[@MichaelsOrchids]

That’s a great call out Michael, I think either way I would be repotting around the one-year mark. The bubble stone may prove completely unnecessary at the end of this experiment

[@michaelmccarthy4077]

Well, I hope that the experiment works out! I'd be remiss if I didn't tell you that I was talking to a Phrag grower/breeder over the weekend (because I really like the look of Phrags but I've been afraid to touch them) and she told me she only recommends using a fertilizer called K-Lite (very dilute, weekly) and additive called KelpMax (once per month). As she explained it to me, the K-Lite is higher in calcium and lower in phosphate, which Phrags prefer (easier to uptake the calcium), and the KelpMax has other nutrients that aid in root and flower production. Seeing her plants (big, green, no brown leaf tips), I am inclined to agree it is a good combo. Although she grows in standard media, her opinion was that both would be the preferred nutrients for s/h as well. FWIW, she also grows Paphs and recommended the same.

[@Natalie-hi9gc]

Good luck! Happy Growing!

[@MichaelsOrchids]

Thank you Natalie!

[@barbaravonmettenheim1409]

I would love to know how this turned out. My phrag is just getting by. It keeps putting out keiki, but I don't get any blooms. And the tips of the leaves turn brown. I've just begun doing semi hydro. I transitioned 2. a mini paph and now a young cattleya

[@luisortiz-catedral586]

Hi Michael, how did this experiment go? have your Phragmipediums adapted to this set-up?

[@delphiguy23]

any update on this experiment? Wouldn't putting more holes in the container would let some air exchange instead of using an airstone?

[@benjaminevans9137]

@Michael's Orchids +Michael's Orchids , what happened to your phragmipediums in the setup experiment you did in the video?

[@pammclennan1642]

What a great idea! I look forward to the updates about this experiment.

[@MichaelsOrchids]

Thank you for watching Pam!

[@poodlepup1]

HI Michael... just wondering if you use just a small amount of water only instead of covering the roots completely ...as indicated on most information about them.. they can grow on rocks or an amount of water in the wet seasons... would this work for them....that way they still get a lot of oxygen / air movement.. your thoughts ?? i live in australia.. and the nursery tour was great to see... you guys have lots of orchid nurseries around you it seems...ours are not as abundant .. which is a shame..

[@MichaelsOrchids]

I’d have to experiment with that and see, but I’m open to trying! And yes, I feel quite fortunate to live so close to many nurseries!

[@terryklemesrud758]

Very interesting and I'm excited to see how and if this works!!!

[@MichaelsOrchids]

You and me both Terry!

[@patriciasorchids3999]

I think you are right, its stagnant water. As soon as I started changing the water every other day the die back stopped almost immediately. I look forward to your updates.

[@MichaelsOrchids]

Thank you for watching! I will definitely keep everyone posted ❤️

[@dianahawkins9168]

Interesting, can’t wait to see how it turns out.

[@MichaelsOrchids]

You and me both!

[@martasorchidwindow8997]

Hi Michael! I love your channel! Thanks for sharing all the info, even if sometimes it sounds very basic. One of the videos that helped me most was when you discussed whether to let the leca fully dry out between waterings or not... It was so helpful to me because I was having the same problem and other people didn't discuss it (maybe it was considered too basic?). But you did and helped me a lot! So don't stop commenting on stuff that sounds basic please! In this video you also raised a problem I encountered and haven't heard it much talked about: stagnant water. Can I ask the time between waterings? What do you see when water becomes stagnant (root-wise, health of the plant...). I think I may have experienced this with one of my orchids.... Thanks so much!!

[@MichaelsOrchids]

Hi Marta! I’m so glad you find those details helpful. Sometimes I wonder if I am over explaining things that are common sense, but I know that when I started growing that I really needed someone to break everything down for me. Are usually go. I have a bout a week in between waterings. And to be perfectly honest, I have never experienced any problems from Stillwater with the exception of my phrags!

[@EdsOrchids]

Michael , Sorry I forgot to mention that instead of using cinnamon on the severed leaf parts you can also use wood glue......works very well. Ed.

[@MichaelsOrchids]

I've never heard that but I am so excited to try!

[@katgirl25801]

Wow that is really neat. I wonder if that system would be good for paphs as well since they are so similar... I hope this system works for you. I have learned so incredibly much from you already. Thank you so much!!!

[@MichaelsOrchids]

Thank you so much for watching Jessica! And if it does end up working out, I might just introduce the same system to my paphs (and even my spathoglottis if it survives)

[@EileenWstCstGrl]

How clever! Good luck, Michael!

[@MichaelsOrchids]

Thank you Eileen!

[@Banana04218]

So interesting!!! I'm definitely looking forward to hearing an update on that. I hope it helps! Also I love the way you dipped the plant leaf tips in cinnamon, that's brilliant. Whenever I use cinnamon I'm always so nervous to spill it. Thanks for sharing this video!

[@MichaelsOrchids]

Thank you so much for watching ❤️

[@michaelmccarthy4077]

Hi Michael. Wondering how it is going with your Phrags almost 2 months in on this experiment. Hope all is well, and have a nice Memorial Day.

[@larryjones558]

Interesting. With the added air flow you’ll have increased evaporation. Could you get the same results with a lower reservoir? I suppose it depends if you plan to keep it topped up with the oxygenated water or let it run dry, which I suspect will happen fast with the air pump. I’ll be watching your updates to see if you’re needing to water more frequently and if so how you feel your setup is different from say a container with holes at the bottom that you water daily?

[@MichaelsOrchids]

You hit the nail on the head Larry: I am watering every three days at the very least, the evaporative processes and the thirst of the phrags are just depleting the water reservoir so quickly. But what I appreciate is that almost acts as an alarm to flush and refresh whereas I was able to absentmindedly leave water in the reservoir for periods of a week to a week and a half prior to using this system. We’ll see how things go...

[@EdsOrchids]

Very, very interesting Michael please keep me updated on the ''success'' of the experiment. It should work very well . My only concern is with the clay balls which will hold some of the solids and nutrients you give them which will make a build up of salts inevitable ...... also will the water remain fresh after a few days|?? I hope I am proved wrong and that everything works out well for you. Really enjoyed the video and also your presentation. Thank you.Michael. Ed

[@MichaelsOrchids]

Thank you so much for watching Ed! I do think that I am going to add some Sphagnum moss around the top layer. In regard to the water staying fresh more than a few days, my phrags tend to drink down the entire reservoir within three days at which point I just flush and refresh the reservoir. We’ll see how it goes!

[@EdsOrchids]

That should be fine Michael. Ed

[@jessiewang4201]

How do you drill your drainage holes?

[@luoboeguy]

Did you also transition these to semi-hydro? I was gifted one recently, my first phrag, and it's in semi-hydro. Seems ok, not amazing. Not sure what I want to do with it. Phrag bessiae specifically.

[@luckyelfie]

I need to ask...how annoying is the sound from the aquarium pump? The set up is genius, but trying to figure out how to sell it to my other half is another thing.

[@MichaelsOrchids]

Honestly, it is whisper quiet. The bubbles inside of the container of the noisiest part of it, and they are hardly even noteworthy in terms of volume

[@Druexotics]

Also do you give some kind of calcium supplement because phrag are known to like a little oyster shell in their media mix so the die back on the tips could be from lack of calcium, my only concern is that the plants still might be to high in the pot in order to encourage root formation you might wanna put alittle sphag on the surface just to help trap the humidity so the roots can get started. Ps. did you see the co2 chamber that ed created as his experiment for invigorating his plants. Hope it works for you and you get lovely roots and flowers to show us.

[@MichaelsOrchids]

Hi Andrew! I am putting a layer of moss on the top as a matter of good measure, but the plants are not as high in the container as they appear because I drilled the drainage holes so high. I think the calcium contained in my nutrient solution should be sufficient, but I’ll doublecheck, good call out!

[@Druexotics]

Michael's Orchids I hope you didn’t take this as me being critical just wish you the best success👍🏽

[@MichaelsOrchids]

Not at all! I always appreciate respectful feedback, and you're the one who gave me the idea for the setup! Side note: things are progressing at an amazing rate since switching them to this system; the maritza rolando pushed out 4 FAT roots, and the no ID frag has put out a new leaf on each old growth, as well as a new growth altogether. No die back at all either.

[@Druexotics]

Michael's Orchids you should give us an update video

[@Druexotics]

I’m actually trying to give an update after a week in my bubbler system but having trouble uploading the video hopefully it works soon

[@MichaelsOrchids]

I’ll keep my eyes peeled for it!

[@ilDreadmakermichele]

You shouldn't put the pump under the jar If you turn off the pump you risk to siphon the water