Pros and cons: My experience with growing orchids in water culture.

[@bltperky]

Yes, experience growing orchids has really helped me decide on the best media. You have been so inspirational in encouraging me to try media other than bark. It still amazes me how using the New Zeeland moss has saved some of my “sick” orchids. Thank you, as always, for sharing your time and experiences with us!

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi Barb! I'm so glad to hear that you're having success growing in NZ moss! It's a wonderful media to grow in. Thanks again for watching...it's always so nice hearing from you! :) Have a great day and happy growing!

[@christrinder1255]

Another great video Amy. The only thing is all my attempts at growing orchids in my environment in the U.K. in bark, and moss, failed they all died. I gave up trying to grow then but 5 year later I discovered water culture I have finally succeeded in growing orchids! So I think maybe someone’s who has failed to grow orchids in their environment but want to grow them, try one orchid after researching water culture thoroughly, and an important part of that research is watching your channel, and Olivia’s channel OME.

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi Chris! The research growers put in before they place their orchids in water culture is such an important point. I'm so glad you found that this growing method works for you, and you've done so well with it. I'm still amazed that you went back to the U.K. after being here in the USA for 3 weeks and your orchids were just fine...and blooming! You can only leave them for 3 weeks like that in water culture. Congratulations on your success! I appreciate you so much...have a great day! Amy

[@jackhagenaars165]

Very interesting and informative. Thank you

[@micheler3011]

Thanks for sharing your information on water culture, also your dog is lovely. Blessings!

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi Michele! Thank you so much for watching and for the compliment on my Buddy. Have a great day and happy growing! :)

[@unbeatable123]

Good day. I have to say you're a pleasant person to learn from...such positive energy from your videos. I look forward to watching and learning from you. I need some advice. I bought a phalaenopsis orchid yesterday. When I got home there were baby centipedes and very tiny white bugs in the medium(bark) it came with. As a beginner, I submerged the container in warm water only covering the roots for about 2 minutes hoping it would kill them this way. I've thrown off about 4 cups of infested water from my plant. The eyes can only see so much. What do you suggest I can do in this situation as i am scared that there might be more.

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi and thanks so much for watching and for your kind comment! :) First thing with this phal: isolate it from your other plants so that they don't get infested with these bugs, too. Then, I recommend you find out what these bugs. You can go to the American Orchid Society's website, aos.org, and look under the Diseases and Pests section. Use what they suggest. You'll probably need to place this orchid in new bark, because it's so difficult to get insects out of media. I have a 2-part video, publish date Aug 31, 2017 on repotting a phal in bark that will help you. Have a great day and happy growing!

[@unbeatable123]

Thank you so much for your reply. I appreciate your help.

[@OrchidWhisperer]

You're welcome! I hope those pests are gone soon!

[@Lou.B]

VERY interesting video! I'm just getting started with orchids, so I have a lot to learn, and your videos will be most helpful. I love the way water culture looks, and appreciate your tips and tricks. Also, I wanted to ask about which Vanda varietal you are growing? I got interested in this partly because of pics I've seen of the dark Vandas. Thanks again!

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi and thanks so much for watching! I grow classic Vandas…V. Pachara Blue, V. Sansei Blue, V. Tayanee 'Cerise' and V. Garnet Beauty 'Robert's Delight' are the ones I have right now in my collection. I've done several Vanda videos this summer that go over their care and fertilizing. Happy growing and have a great day!

[@catherineelainebaxter4609]

Aaaah Amy! Methinks your co-star is now the 'main attraction.' Soon the Metro Goldwyn Mayer lion will be no match for Buddy. I just love him! Thank you once again for a super video. I have used boiled cooled water for my orchids when watering, and to date, it seems to have been suitable. Our water here does not seem to have too much chlorine in it. I am not sure when I will have the courage to try a water culture, but perhaps one day I will .. I just don't want to mess up. But you have offered good guide-lines so am sure all will be good. Warm hugs to all and especially Buddy. Thanks Elaine :-)

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hello my friend! :) hahaha! Methinks my co-star has upstaged me! LOL! He is LOVING all this attention, and I'm sure he'll be requesting his own channel soon! haha! If your orchids are growing well with this water, then that's the main thing. It's the pollutants in the water you need to watch for. You can leave your water out for 24 hours to dissipate the chlorine if your water quality is good. I do this really often...we have awesome water here in the Tennessee mountains! You're really wise to learn to grow first in media, before you try one in water culture. There are definitely benefits from growing in media. Blessings to you, Catherine! Happy growing! Amy and Buddy

[@JamJamaHFX]

Always love your videos... Thank you.

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Thanks so much...have a great day! :)

[@griceldabecerra1946]

Hello! I begin to apply this metode in my orchids because recently my orchids has their roots sick but I have a vanda orchid in whater an each day the wather apear a cap in the superfice like grace, is semthing white., I don't know what it is? If you can ilustrated and help me I'm goin to be graceful. Thankyou por the information I love your videos!!

[@tobiesmom]

Thank you, dear, sweet Buddy for that adorable shot of your cute little face!!! I hope you received a very good treat because you deserved it! A screenshot is forthcoming very soon (my dogs are in my lap in the recliner) ! 🐾🐕 Water culture is definitely not the easiest growing method, that's for sure, and I know you put in ALOT of time and effort to produce such wonderful results! 😊😊😊

[@tobiesmom]

How do you describe "cute?" Answer ----------> imgur.com/a/YDzP1

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Awwww, Caroline! Thanks so much! You're such a blessing to me! :) Have an awesome and wonderful day, my sweet friend!

[@tobiesmom]

I couldn't help myself! I truly love dogs and he's as cute as a button! If he were my dog, I'd be kissing him all day long and he'd be totally spoiled...like my brats, LOL! :)

[@OrchidWhisperer]

I do believe lil Buddy is enjoying all this "screen time"....he got pieces of his favorite marinated chicken for being still. hahaha! He's starting to appear now when I have my camera/phone in hand...he's a quick study! Thanks always for your sweet comments, Caroline...they always make my day! :) Blessings! Amy and Buddy

[@tobiesmom]

Marinated chicken? Lil Buddy eats better than I do, LOL! Is Buddy the only Schnauzer that you have? Do you have any cats? :)

[@chausd2972]

Hello Miss Orchid Whisperer! I love all of your videos. I'm new at WC and wonder how often do you change your water? I only change it when it looks kind of murky otherwise I just leave them alone. Thank you.

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi Helene! I've had my WC orchids in fertilizer all summer long, except for on their "dry days". I have a video about it, here's the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4PEeIKtj5uYa8k I discard the fertilizer after 3 or 4 days, give it a dry day, and repeat with the fertilizer. (This is for my Phals.) Have a great day! Amy

[@chausd2972]

Thanks Amy! I'll try that.

[@PhuongTran-yd7tx]

Hi. I love your videos. You Phals have so beautiful roots. But it seems leaves have some yellow. How come?

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi! I learned that my Phals in water culture needed more nutrients...that's why some of the leaves started turning yellow. So I increased the fertilizer, and they're not yellow anymore! :) Happy growing!

[@FarmasiBeautyMavens]

Thank you so much for all this Information! It’s so helpful! Thanks for being brave enough to make videos! ♥️

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Thanks so much for your sweet comment! :) Happy growing!

[@holleyo.5083]

Hi can you tell me what you use to support your Vandas in water culture my sharry baby has extremely long roots and they hang down into the water and they love it but its an awkward shaped plant and I'm struggling on supporting thanks for any help!

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi Holley! Sometimes that's a major hurdle for water culture growing...how to support the plant. I use stakes and Christmas ornament hangers and anything else to stabilize my Vandas that will work. Just a thought...I have my Vandas in deep containers, and that helps, too. Happy growing!

[@christefer1]

I leave on a hill in Tennessee so I get it it's been raining a lot recently and grate video

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi and thank you for your kind comment! Yes, we've been getting a lot of rain here in the mountains. Have a great day!

[@christefer1]

Your welcome have a good day to

[@jachu1433]

Wow. I didnt know that my roots must be really clear of bark sediments; i just jumped into FWC. Now i know why a lot of the roots of my orchids rotted :(. Question - i have an orchid which had a lot of rotten roots thatvi had to cut off. This makes it difficult for me to let them sit in water because the remainjg roots are still too short. I then had to fill up my pots with lots water risking the bottom or end of the stem sitting in water. Is that fine? I take the plant in and out of water every now and then. Thanks. I like listening to your videos. You speak so calmly :-)

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi! I'm sorry to hear you're having a hard time. When the stem of the plant sits in water, it can lead to rot. One of my phals had a similar issue. It became increasingly harder to keep the orchid in water culture, and I converted it over to New Zealand sphagnum moss. It's doing much better now, its roots have grown really well in the moss. Keep me posted, and have a great day!

[@jachu1433]

Orchid Whisperer thank you for your reply. I'll certainly keep you posted. Im going to use strictly distilled water and see if it makes any difference. God bless.

[@jachu1433]

I found out after some shopping around that distilled water has been discontinued. I live in Cape Town so I am not sure if this is related to our current water crisis.

[@debraturner42]

great information!! Thank You!

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi Debra! Always great hearing from you...have a wonderful day! :)

[@debraturner42]

one more question...remember I told you my orchids lost roots because of water culture? well I've put them in spagnam moss and just wondering about how long before new root system comes back? Do roots tend not to grow on phals in winter?

[@OrchidWhisperer]

You should see new roots start to grow in the springtime. Root growth slows down in the cold winter months...not that there is no root growth, just not as much as you see in warmer weather. Have a great day, Debra! Happy growing!

[@SS11660]

May be I missed it, but how do you decide about whether to do full or semi culture ?

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi Joan! Mine grow better in semi water culture. They need the wet/dry cycles to grow properly. Have a great day and happy growing! :)

[@christinavonheidenstam3206]

whay does the water gets grean Wen the orchids are in the water for some days whay is so

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi! It's algae that's growing in the vase that's causing the water to be green. I leave some of the algae, but I don't let it get out of hand. Happy growing!

[@TeaTimePopin]

Orchid wisper what does black root tips mean in the water in water culture

[@OrchidWhisperer]

It can mean several things...if there are just a few black root tips, it's probably nothing to be concerned about. If it's all the root tips, it could be a water quality issue. Or over-fertilizing. Those are the main things that come to mind. Have a great day and thanks so much for watching!

[@avintageviewpoint]

Thank you for sharing. Do you filter your water yourself?

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi and thanks so much for watching! :) I have a triple osmosis filtration system built into my kitchen sink. You can use a filtration pitcher, they work really well too. Have a great day and happy growing!

[@lauraschmidt2524]

Sew Chic dendrobiums root are withe and dryer

[@lissetterosario353]

Hi, do you fertilice the air roots too?

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi Lissette! If you regularly mist your air roots, then you can fertilize them from time to time. I have a video from Oct 27, 2017 that shows exactly how I fertilize my water culture orchids. Thanks so much for watching and have a great day!

[@yliberal6355]

Excellent video, thank you!!!

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Thanks so much, Yolanda! :) Happy growing!

[@minniered4115]

Omg Buddy is ssssoooo handsome.

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Thanks so much for that compliment! :) He's a sweet little fella! Have a great day!

[@lauraschmidt2524]

My orchid root are withe

[@lauraschmidt2524]

Dendrobiums root white

[@OrchidWhisperer]

Hi Laura, I have a tutorial on my Dendrobiums and how I take care of them, publish date Nov 29, 2017. You can see the roots...mine are white, as well. That's totally normal. Have a great day and thanks for watching! :)

[@lauraschmidt2524]

My dendrobiums root drown

[@lauraschmidt2524]

Orchid Whisperer My dendrobiums root are short