Repotting Oncidium Sharry Baby & Holcostylis MS Sunlight | Semi-Hydro + Seramis Updates

[@Pandacuddless]

I just found your channel and I’ve been binge watching your videos. You’re a wonderful teacher and you’re really in tune with your plants. I’ve learned so much from you. I’m a new orchid grower and I’m so fascinated by their growth. I’m guilty of babying them. The way you handle your plants with care is comforting to see. I wish youde come back 😢.

[@kouprakrisnaabhay3206]

Your results really speaks for itself. I'm convinced; You showed me what I was doing wrong and thank you. More please!!!!

[@orchidgarden3124]

Your videos are so fascinating! You are so good at explaining things and talking through your rationale. As for the people saying negative things 1. There are a number of snobbish orchid growers who participate in online forums solely to show off their growing prowess and impress people with their knowledge. They are not there to share and learn from others. They spoil the forum experience. 2. Remember: You can’t argue with success! 😁

[@olya4903]

Your videos are fantastic and educational, I can't believe people are finding things to hate on! You've actually inspired me to transition my Darwinara Charm to an inorganic setup (not self-watering, but I'm applying a lot of your ideas), and the response is already really good. So, thank you!

[@TrishsOrchidLife]

Love your experiments and you sharing! Never feel you have to explain what you do!!!

[@TheOrchidRoom]

Thanks Trish! 🙂💗

[@orchidsgardeninengland1682]

I have decided to transfer my Hoc. M S Sunlight into semi-hydro (it is mounted at the moment), seeing your video has convinced me this is the right move. Thanks Annabel 👍

[@rosebowen8924]

Your plants are looking very healthy.

[@zanevat]

I love all of your videos and I learn so much of each. Thank you for sharing your expirience with us! Keep on doing such great great videos!

[@TheOrchidRoom]

Thankyou! 😀 I'm glad you find them useful! 💗

[@zanevat]

@@TheOrchidRoom Very very useful! I'm thinking transferring some of my orchids in self watering pots and your videos are so helpful! Thank you 😊

[@anitahjelm9804]

I find it very interesting to see how others grow their orchids. I personally does it traditionally in bark but that doesn't mean I don't get anything out of your videos! Keep on doing what you're doing 🌺🤩

[@Mzvemz]

I have started transitioning some of my orchids into semi-hydro / self watering the ones that i know drink a lot of water so far so good. Also i placed a few vandas in semi-hydro and i have noticed improvement!! a few of them had little roots and very floppy leaves and now they are perking up! i should have taken pictures .

[@rosebowen8924]

Blessings, l like how you explained what you are doing.

[@roncastro7195]

Your video are so helpful for me. I have been transitioning a lot of my orchids over to semi-hydro . Do you let the pots dry out before topping them up again?

[@TheOrchidRoom]

Hi Ron, Thanks, I'm glad they're helpful! So there are lots of ways you can modify it, I know some people who do let them dry out in between. I personally don't, I try and keep the reservoir topped up so they never run out 🙂 How are you finding the transition so far? 🙂

[@roncastro7195]

@@TheOrchidRoom so far all is good. Haven't skipped a beat.

[@GoldenArrow297]

Though I live in a tropical area with lots of rain during monsoon. I am trying my luck with semi hydro. I also have been trying various methods to find the one which best suits my purpose. Both in terms of care for the plants and save time so that I can spend time for other essential hobbies of mine.

[@TheOrchidRoom]

That's the best way 🙂 It's all trial and error with our environment and finding what works for us, keeping in mind what we can manage too! Good luck and I hope you find the perfect balance 🙂

[@GoldenArrow297]

Thank you very much for your prompt encouragement. Happy growing. I like watching your videos as you share what you learn.

[@SuperMariela78]

I find your videos super useful and informative (i've watched some of them several times like the one on fertilizing and your semi hydro discussion). i recently got into orchids and dont have a green thumb, so it has been difficult, haha I don't think you are proselytizing anything, I would not watch if you were. Some of my orchids are in moss and bark; others, in semi hydro. Your videos do help me with my hobby, you provide good resources, so keep up the good work!

[@TheOrchidRoom]

Thankyou, I really appreciate that! 🙂 Just wanted to make the point as I've had a few comments about some of the ways I grow being wrong, and I totally accept it isn't for everyone and each environment is different, so has different requirements 🙂 But if something works, is there really a wrong? Personally I don't think so 🙂 I've seen people growing in pure polystyrene, hey, if it works for that person then it's valid! Moss works for some people and not for others also, doesnt mean it's terrible, just that it has specific properties that work well in some environments and not so much in others. Just using a few examples for why I think it's good to be open minded. Each to their own 🙂 Personally I find bark difficult to manage, and that's one of the easiest medias around! I rotted so many phal roots in pure bark when I started, because I couldn't figure out the layering, and how fast the outsides would dry compared to the middle! 😅 I appreciate the support, and hope they continue to be useful!! 💗 I also don't have a traditionally green thumb 😉 Can grow weeds in the garden extremely well though 😂

[@SuperMariela78]

@@TheOrchidRoom Yeah, I hear you, I feel I could write 1,001 ways to kill an orchid...i've gone through them all. I still dont think I know what I am doing. I'm just experimenting with different stuff I have available (moss and bark is how i started but i got the canna leca too, i've been using that on some of the orchids), trying to learn from different sources, including your channel. But overall i'm pretty happy they are not dying on me in alarming numbers like a few months ago :)

[@haroldjones9321]

Perhaps try cinnamon powder dust on the damaged leaf tips. Of course do no wet the leaves unless you towel dry them. Collected rain run off (RO) water is beneficial for orchids.

[@astroboyace]

Hi annabelle, question, for self watering pots, how often do you water? Do you wait until reservoir is empty?

[@TheOrchidRoom]

Hi! Once a week, inorganic media shouldn't run dry or it begins to dessicate roots.

[@KP-gw5zv]

thank you on this video. I am going to transition my orchids in the spring into semi-hydro and seeing the oncidium in semi-hydro doing well gives me the encouragement to go ahead and do it. I could do it now but it is rather cool here in BC, Canada. So I am going to wait until it is warmer.

[@TheOrchidRoom]

No problem, glad you found it helpful! 🙂 I'd just start with one or two orchids to start, to see how it works in your environment before switching more- then if you run into any issues at all you can work to get around them before more orchids go in 🙂 Common straight SH issues: dry top layers, can fix by spraying down the top with water 2-3 times a day Adaptation issues, time with new root growth so the new roots are ready to adapt if the old roots fail. For phals and warm growers, if it's too cold at the time of transitioning, heat mats work well. Seaweed and a good light source will also hurry new roots along 🙂 You're being very wise to wait for the weather to warm up and new root growth first, timing with new growth is the best way to ensure a smooth transition 🙂 Good luck!

[@KP-gw5zv]

@@TheOrchidRoom I will keep you posted in how it worked when I finally transition the orchids.

[@jokennedy2943]

Those self watering pots were a bargain!!

[@TheOrchidRoom]

Yes they were! The hardware store sells off discounted stock, I think they must buy up discontinued products or something. I kept going back and buying 10 of these at a time as they're cheaper than the elho outer pots alone!

[@michaelmccarthy4077]

Hmm, what are you going to do when SB wraps its roots around that reservoir gauge? 😉

[@TheOrchidRoom]

Probably swear alot 😂 the gauge comes off though, it's a pipe that slots into the base, so hopefully I'll just be able to slide it out.... Or I'll spend hours tugging at the pot trying to do that anyway 😉

[@rosebowen8924]

Thanks for sharing.

[@myataylor4807]

I am sorry if you have been getting negative feedback from your videos. I thoroughly enjoy your videos.☺️

[@TheOrchidRoom]

Thankyou, that's really encouraging! Not many negatives from videos, you guys have all been really supportive 🙂 but I'm a bit bored of some of the attitudes on forums/FB groups of people shouting about how everyone 'should' grow orchids, and the 'rules' and how nothing else can work. Yet Rick L Orchids has been growing in a totally novel way for years and his orchids look incredible! I have also had a few comments on here about how my orchids will soon all die, but they haven't yet after a few years so it doesn't really bother me 😉 So I've removed myself from alot of the groups, just going to be posting on here mainly 🙂 I'm glad you're enjoying them! 🙂

[@myataylor4807]

The Orchid Room WOW, people really need to mind their own. I’m am actually starting my own channel, and am hoping that my new orchids take off in the new setting so I can show them off and credit you! 😉

[@TheOrchidRoom]

@@myataylor4807 I'm not really sure why it bothers people so much, we're all just here to learn and enjoy growing 🙂 Oh, let me know when you upload your first video! It'll be great to follow your progress with them! 🙂 KZbin is fun, and it's great to meet new people who have different perspectives to share!

[@myataylor4807]

The Orchid Room I agree, I even ordered a silica to add to my fertilizer, and I’m going to try it with a couple of my new orchids I got on clearance. Thank you, I will let you know when I upload my first video.☺️

[@TheOrchidRoom]

@@myataylor4807 Great! The silicon can gum up for some reason if you add it after fert, something to do with the salts, but if you mix it in before, and then add your fert to it, seems to stay in solution 🙂 Also it will raise your pH slightly so worth just being aware of that if you use it regularly 🙂

[@victoriamarvelli8125]

How cold is your enviornment? It rueda couple years ago semi hydro and had a mold problem. My summers here get 80 and the winters are down to 63 inside

[@roncastro7195]

Hi I get well over a hundred and as low as minus 18 here in the high desert of California. Right now its in the teens. Degrees Fahrenheit. I keep temps around my plants around 58 night and 70 in the day with lights 12 hours. Humidity 60 to 65. So far all is good....good luck

[@TheOrchidRoom]

Hi! It seems a lot of comments didn't notify me around this time, sorry! I give some details of my environment and conditions in the descriptions of every video, so if this happens again sometimes the info may be there. Temps- 18-30C , sometimes 35C in summer. Phals shouldn't be dropping below 18C nights in LECA ideally, although short term probably ok as long as the day temps come up again. Humidity around 60-70% in winter, 50%ish in summer. I live on the coast of england, so humidity doesn't tend to be too much of an issue, but cold temps are something to watch for.

[@TheOrchidRoom]

Thanks for helping Ron! :-)

[@orchidgarden3124]

Lovely video! Thank you!

[@coralboggess1154]

What can I use instead of Seramis? I can’t find it anywhere

[@TheOrchidRoom]

Where do you live? Seramis is only available in the European region. You could trial a few small grade pumice or turface products, if you are in the US a larger grade turface may be the closest alternative. Worth looking through bonsai supply stores.

[@toddstropicals]

I've hear the holcostylis is a slow grower...?

[@TheOrchidRoom]

Its grown quite quickly for me 🙂 If you want to see it at it's last repotting at the end of March I made an Insta post, which is linked in the description. I was shocked looking back at how much it's grown! 🙂 3 more leaves in 10 months, one failed spike and a second spike that it's trying now.

[@o_o8203]

You're correct. Springtails eat decomposing matter. They're good bugs.

[@olya4903]

Also, holcostylis? I think you mean HULKostylis, with how it's throwing its LECA around. ...I'll see myself out.

[@TheOrchidRoom]

😂😂😂 Love it, new name coming right up! 😉