Recently I experimented with growing some of my Neofinetia falcata orchid plants using a semi-hydroponic method. The plants were placed in plastic containers filled with an unusual mineral-based growing media. There were two overflow holes drilled in the sides of the containers about one inch up from the bottom. The growing media I used was a chunky, densely heavy rocklike material which is also very porous. It wicks and holds water well. It is high in silica content and is made by kiln firing an ancient volcanic clay called pozzolan which is mined near San Diego, California.
The idea behind semi-hydroponics is to keep the bottom one inch of the containers filled with nutrient solution and allow it to wick up through the rocks and keep them moist but not wet. There are plenty of spaces between the rocks, so theoretically this system should work quite well by providing just the right amount of both moisture and oxygenated air to the roots.
I don’t know what I did wrong, but the results were disastrous. A few of the plants responded quite well, but there were several which suffered mild root damage from a cottony mold which flourished on the kiln fired pozzolan. I even ended up killing two of the plants by completely rotting off all their roots. I decided to end my experiment.
One of the plants which adapted quite well to my unique semi-hydro potting system was Neofinetia falcata variety ‘Syutenno’, but this plant seems to thrive no matter what I do to it. Nevertheless I removed it from the semi-hydro pot and replanted it in a regular pot filled with a combination of Hydroton and
New Zealand long fiber sphagnum moss.
Here are two photos of ‘Syutenno’ in full bloom, taken in February of 2008 while it was still growing in the semi-hydro rocks. The flowers on my ‘Syutenno’ are always a nice rich pink, and the fragrance is typically strong and delicious. This is a great plant. I’ve had it for several years.
3 responses so far ↓
R's Musings // June 17, 2008 at 7:35 am
They are so pretty and delicate. Love the color. I wonder if it was the plastic pot. Do you think a clay pot might work better? Allow more air to circulate? I think it’s great that you’re experimenting. I don’t have any indoor plants; don’t know how that would go over with my cats. I may have to try it, though. These orchids are quite lovely!
Tabbie // June 17, 2008 at 8:11 am
Yes R, certainly not enough air was circulating amongst the roots, but I needed to use the plastic in order to hold the reservoir of water in the bottom. Perhaps I would have had more success if there had been some perforations further up on the pots. I think also partially to blame was the growing media I used. Hydroton does not hold nearly as much water as these kiln fired pozzolan rocks do. I may have been guilty of misting too much, also, not realising just how much water was actually being held inside those rocks.
I much prefer the traditional method of growing these plants on mounds of sphagnum moss in ornamental clay pots. My problem is that I grow my plants mostly under lights and the moss tends to dry out too rapidly on the top while staying too wet inside. This is why I choose to mix Hydroton in with my moss. It adds aeration to prevent the middle of the pot from becoming sour whilst allowing more frequent misting of the tops.
Yes, cats do tend to chew on plants, don’t they. I have had to isolate my orchids from my cat. You have given me an idea for my next post, R.
montucky // June 17, 2008 at 10:59 am
Those are beautiful plants! I’m glad they made it. It was an interesting experiment, but a lot of variables to it. Hard to control.
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