Can orchids be grown in water?
Question:
Answers:
Fully in water would be hydroponics. I grow my orchids in semi-hydro, which I do by using LECA (lightweight expanded clay aggregate) which is basically a clay pellet that wicks water up to the plant nicely. The idea is that you would take a container with no holes in the bottom and make your own holes about 1 inch up from the bottom all the way around. This creates you resevoir. So you fill this with your clay pellets (after soaking overnight), getting your orchid planted in it, then you water. The water flows through the holes, but some stays in the bottom. This is what will wick up through the clay to your plant, providing it with steady even moisture. Since it's just clay you're using, YOU have to supply the plants food inthe way of fertilizer. I use a good 20-20-20 feed, preferably without urea (to combat salt build-up) and water with the fertilizer mix whenever the resevoir empties out. There's an excellent site with more info at:
http://www.firstrays.com/primeagra.htm...
Goodluck! Since using semi-hydro my plants have really taken off, and it's nice not to have fungus gnats, either! (Sorry, I guess I never really answered your question. Lots of orchids are epiphytes, which means they grow in trees and they would be horrible candidates for a true hydroponics set-up, but many grow well in semi-hydro as long as they get a drying out period once in awhile.)
some orchids like to be in a bit of water: eg some Phragmipediums (a type of Lady's Slipper) like to stand in a quarter inch or so. Generally though they don't - it will kill the roots. It is best to ask an orchid specialist about the particular species or hybrid. No cultivated orchid, to my knowledge, likes to be grown fully in water.
More Related Questions & Answers...