How to water Orchids in semi hydroponics + Detailed explanations

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Today we will address the question of watering Orchids in leca and the semi hydroponic system. It will be quite the detailed discussion as well :)
▼▼▼More info below!▼▼▼
First of all let's get the traditions out of the way: IF orchids are potted in the traditional, organic media, then you should really stick to the rules. Here is what the rues are:
How to water Phalaenopsis • How to water Phalaenop...
How to water Cattleya • How to water Cattleya ...
How to water Oncidium • How to water Oncidium ...
And some others that don't have media:
How to water Vandas • How to water Vanda orc...
How to water mounted orchids • How to water mounted o...
Now if you are here to learn about semi hydroponics watering, you'll need to forget pretty much everything I said in those videos :)
First a tutorial on my spray pump technique • How I water my Orchids...
The rules of watering orchids have been created because of their media, not because of the actual orchid. In nature they could dry out in between rain.. or not. They could have their root systems dry.. or not. Nature doesn't run on schedules and nor do the roots.
What does pose problems is the medium. Coco husk, bark, sphagnum moss, they're all good.. if they were alive. But we use them already stripped from their habitat and dried. This means they will start to decompose and pose problems to orchids the wetter they stay. They will need to dry out to avoid or delay complications.
Inorganic media doesn't organically decompose, therefore half the problem is solved. The other half (even moisture, great air exposure, functionality etc) is solved by the setup. Semi hydro caters for the basic needs: water and air. All other factors, such as fertilizer, temperature, offering adequate sized pots and other things, those are still our responsibility. But things are much better when we don;t care about root rot and when, how and if we should water orchids ;)
The air quantity in semi hydro pots explained en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphere_...
More on semi hydro • How I repot Orchids in...
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Опубликовано:

20 янв 2018

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Комментарии : 95

@HYPERtitanspeakerman6421 4 года назад

Using Leca has made my life so much easier and my orchid so much happier 😁

@lauragroh2487 4 месяца назад

Hallelujah, sounds like what I'm doing from now on.

@TY-ob7fz 6 лет назад

Hi Danny. Thank you for such a comprehensive piece. As again, a newbie will have to go thru this video over and over again. Lack of experience rings a certain deafness. But following your regiment so far has brought no death in my small collection. In fact they’re busting quite a few roots and growth which is a terrific thing. You’ve answered the dilemma of wet feet ! Also going thru the comments has answered a few more. I think that your system shown, works great for an average home hobbyist with conditions comfortable inside a human dwelling. Probably between 20C and 25C with average humidity, will bring life to many phals that are gifted during the holidays. Perhaps allow many to expand in the hobby of orchids as success is obtained. Anyhow, what you’re bringing to this world -it’s a good thing !!! 65+ and counting 👍👍

@Nyraksi Год назад

Thank you! As a first time owner of a petite orchid, I went ahead with the leca technique. It made more sense to me as this seems easier / less prone to errors that could kill my poor orchid.

@adamfromgardenofeden 6 лет назад

The background music was so appropriate for semi hydro 👌💧

@KrisLikesThis 6 лет назад

Wowie! This made me soooo happy! I had all those questions answered here. Thank you for the message that relieved me of all the questions zooming around in my head about dunking, rinsing, spritzing....ugh, fogit aboudit! So happy! I'm going to rinse my Phals now. Humph!

@patriciasholarfreund4964 6 лет назад

Thanks so much for making this video. It has helped a great deal for my care of orchids.

@shellb3301 3 года назад

I have just started to keep an orchid alive properly! Finally. I am so excited because you have taught me so much. I have killed 3 orchids in my life but purely from ignorance! So I am excited for my new mini Phal. She will hopefully do well now. Thanks Danni

@vicmerguzman5766 6 лет назад

Great video. you always have an answear when I'm looking for one.

@sansevieriamd6221 5 лет назад

Im excited to try this . Thank you!

@ChrystianGuy 6 лет назад

Thank you soooo much for this video. This will change my life! :)

@trishal2223 6 лет назад

Thanks. Great information!

@pennyjoe100 6 лет назад

You are amazing and I appreciate you and what you do more than I can explain! Love always!

@MissOrchidGirl 6 лет назад

+kaitlyn parker aww thank you, glad you enjoy my videos :D

@subhasarkar7465 Год назад

Thank you soo much for sharing your experience with us .

@craigfink5807 Год назад

Very helpful. Thanks

@kaywatson2580 5 лет назад

Hi Danni (not sure about the spelling....sorry) I am 71 yrs old and grew orchids, especially Catts almost 4 decades ago. Due to moves, I stopped growing any orchids. I am starting up again with the Catts as I love them so. I searched the internet &, of course, RU-vid and finally found you. I have been following you for a couple of months now and am going to try the Semi Hydro. Yes, I used to grow them the old way (bark, some sphagnum moss etc). Semi Hydro would certainly be a help to me since I do have health issues. I want to thank you for providing help like this! If I understand you correctly, you fertilize every other watering???, using a balanced fertilizer???? BTW, do you use Super Thrive? Thanks again! KW

@sippigrrrl 5 лет назад

Kay Watson I know you asked Danny this, but I use Superthrive on all of my orchids one watering per month, at about half strength, with some other fertilizers and supplements. Also, I always give new transplants some of my mix of reverse osmosis water, Superthrive, GS Plant Foods' Orchid Love and Organic Liquid Kelp Natural Seaweed; and Dyna-Gro's K-L-N Rooting Concentrate, Pro-TeKt, and I sprinkle some White Mycorrhizae powder onto the roots before I plant them, because this has the beneficial fungi and bacteria that work with the roots of the plant to help them take up water and nutrients, as well as simply helping the root systems grow. I sometimes just put a teaspoon of the powder into the gallon of the RO water with everything else, and shake it up really well, since everything is water soluble, it'll be mostly clear - the liquid kelp is brownish, which will tint the water, but I only mix the "transplant elixir," as I like to call it, at about ½ strength of what the bottles recommend, and it really works well without being overkill. If you're missing any of the ingredients, don't worry, just substitute some MSU fertilizer (at ½ strength) and that will get the transplants off to a good start.

@nela3986 6 лет назад

You could go and try to create an automatic irrigation system. Would love to see that. So you could go on vacation longer without to worry.

@Justusorjustone 6 лет назад

Loved it....

@istvantoth8259 6 лет назад

Hi Daniela, thank you for the well made video. I still have some points where I'm somehow unsure: - the reservoir has after 5-6 days water that stagnates. Should it be emptied before watering? - what about the nutrients we add with the watering, if not cleaned the reservoir, it gets accumulated - I may be wrong, but the water should get at the end to the roots. Watering till the water gets out of the wholes may be to short in time for some Orchids (at least this is my feeling). Daniela, you make an incredible work for all of us, thank you!

@xLxrth99 4 года назад

great video an nice tricks

@ryanmetzler2211 4 года назад

I tested adding a small square pot upside down in the semi hydro pot and then potted the vanda....The results are amazing! I did not water as a typical semi-hydro at first since I needed to get the roots to grow towards the bottom. My goal was to get roots to grow to the bottom of the pot. Once I got to that point, I would then leave water sitting in the bottom. I believe having the small pot upside down inside of the pot allowed for WAY MORE air circulation that Vanda orchids thrive in.

@ellenfay3070 4 года назад

I'm forever puzzled at growers wanting to put an orchid that will happily grow with no media at all, with its roots "taying in the wind" (think the movie "Nell" lol) wanting to find a way to pot it up!? Why?

@aritakaramiseva3115 4 года назад

Hello. thanks for this video, however, o have a question - how often do you need to add water orchids in s/h? does water always have to be in the pot?

@rosaelinav8036 2 года назад

Thank you so much 😊

@IDEAHC 6 лет назад

👍I enjoyed your sharing 💖🙏

@oishd6077 6 лет назад

flowers world If it is a blooming size plant or a near blooming sized orchid it surely will if given the conditions required.

@Isabella-nh5dm 6 лет назад

I loved this video Dani and really appreciate it. I am quite new to semi-hydro and am also a newbie at trying to keep orchids alive (I have a very long history as a serial orchid assassin - my niece's label). I have immediately been repotting any orchid I am trying to collect. The results have been very good to date as in no deaths for 3 months. My longest period of time. I am, though, quite torn about the phragmipedium I purchased from ebay in September. I had some mixed bark, moss, (& I have no idea what else) in it so I used it - no semi hydro use at that time. They aren't dying but they seem to be holding their own. I basically placed the roots very shallow at the pot top. Question is should I maintain them in this media or could I move them to semi hydro as well? I would prefer the semi hydro, as I am liking it on my other orchids, but I don't want to kill them. The leaves and roots look healthy and I 'think' they may be in a dormant state right now but really don't know. I live in Canada and we are in the middle of our very cold winters right now. Any advice would be greatly appreciated from anyone on this forum. Many thanks, e

@ajlast3691 5 лет назад

Hi danny. How many times do you water in a month? Or in a week? How many times do you fertilize too?

@donnacone4714 5 лет назад

You said something I’ve been wondering, the Lica beads have different quality. I’ve not ordered this yet so may I ask where do you get your beads from? Yes I’m new but long time ago I tried but gave up failed! My yard is full of beautiful flowers plants I love it! I just bought 2 Phil’s and want to transfer to Simi-hydroponics thank you for your time n videos I appreciate them! 🌱🌸 😊

@mondraymondo 4 года назад

Thank you for this experiment. I have been thinking of converting my orchids into lecas.. so to save up money (not buying new organic medium) and i can save up... to buy more orchids i guess lol

@hansgustav7088 5 лет назад

I think this will change my life.

@melizasim7276 Год назад

Love leca ❤️

@nenitafranco7003 2 года назад

Thank you

@arwen313 6 лет назад

Hi Danny! Do you have any algae issues in Semi-Hydro or aren't there any algaes because of the opaque pots?

@JuanGonzalez-cs2kt 4 года назад

I've been watching some of your videos, thanks so much :) I'm now wondering whether adding a few inches of leca at the bottom of a planter for some orchids growing in sphagnum. So, the sphagnum keeps the pH and stays moist, I'll just keep the leca/plate wet...

@hamstertrails917 6 лет назад

I think I will try this with one of my Phals. My only concern is that I let my house temp drop to 60 degrees f at night, I sleep better when it’s cooler. My Phals by the windows likely are even cooler, maybe 55 degrees f. That might be to cold for them in semi hydro. What do you think?

@marlenehorvath5083 2 года назад

Hi Danni, are you using a specific type of water when you water your semi hydro orchids? Also do you put fertilizer in your water every time? Thanks!

@Notanknoparty 6 лет назад

Hello, Danni. I recently repotted all my orchids in semi-hydro. They seems to be doing very well so far, but mold insists on growing on the upper part, and I'm afraid it might affect the orchids. Do you have this problem too? I spray them with hydrogen peroxide, but they grow again. Maybe it's because of my climate? I usually have +70% humidity at all times.

@PritneyBears 6 лет назад

Hi Danny. Don't you think putting a thick layer of inorganic media at the bottom of the pots then filling them with bark and sphagnum moss would make the media last longer ?

@dianeparker2075 2 года назад

Danni, what us the fabric you used for wicking the leca with the phals in semi hydro? Thanks

@xxxthomas6728 6 лет назад

Hello Dani, thank you for this greaat video. Now I know that my Cattleyas won´t mold because I don't let them dry between waterings :) But what about your decidual orchids- your Catasetums and Dendr. Nobiles? I can't remember Ray mentioning them on his web page, so I can only ask for experience. I ask because I have such candidates as well. So the Catasetums are bone dry now (dormancy), but dry Leca is supposed to be prepaired before using it for SH ("Refill the bucket with clear water, and add about a teaspoon per gallon each of calcium nitrate and magnesium sulfate (Epsom Salts). Similar to the process of a water softener, the Ca and Mg ions substitute for the less desirable soluble minerals in the pellets." first Rays). On the other hand Ray writes unter the topic of TRANSPLANT “ADAPTATION" : "Mineral-free water is used to soak the medium and water the plant." - minral-free?, medium = Leca?? Contradiction ?? My Dendr nobiles have their winter rest too. They are sitting in a small heated greenhouse in the garden. The temperatures drop to 5°C- and they are still alive! the leafes on the latest canes are green and the roots ( the ones I can see) aren´mushy. Only the oldest cane droppes its leafes :)I' m surprised as well, I didn't thonk it would make it. I've stopped watering them for 2-3 months and they are still wet, because the evaporation proceeds so slowly. I'll see how and if there is any effect on their blooming rate. last but not least: I like your videos a lot. Many greetings from cold and rainy Germany :-) Maria

@nataliablumke5608 6 лет назад

Do you still use sera super peat? Are you intended to use it for all of your orchids? Can you please tell me how much did you put in each pot. I am considering adding it. I am tired of adjusting PH at every watering. Thanks:)

@christinaeilers3562 5 лет назад

She has stopped using orchid bark or anything that's organic, like peat. Just leca clay balls/beads. I found them at IKEA.

@analedo9416 4 года назад

Hi! I have 2 phalaenopsis with very small roots, can I try the hydroponic method?

@jennychyeo3016 5 лет назад

Small chipped coals are usually used by nursery growers. What is your opinion of using coal chips instead of other media? Thank you for your previous tutorials.

@bobbylanders3936 5 лет назад

Where can I get a watering can like that? (Sorry if you have a video that explains where, I haven't watched all your videos yet)

@yumyumlolly 2 года назад

Four the reservoir, I use lava rock but I use spag moss and bark mix for the medium as a self watering system. Should I still dry it out in between watering?

@yuririaharris1578 2 года назад

Thank you very much. What about fertiliser? What type of nutrition you use?

@dptully 6 лет назад

Hi Danny or Danni, Do you think that semi-hydro would have worked as well in your old environment? I have something like you had. don't want to start changing things if it is not really ideal for colder climates. Maybe you could talk about the difference between areas and what you have to do different between colder and hotter climates. Thank you so much for sharing all your knowledge. yours is the best channel I watch

@MissOrchidGirl 6 лет назад

+dptully Hi, I think it would have not worked in my older location, but not because of the climate only, but my grow room. In this climate even in winter I keep windows open during daytime. It gets aerated and ventilated every day. In my old balcony I could barely ventilate, there were days with sub zero degrees outside. So high humidity, low temperatures, stale air and wet pots is a terrible combination. In the house it would have been better, at least it was warm and less humid. The dry air issue is easily fixed with short pots or higher reservoirs, or picking the bigger leca for the bottom and the small leca for the top. So it is more complicated than just climate, think mainly about where they will sit and how the 'weather' will be there ;)

@judybobsin7381 6 лет назад

MissOrchidGirl will semi hydro work with Cymbidiums?

@sippigrrrl 5 лет назад

Judy Bobsin I kind of don't think so. They tend to really grow HUGE bulbs, and require a lot of water during certain parts of the year, and others they can be kind of left alone and in a cooler environment to set the spike for the following fall. I've been thinking about trying it, but they're more of a semi-terrestrial orchid, and I'm right on the border of where they could live outside (I'm in New Orleans, so many years we don't get a freeze, but some years we do get a hard freeze, like 25° F. I think if you have a mini cymbidium, it may take to semihydro, but there's only one way to find out, right? Mine are definitely not minis, so unfortunately they can't go into semihydro, they're just too huge with too many roots and bulbs. They require a lot of water in summer, when they're outside, I water them daily. I think if you keep a mini indoors, s/h could work.

@daniellesorchidranch1591 6 лет назад

What about resting type dendrobiums?

@inkpen9547 3 года назад

Is it a weekly watering? And Is it necessary to have holes in the sides of the pot? Thank you

@sanjidarahman600 Год назад

But Danny in one of your videos you said that you are worried about the high ph while using leca as medium. How can you adress this issue

@darianroscoe1017 6 лет назад

How would that work with outside orchids. My 80+ orchids remain in the patio all year. I've been watering them (in bark) about every ten days since It's been bone-chilling cold, as usual, after checking the drainage hole for moisture. (I don't repot until 2020, so I don't mind) In Summer, I use a fine lining of moss inside the pots of hold onto moisture and water twice a week (over 100 degrees). How would clay medium handle this? Do you have any pots outside trying this out? Thank you.

@frankmabanta5313 6 лет назад

in your exp. how long do orchids with no roots, produced roots when you provide high humidity ? i have 2 orchids which doesnt have any roots, how long i would wait to produced new roots

@hildacheung5833 3 года назад

is it white mold on the surface of the LECA ? does it need to be fixed or even remove the leca ? thanks :)

@tricotonsdansleslandes 6 лет назад

Dany, after experimenting with one orchid and having impressing results I have potted all my orchids in semi-hydro. It was all very good, during half a year we had plenty of growing new roots, seemed that orchids liked it very much, but now the roots started rotting. I am in France and we have very gloomy weather, it is raining and cloudy, it means not much light. And the orchids started rotting their roots, yellowing leaves... What to do? Do you think that letting leca beads to dry out would help?

@MissOrchidGirl 6 лет назад

+Laura Hi, check the answer I gave to dptully, I talk about environment there more. The thing we need to worry about is temperature and if this is an issue combined to stale air and high humidity, we won't have a good time. Even with organic this can pose problems. So look first at the environment and if it's uncorrectable than yes, the reservoir should be emptied a bit through tilting the pot.

@judybobsin7381 6 лет назад

Does semi hydro work with Cymbidiums?

@chrissyv5360 6 лет назад

Hi Danny! I’m sure you spoke about this before but how long has it been since you’ve been experimenting with semi-hydro? I haven’t had very good luck with organic media and am pretty bummed about it. I am tempted to try semi-hydro but I’m nervous... even to the point where I bought the leca 3 weeks ago but haven’t switched my orchids yet. Also, does this work for Dendrobiums and Cybidiums as well? Thank you for the great videos and inspiring me to be a better orchid grower!

@MissOrchidGirl 6 лет назад

+Chrissy V hi, I started again last summer and I really tried to understand it. I am glad I changed my mind, since 3 years ago it didn't work for my old climate. Here is the first video on it ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-q3ikj1XSNe8.html

@songyi221 10 месяцев назад

How often do we water leca cause I just moved mine to leca

@devendarprashad5178 6 лет назад

*HELLO i am purchasing a dendrobium known as blue happiness will it bloom full summers seller said it will*

@dianarizo3748 4 года назад

Do I always need to leave water on the pot? How often do I need to water my orchid?

@nataliablumke5608 6 лет назад

Hi Danny. Do you flash the pot at every watering? Would Once a month be enough? It takes a lot of water to flash each pot.

@MissOrchidGirl 6 лет назад

+Love. Orchids Hi, no worries I flush once a month with a lot of water, in winter even less :) the rest of the time I water as I show in the link in description. This also means using very little fertilizer at each watering.

@rangsilmarak511 3 года назад

Hi Danny i wud like to ask you regarding the watering insemi hydro system ....you have to water once in a week or every day its really confusing for me since i hav not tried with this system

@MissOrchidGirl 3 года назад

Hi, you water every time there is no more water in the reservoir, or the medium is dry, depending on the orchid. There is no predetermined time when to water because it will be different for each of us, could be every day, could be every 7 days ☺️

@rangsilmarak511 3 года назад

Thank you Danny

@fewoods2176 Год назад

Can this process work for outdoor orchids? Dec. 31,2022.

@rolceron 6 лет назад

Please tell us where you buy your pots

@charitymonroe4577 6 лет назад

How about a Dendrobium that needs a winter rest?

@stephanihope2262 6 лет назад

Hi Danny! This may be a silly question, but do you use a dissolved fertiliser that you would then just pour over the leca?

@MissOrchidGirl 6 лет назад

+Stephani Hope hi, yes I do :) I will talk more on fertilizing and other problems with semi hydro these days

@stephanihope2262 6 лет назад

MissOrchidGirl awesome I can’t wait to hear more!

@Justusorjustone 6 лет назад

How you are caring for them in winter,you are not using heat mat,don't roots are desicating because of so cold????

@TeaTimePopin 6 лет назад

Can you use normal pot with holes and use the sauser for a resovoir for semi hydroponics

@MissOrchidGirl 6 лет назад

+North Star hi, the reservoir is contained within the pot so that water doesn't evaporate outside of the pot. If a tray would work better for your situation then it's perfectly fine, it will not be s/h though, or how it's meant to work, it will be a hybrid :)

@mikewrx311 2 года назад

Hello miss orchid girl. I am new to your channel and is new to growing orchid. First time using clay balls, are the saucers necessary? thanks

@MissOrchidGirl 2 года назад

Hi, no they are not, but they prevent leaking on the furniture :)

@rosemariebrown3544 3 года назад

How do you care when you use stones?

@SuezeV9P2A6 6 лет назад

I have planted one of my phals in in semi hydroponics and she didn't drop a single flower. My problem is I can't find plastic pots that don't have holes in the bottom.

@sippigrrrl 5 лет назад

Sueze I have had to be kind of creative in this sense. I went to the dollar store and bought some cylindrical vases and drilled (with a very strong drill bit that's made to drill through glass) my two holes at the bottoms of those. I use those for Phalaenopsis mostly, because they don't spread out like the sympodial orchids do. For those, I ordered some containers from a restaurant wholesale company, I got some clear 32 oz deli containers, it cost about $10 for 50 of them, and they tend to fit pretty well into the vases that the Phals from Trader Joe's or Home Depot come in, so you can use those for your decorative masking units.

@antoninasemenenko2303 4 года назад

What do your Phalaenopsis today in Leca?

@mihaelaanghel1556 6 лет назад

Singura problema pe care o am cu SH este ca se acumulează săruri la suprafață, iar rădăcinile noi au de suferit... poate SH nu este pt toată lumea... :-(

@MissOrchidGirl 6 лет назад

+Mihaela Anghel da clar nu este, voi vorbi de niste detalii zilele astea. Sh pretinde some more understanding skills legate de ce este in jur si unii crescatori nu se raporteaza la detalii, dar nu e rocket science ;) i needed to only give it a second chance and try.. glad i did