Jared,
If you do a search of this forum for "hydro" or "hyroponics" you should see that several of our members have used this method with good success. I thin one our Ryans posted quite a bit on the topic.

Do a search and you'll find lots of info. I'm sure others will chime in.
K

I've already read many of ryan820's posts and one message from joshy46013, and I have them saved to my clippings. There's a lot of info on this subject when it comes to growing orchids this way, but I just want to make sure that this is a viable way to grow hipps before I start buying supplies. I'm mostly interested in finding out how hipps grow and rebloom after a long period of time growing in semi-hydro in comparison to using other mediums. I'm sure that making those conclusions will be hard since there are so many factors involved when growing these plants, but hearing everyone's updated overall experience will be very helpful.

Jared

Hi Jared! I'm a total newbie when it comes to growing amaryllis. I have just one growing in semi-hydro. I'm using a tall plastic deli container with Hydroton as the medium. The Flamenco Queen that I'm growing this way is nothing short of AMAZING! As this is my first season of growing hipps, I can't speak to the long term success with this type of growing. However, there are roots that have grown into the water at the bottom of the container and that look super happy! Maybe my boyfriend will take some photos so I can post them.

It would be great if you could post pictures for us. What have you been fertilizing it with? Also, what do you plan on doing with the plant in the summer? The summers here in California can get really hot, and I'm not sure what kind of pot would be best for use outdoors. I don't want the roots to cook in the sun.

Jared

I realized after I posted that I also had an Exotic Star in semi-hydro. So far what I'm using is Jack's professional orchid fertilizer and Bio Weed brand liquid seaweed. I've grown Cymbidium orchids outside in semi-hydro in 100+ degree heat without any problems. I plan on just putting the containers outside when the threat of frost passes. I'll need to put them in cache pots or something to prevent them from falling over (maybe move them into wider containers that are less prone to tipping over). The nice thing about semi hydro is that the reservoir at the bottom seems to help plants through those really hot days. I'll see if I can get my boyfriend to take a pic of the Flamenco Queen to post.

Forgive me... I'm new to posting photos. I couldn't get this picture to link in properly. I'll try again tomorrow when I'm more awake!

In this photo you can see the roots growing into the reservoir at the bottom of the container.
http://tinypic.com/r/eaqvlc/5

Thank you for the picture and info. I really like how the roots are visible in these setups. How high are your drainage holes? And is that the 8-16mm hydroton that you are using? I'm still not really convinced that semi-hydro is an option just because I know that hipps are able to bloom just by using stored energy from their bulbs. I really want to buy some cheap bulbs to play around to see if they enjoy my environment with before I invest in more expensive ones.

I'm also interested in phalaenopsis orchids but I think that I'll have to wait till I relocate to get any of those because the only window space I have available is next to a gas stove. My semi-hydro experiments might have to wait till then.

Jared

Here is your photo. (The link at the top labeled "HTML for Websites" is the one that works.)

{{gwi:440700}}

Carol

Thanks Carol! I'll try to post more photos.

After the blooms fade, more roots should make their way down into the water at the bottom. I have the holes on these containers a bit higher than normal... they're probably about 2.5" up from the bottom. I don't know the size of the Hydroton... it's just the standard sized stuff from a local grow shop. My boyfriend said that the center of the flowers remind him of kiwi fruit. The flowers are gorgeous and huge on this one. So pretty!

Hmmm... after several attempts I'm still getting a "message rejected" message when I try to use the HTML link (there must be part of the link I need to take out before posting). I will figure this out soon!

http://tinypic.com/r/21jn686/5

http://tinypic.com/r/160q1pl/5

If you didn't already know, that is 'Flamenco Queen' a beauty and a favorite of many of us here on the forum..Great pictures!! And your boyfriend is right, I never thought about it but the center does look like a kiwi fruit!!

Donna

I too was intrigued by semi-hydro, so this year, I planted my forced bulbs into Hydroton for blooming. They are doing quite well. My 'Charisma' just finished blooming, and my 'Red Lion' is going to bloom in the next couple of days. Anyways, I did a photo journal of the progress from mostly rootless bulbs to flowering. Started in late October this year. Go to the link and enjoy! Any comments are welcome!

My Semi Hydro Experiment

At the tinypic site - over on the left side - underneath the orange words "Grab Your Code", use the first box. Copy and paste EVERYTHING in the box. It starts with "Carol

correction - it contains "a href"

Thanks for all the pictures everyone! I have a bunch of 32 oz deli containers in the house, and have checked around online for local places that sell hydroton. There is one hydroponics store nearby that sells the 50 liter bag for $28 after a 20% discount. I guess that plant stakes will be needed too?

Carol, I tried cutting and pasting the HTML language several times- just as you've described. I'm not sure why it doesn't work. Every time I get a "message rejected" response.

started with bean, I liked your blog. I've used semi-hydro for Phals, Cymbidiums, paper white narcissus and now amaryllis. The real test with the amaryllis is whether they store enough energy to bloom the next year. I fully expect that they will do great over the summer.

seaj, good luck with your experiment! I think I paid a similar price for the Hydroton I have. The nice thing about Hydroton is that it doesn't break down. Sometimes I use it at the bottom of pots (filled with regular potting soil) to maintain some level of aeration at the roots. The downside of using all Hydroton: if you're not careful you can tip the container over and those little balls spill everywhere! Be sure to rinse the Hydroton really well before using it. Don't worry when you get algae growth in the container when the weather warms up... it doesn't seem to harm a thing.

Bean, I really like your blog.. both you and Berkeleysgr make it look easy..I might give it a try some time. What will you do this summer.. if you put them outside like that won't the wind blow them over, but of course, you could always put the plastic pot inside a clay pot..keep us posted..

Donna

Hi guys,

Make sure you feed them very frequently. The hydroton of course is an inert media and has no nutritional value at all. It's best to fert at every water at 1/4 strength with a good water soluble fertilizer. Jacks Professional is good stuff, I used that in the past but now I use Dyna-Gro Grow which I really like.

Make sure you soak the hydroton to get all of the dust off or out of it, it's best to soak in a KLN mixture that will promote rooting as well. You can buy beginners kits online that will provide all of that and instructions as well as fertilizers.

Josh

Josh

Jared, best of luck, but you probably won't need it as it is surprisingly easy to grow this way.

Glad to hear people enjoying the 'blog' as it is. During the summer, since there's water at the bottom of the pot, I'm not sure it'll blow over much, except on windy days, and then I can just put them in the enclosed back porch. Yeah, they can just get a bigger pot for a temporary home too!

As for fertilizing, I was planning on fertilizing them once the weather warms up. I read somewhere that I wasn't suppose to fertilize until the summer or when they go back outside. Thanks for the fertilizer recommendation, Josh! I've got a local hydroponics store and I bet they carry it.

Oh! My 'Red Lion' has bloomed, but only 2 flowers on the scape. I'll have to update the blog for next year, to see how growing in Hydroton affects next years flowers.

Bean,

As long as Hippeastrum are growing I fertilize, when they're in semi-hydro they get NO nutrition at all (unless they get rain water, then it's close to none).

ALSO, you should probably not use regular fertilizer (i.e. Miracle Grow) as they use nitrogen from Urea which will not break down in a useable form in semi-hydro culture. This is why I suggest Dyna-Gro Grow mixture, it uses Nitrogen from Nitrates which is immediately available to the plant. Urea needs to breakdown before it's available to the plant and it usually does so by way of earthworms but is also broken down by bacteria, the same bacteria. You don't want bacteria to be growing in the reservoir, bacteria that feeds on urea nitrogen can also cause bulb rot!

I learned the most of this from one of the most AMAZING Hippeastrum growers, Len Doran, he collected many of the Hippeastrum found in collections today. This information was also backed up by a biochemist friend of mine (the advantage of nitrates) and I've learned a lot about fertilizing in semi-hydro by a person he uses it exclusively.

Josh

I can report that I've grown hippies in s/h for...hmm...two years now? Great success-- they love it.

Here is a papilio bulb several weeks into s/h:
{{gwi:440701}}

and today

{{gwi:440702}}

I grow many hippies still- 50+ all in s/h as well as most of my orchids. Those not growing in s/h are simply waiting their turn. The clister you see in the above photo is in fact in a terra pot, inside a plastic liner. I have found that though plastic pots do well, when the plant gets to this size, its impractical and you'll come home one day with a plant out of its pot, the pot exploded, and hydroton balls everywhere that are darn near impossible to clean up because they roll everywhere. The terra pot gives better support and I have found that the plants seem to do better in them. The plastic liners are cheap, too, and though you cannot inspect the root system, the result are proof enough. With this clister I get two spikes per bulb and about five of them are blooming size. Its a good show.

Here's a Clivia in s/h:

{{gwi:440704}}

And this is what orchids do in s/h:

{{gwi:440706}}

Best thing about hippie bulbs going into s/h is that they are usually rootless when you get them and the roots they put down are ready to go and adapted for the new environment.

Good luck,

Ryan

Wonderful Ryan :)

My papilio is doing AMAZING in S/H, I thank you for introducing me to this wonderful method ;)

Great photos Ryan! Obviously hippeastrum can flourish in s/h!

Bgirl,

Oh yeah, Hippeastrum do great in S/H, I think they really thrive from the added air and moisture which you cant normally get TOGETHER!

When the weather warms up, I think I'll move one of my Papilio into semi-hydro. The bulbs are the same age and from the same company, so presumably, this would be a good way to test how well the plants grow in s/h versus regular methods of growing.

Tina

Tina I believe if you get the nutrition down to a system for your plants in s/h you'll find they beat out most other plants grown in more traditional mediums. The nutrition is key. Because of the inert nature of the clay, you have to the one provide what the plant needs. Orchids are very easy to grow in s/h because they are not heavy feeders. It has been my experience with hippies that they are not heavy feeders as well, but there is a careful balance to strike. I found that having a quarter strength, balance fertilizer does the trick for me. In the Spring, Summer and Fall when it is safe for me to have the plants outside, I will water them a few days a week with this method but will flush the pots thoroughly with fresh, unfertilized water between each fertilized watering. This will get rid of gases and other nasties that build up as a result of natural processes but most importantly, it'll carry away salts that build up.

I see you're in zone 8 so I do caution you on clear pots if you plan on growing outside. Though the water provides some cooling through evaporation, you can cook your roots if the pots are not shaded. My remedy? I cut mylar in long strips that shielded the pots from direct sun-- kept the roots warm but not hot-- worked well. But anything will do-- a board, other plants without clear pots etc.

Good luck!

Thanks for the growing tips, Ryan!
Tina

What do you use to fertilize your hippies Ryan? Thanks to Al, I was planning on using Dyna Grow Foliage Pro when I was still interested in growing them in gritty mix, and it seems like I can still use it because it has no urea in it. I have not done much research into proper hipp nutrition yet. I'd love to hear about how you fertilize you orchids too if you have time. Thanks!

Jared

Jared,

The Dyna-Gro you have is great for S/H, that's what Al recommends, I think? I think I have Dyna-Gro Grow which came with my S/H started kit from Al.

I found this on the Dyna Gro site.

"Our Roots are in Hydroponics

For more than 20 years Dyna-Gro Nutrition Solutions have excelled in the hydroponics industry as the sole source of nutrition for fast production of flowers, vegetables and herbs. Dyna-Gro Nutrition Solutions were developed from research in the science of hydroponics where plants must be supplied with all of their essential nutrients in solution."

I think that means that it will work well with this setup right?

I'm still trying to find suitable pots and containers for hipps. I have seen some clear semi-hydro orchid pots online that I really like but I try not to buy things unless I can get free shipping. I have also been trying to find food grade plastic containers, but I need something that can handle full sun exposure. Plan B is to buy some plastic pots and saucers for external reservoirs from Home Depot.

Jared