| Hydroponics For Orchid Cultivation |
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Information AboutHydroponics For Orchid Cultivation |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT HYDROPONICS FOR ORCHID CULTIVATION | |
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Passive Hydroponics is a method of growing Plants without Soil . Instead a practically Inert wicking medium transports water and fertilizer to the Root s by Capillary Action . Medium contains a multitude of free air spaces and thus delivers Oxygen to the roots. This has been applied to orchids. PLANTING Orchids can be planted in any container (not glass) with no drainage holes at the bottom but a few extra holes 3-5 cm up at the sides of the pot. The idea is to provide a water reservoir at the bottom of the container from which the medium wicks moisture to the roots. POPULAR MEDIA ''', Vermiculite , Diatomite , gravel, Charcoal , Rockwool , coconut husk chips or their combinations. WATER Medium is flushed with tepid water solution when reservoir is nearly empty. Translucent pot may help to see when it is. FERTILIZER Orchids are fertilized with 1/2 or 1/4 of recommended strength of balanced inorganic fertilizer with every watering. Container is flushed with plain water every month to prevent harmful salt build up. CONVERSION FROM CONVENTIONAL CULTURE TO PASSIVE HYDROPONICS Medium is rinsed and soaked overnight. The plant is removed from the old pot and old medium is thoroughly removed from the roots. Rotten roots are cut away and overlong roots are trimmed. All the roots are thoroughly washed in lukewarm water.Some new medium is arranged at the bottom of the new container. The plant is accommodated and more new medium is put around, the pot is gently shaken, more media is put in, more shaking and so on. The pot is flushed with tepid water. The Orchid is placed in the shade with no fertilizer for the following month. WHICH ORCHIDS CAN BE GROWN? Most popular orchids will more or less thrive in hydroponic culture: '' Paphiopedilum s, Phragmipedium s, Masdevallia s, Phalaenopsis , Cattleya s, Cymbidium s, Oncidium s, Dendrobium s, Epidendrum s, Miltoniopsis , Pleurothallid s and Zygopetalum s''. ''Exceptions'' would be very big or "thirsty" plants or those whose roots must dry sometimes completely and even those that require dry rest like ''Dendrobium nobile''. ADVANTAGES OF PASSIVE HYDROPONICS Its simplicity and effectiveness. No guessing about watering and fertilizing, no media decomposition, practically no root rot, healthy plants, fine blooming, no moving parts, low cost, reusable media. In hot and dry environments passive hydroponics is beneficial since the roots stay in a high humidity chamber with some air flow. DISADVANTAGES
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