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I do well with most genera with semi hydroponic so not an issue. Catts and vandaceous, including Phals want more air sobTiny Wells’ leca in a basket works well. But the principle of proper air water balance at the roots is critical. With more air, too much water is less of an issue, so clay...

Welcome from Sedro Woolley, just north of of Seattle.

I have a friend, an orchid judge, who never fertilizes at all and still grows decent plants. Most of us fertilize more than we need to. I don’t fertilize from fall equinox to winter solstice.

Speaking as a retired librarian, I have to wonder if anyone will use such books. One option might be to see if your local public library would add the materials to their collection and manage it. If you want to see the cataloging record librarians use, check out Worldcat. Simple spreadsheet...

Wish I had a basement to use. But out west there are few. Much easier than a greenhouse.

There has been some talk of using rockwool cubes as a medium. Has anyone had good success with this? If so, what container? Clay? Net pot? Do they just mush down into a mess and become unusable?

And is it good, then to seive, say Hydroton, to get more equal size spheres, or is there a brand that has equal sizes? Hydroton is quite variable.

Or grow semi hydroponic and don’t worry about it

Ray, what book? I can’t find a reference in Amazon, Worldcat or your webpage. But the question remains for me as a semi hydro grower about when if ever I have to physically remove and replace leca due to excess salts. You seem to be saying here that they adhere permanently to the medium...

But as the expert on semi hydro, do you see this as a good way to avoid salt buildup in the inorganic substrate or is that problem overstated?

I might buy some. Maybe an email or FB list?

Hey, Rob, try semi hydroponic. Harvey

thanks for your input, Ray. Well-informed and stated. Rather than a universal "rule,' though, I would say that there IS a universal principle. And that is that, as epiphytes, most orchids require the proper air/water balance at the roots. And I believe this is not the same for all genera. I...

If I remember correctly, and I didn’t write it down, I believe Terry Root of the Orchid Zone repotted every 9 months and always had beautiful plants. But now I’m mostly in leca, which is inorganic, ad hope to have to repot little if any. I fertilize lightly and flush regularly. Ray Barkalow...

Thank you to all of you for posting. Now I'm trying to digest it all. I really would like to move away from organic media as much as possible, either because I'm lazy or don't want the waste of repotting (your choice). I especially appreciate the contributions of Ray, as he has a scientific...

Thanks for the conversation. This is related to my recent question about growing Paphs in an inorganic medium. Seems that rockwool has many drawbacks . I’m wondering also how the container influences root growth when combined it’s the medium. I have many plants in semi hydro, and perhaps I...

Timing then is probably key as it is for many other genera. No new roots, no repot

With Cattleyas yes, as a pot is more of a perch than a container, and repotting is by division without disturbing the original, which for me is leca in a basket. Phrags seem to do great in semi hydro. Paphs not so sure. No repotting in nature. Agree about roots. But the the best Paph grower I...

I don't like repotting all of the time, and wonder what success others have had growing slippers in inorganic media. Please share your ideas.

I would like to move away from organic media in my orchid growing as much as possible, mostly because I'm too lazy to repot! I've had great success with Cattleyas, and am trying semi-hydro in some other genera. Seems to work well for Phrags, but I'm not so sure about Paphs. Does anyone have...