Going to Try S/H

Ok, I've read the posts and Lja's step by step guide to S/H. I think I am now ready to try this one myself. But there is one nagging question at the back of my mind ever since I've seen the clear plastic containers. What about algae? Don't they grow inside the container's reservoir? What do you do to control the growth of algae?

Tanya, there have often been problems with this. The easiest workaround for home growing is to just pin a piece of dark fabric around the container. No light, no algae.

I was thinking the same. So I was thinking why not use a dark container? But I guess you got to see how the roots are doing and if the semi hydro/wicking (whatever) is working. The dark cloth skirt seems a good idea. Thanks for the advice, Louis.

Algae kinda smell, and it's gross looking, but it is pretty much harmless to the plant, unless it grows into such a thick mat that it suffocates the roots. many orchids, such as some of the phrags, actually grow into various mosses & algae in nature.

I've always thought that they are bad for the orchids, because I've noticed some of their roots seems to avoid growing to the spot where the algae are concentrated.

Thanks for clearing that for me Jmoney.

Yes Phrags don,t seem t mind algae @ all in the res of s/h pots.
Heres a piccie of my Phrag St Ouen.You can see the root is way below the hole
& is growing happily with the algae.


& heres a piccie of the other side of the pot.

The root has reached the bottom of the pot.
This plant has about a 12" LS & is in bud

I thought algae is bad for orchids since it looks so gross...hmmmm...that means not all gross things are harmful. Interesting

Thanks for posting the pics, Uncasteeb. This is my first time to see a pic of s/h pot in "advance" stage. I have just did my first s/h potting this morning, and thanks for your piccies, I now know what to expect.