Look at those roots!

Those are some beautiful roots! wow. I haven't tried this method of growing but KEA seems so have a good point. We have to watch out the dead roots, and clean them up.
I finally found a supplier for hydropnics locally, I just haven't visited the retailer yet. I should go to try it out, especially on the phrags!

__________________
Fren
Orchidacea are the largest and most diverse of the Angiospermae, and includes 800 genera and 30 000 species

I think that with normal watering practices (vs S/H method) the dead roots would not be a huge problem. I think this because the hydrotron or prime agra type media allows so much air to the roots. They will eventually break down while providing slow release nutrients to the plant. Watering would rinse out excess toxins.

Do I know this for a fact? No, but I have no reason not to either.

At some point the plant will NEED to be required. I don't know of many people that can keep an infinitely large plant. Root maintenance could be done at that time.

__________________
Steven

Goodness! Wonderful! Bravo!

What are those balls in pot?

__________________
Zivele orhideje!

Looks like hydrotron to me. Prime Agra is another type out there. I believe there are 4 or 5 types of LECA (Light Expanded Clay Aggregate).

__________________
Steven

*sniffle* That's gorgeous! That is one happy plant!

Maybe I'll try a plant in that stuff some day... Right now, I'm still playing with bark, peat and sphag on various plants.

__________________
-Sara
Addicted and loving it.

I read above that this is NOT a s/h plant but, it looks like you have planted it in that Agri Pro. If so does this work better then the standard bark.

Julie

Just Hydroton. It's much cheaper than PrimeAgra and seems to allow more air pockets in the media. In much finer media, watering would have to be decreased (like in PrimeAgra or the small, fine grade of Hydroton). I use the mixed medium/large grade.