What orchid would you suggest for first time s/h'er

[Diane]

Okay all you experts out there, if a person wanted to try s/h for the first time which orchid would you suggest as a trial plant?

[Brutal_Dreamer]

I am going to go with a phal since many new growers may not be able to provide high enough light for some of the other orchids on the list. Plus, I have practical experience with phals and semi-hydro and know it works like magic!

Cheers,
BD

[Gin]

I went with a Phal. not an expensive one , some seem to like it some not I have 2 or 3 in s/h that love it but removed a couple that did not do well in it . I think it has a lot to do with the plant , some are robust growers root wise and some not . Just my 2 cents worth . Next pick would be a Phrag. Gin

[clintdawley]

I'm going against the grain here..

but I say an oncidium or an onc intergeneric is pretty easy. It takes them a couple of months to get established, but once they do they become worry free plants...

[Becky15349]

I agree with everyone above - my order would be 1. Phal, 2. oncid, and 3.phrag. I've been growing in S&H, and I have *everything* in S&H simply because I don't have time to water as much as I would like, and everything is doing swimmingly. My phals in S&H grow these amazingly long, robust green roots - I love looking at them through the container (I keep my plants in Poland Spring 3 liter water jugs after I'm done drinking the water, I cut off the top, haha...) Its really fun! Give it a try :-)

[Phyrex]

I have only got one plant in S/H currently (a paph) but I have also voted for phal since you can get them really cheap so it won't leave that much of a hole in the budget if it decides not to do well. I've just ordered some LECA and I'll be trying a phrag and phal next so we'll see how it turns out.

[the dragonn]

I moved two phrags over to s/h since they hadn't done much for a couple of years. They've responded well with new growths on both in just 3 months. So I vote phrags.

[hera]

I have a Phrag and two Phals in s/h and both types are loving it.

[hcubed]

Hm, my phal in S/H evenutally succumbed so I am going to second the oncidium/intergeneric vote here (hard to choose one) - my Colmonara is going crazy and S/H totally saved by rootless Onc. "Sweet Sugar".

My phal in s/h is also growing quite well, but the speed, new growth, and root growth of the colmonara tops them all!

[pavel]

I've never had any luck with s/h -- killed any orchid I tried it on. *sigh*