As of: April 1, 2024, 3:18 p.m
By: Ines Alms
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Many orchids can also be cultivated without a substrate in a glass of water. The easy-care method has many advantages and can even be used by beginners.
Even though orchids are said to be very sensitive plants and cannot tolerate waterlogging, many species can survive almost exclusively on air and water - without any bark substrate or expanded clay. For example, the genus Phalaenopsis is very suitable for this. You can even use this method without a green thumb. In this way, with a bit of luck, even languishing orchids or surplus items from the trade can be brought back to blooming life. Here you will find the most frequently asked questions and answers about this form of culture.
What does hydroculture mean?
Orchids with aerial roots such as the Vanda or Phalaenopsis genera are well suited to water culture. © agefotostock/Imago
With this method, the orchids do not grow in conventional substrate, but in a container with usually little water. This means that the roots of the orchids are sprayed with water or placed directly above a shallow layer of water to absorb moisture and nutrients.
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What are the benefits of water culture of orchids?
In water culture, you can easily check the roots to make sure they are healthy and have no problems such as rot. Because the roots have access to moisture but are not sitting in standing water, the risk of root rot is reduced. Since there is no substrate, pests, bacteria and fungi find little space to nest. And the amount of care required is greatly reduced.
Is every orchid suitable for water culture?
Not every orchid species and individual plant is suitable for water culture, as some species have special requirements for their root system and thrive better in classic substrate. According to
Deavita.com,
species with aerial roots are best. These include genera such as Phalaenopsis, Aerides, Ascocentrum and Vanda. These epiphytic orchids originally grow on trees and absorb nutrients and moisture from the air through their roots.
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How do I convert an orchid to hydroculture?
It is best to choose a time outside of the flowering period. Carefully but very thoroughly remove the existing substrate from the roots. Rotten or dried roots are cut away. Place the plant in water for an hour. Then rinse thoroughly to remove any residue. Place the orchid and its roots in a clean, sturdy jar or vase. As
My Beautiful Garden advises
, the root neck should be approximately level with the edge of the glass. The shoots and leaves protrude over the edge. Then the roots are moistened with a spray bottle. Once or twice a week, the roots are immersed in rainwater or boiled tap water.
Alternatively, you can keep the orchid permanently in water: According to
Orchideenfans.de
, the water level should be about a third of the capacity of the glass. But even a water level of just one centimeter can be enough. With this method, you should let the roots dry for a few hours after the cleaning water bath when repotting, otherwise they can rot more quickly in the glass. Monitor the condition of the plant regularly to ensure that the amount of water is correct and that it is adapting well to the new environment. The location should be very bright, but not sunny.
How long can an orchid stay in water?
Although there are orchids that can sit in water continuously, you should usually change the water every seven to ten days to prevent rot. During the growth phase, the plants receive just as much fertilizer as orchids in substrate culture, ideally via an immersion bath. For this you don't use organic fertilizer, but rather a mineral liquid fertilizer.
The editor wrote this article and then used an AI language model for optimization at her own discretion. All information has been carefully checked. Find out more about our AI principles here.