DIY Hydroponics for Orchids

Hydroponic Systems

• Orchids are susceptible to fungus and mold problems due to their need for a high level of humidity. For a hydroponic system, it is best to use individual pots, each with its own supply of nutrients, so that the transmission of disease between plants is kept to a minimum. The pots must be allowed to dry out between waterings to allow plenty of air circulation around the roots. A growing medium, such as clay pellets or perlite, works well for orchids. Nutrient solutions can be added by hand or with a small pump. The used nutrients should be re-circulated to each individual plant or else discarded and replaced with a new solution each time more is added.

Considerations

• Orchids can be grown in different types of hydroponic systems, such as an ebb and flow or drip system. They will not do well in any type of environment that requires them to sit with their roots constantly in water, such as deep water culture, since the roots need plenty of air circulation. Moreover, the orchids shouldn't be crowded together. They need to be arranged so that the plants don't touch each other to encourage good air circulation in order to thrive and minimize disease transmission.

Aeroponic Systems

• An aeroponic system is a type of hydroponic method that not only grows plants without soil but also without putting the roots into any kind of growing medium. The roots are left exposed and are repeatedly misted with a nutrient solution that provides the plants with everything they need to grow. The excess liquid drips off and is recycled by the system; if desired, the excess liquid can be discarded each time to prevent disease problems. This is an excellent way to grow orchids whose roots need a great deal of air.

Lighting

• Orchids that are grown indoors in a hydroponic system need to have their lighting requirements met with artificial light. Since different types of orchids have different lighting needs, there is no single solution to the question of lighting. Some orchids can grow well with full-spectrum fluorescent lighting. Other types may require significantly more light and will benefit from the use of high intensity discharge (HID) lights. In many cases a metal halide light may be a good compromise.