I have a few hydroponic pots complete with water meter and clay pellets, I bought them with orchids in them, but even hydroponic orchids didn't make it with me. I have, however, a tricolor hoya that I have had growing in the same system for a few years and I'd like to try growing another hoya this way.
I have access to cuttings, should I root them in water and then pot in the hydro pots or should I plant the unrooted cuttings directly in the hydro pots? Thanks
How to plant hoya cuttings in hydroponic pots
What kind of unit is it?
Suzi
Well, I am not sure if it has a name, but it is an outer white plastic pot with a black inner pot with holes in the sides, there is a water gauge that fits into a space on the side of the inner pot, and then it has the terracotta clay pellets. I have a hoya in a 10" size, the empty one I want to use for new hoya cuttings is 6".
Does it work on the continuous drip idea? Does it cycle? In some of my systems the roots need to burrow down to reach the oxygenated water. In some of my systems the nutrient filled water drips over the plant all day long. And in one of my system the same happens but it happens in a ring around the outsides of the pots. If the bottom of the plant can be positioned where the fresh nutrient solution can run over it all day it just might get the roots you are needing. But I'm totally guessing. I'm trying it myself now with a plant that broke off when it came in the mail. This plant has stayed perky and alive for 6 days now but no sign of roots yet.
Suzi
I don't believe there is dripping or any other "action" going on- I think the water level is just to be kept at a certain level and the roots reach down into it.
Then you definitely want to make sure this plant has roots before you plant it.
Suzi
So, I will root the cuttings in water and then pot in the pellets.
Also, what kind of fertilizer does everyone use? I have a liquid one called Luwasa from Worldwide Hydroculture, it is 1-1-3- Is that a good one? The directions say to use one tsp per 2 quarts water, but for the orchids that I originally got it for, I was told by the shop owner to only use a quarter tsp - so I am assuming for regular tropicals I should up it to the 1 tsp per 2 qts? I got it at a place on Long Beach Island in New Jersey, a really great shop that sells orchids and other tropicals only in hydroculture pots. Such a cool place for plants....
Thanks for the information!
I would root first. I have most of my hoyas in these type pots.
I actually use a very diluted 20/20/20 on my hoyas about every 3rd or 4th refill. I think you are referring to the hydroculture pots used for orchids.
http://www.interiorwatergardens.com/kits/KIT%20LIST.html
I have had my orchids in hydropots for about 4 years now. I take them to the kitchen sink about every 6 months and run water threw the culture pot to leach out the mineral built-up.
one more photo
Cynthia, the link you provided is a website that belongs to the same person who runs Interior Water Gardens in Surf City in New Jersey, I used to live there. She sells orchids in those pots, and only mentions the orchids on her site, but if you go into her shop, you will see that about half of what she has for sale are just regular tropicals, in the same type of pots that the orchids come in. Here are a few pics, as you can see the tricolor hoya is not exactly thriving, but that is because I neglected to use the nutrient solution for the past few years. I bought the tricolor at Int. Water Gardens, but it was in a smaller pot. Now I have a few empty pots, from the orchids that did not make it, and those are the ones I want to try some basic hoyas in.
It looks like your pots are similar in style to mine, here is a pic of an empty 6", carnosa cuttings are rooting in water, getting ready to be potted up in here....
A question for you, Cynthia - the 20/20/20 you use, is that just a regular plant fertilizer or one made specifically for hydro? And when you said that you think I am referring to the hydro pots used for orchids, I mentioned above that the pots are the same in the shop for both orchids and tropicals, but I was only given directions for watering and fertilizing the orchids. That may be why my hoya has not done so well in this system, not enough water, not enough nutruients.
I use the plain ole Peter's 20/20/20. I dilute it to where you can barely see any blue color. I place the water level up to the middle mark or a little higher on the indicator. Once the roots are established and grows down into the media, they will not need the water as high up. They will eventually grow out of the pot, as you can see in the photo below. Oooops! I need to take them to the sink for a rinse.
Then that is probably what the problem was with the tricolor once I repotted it into a larger pot...I was giving it the same water level, when the roots were probably up much higher....thanks.
I am very new to this And I have read that to start cost I read www.waterroots.com that if you take the clay pellets put 1/2 in bottom of a glass wash dirt off root spread on bottom then fill with more pellets and you will be able to see the water. I just orders 10# of the clay pellets so I will be starting this with lots of my plants I will hope this will work what do you guys think about this
Kim
This message was edited Jun 2, 2007 6:39 AM
Dimmer, that sounds about right according to what I have read, but I am no expert at this. I am waiting now for some cuttings to develop more roots in water before I transplant them into a hydro pot, and then I am going to order some of the clay aggregate from somewhere, a site out of Kentucky was recommended to me. I have another bigger hydro pot left to use, and then I think I will try making some out of appropriate sized and shaped vases or other containers. Post some pictures of yours, I would love to see how it comes out.
I am still waiting for the pelets they say it will be here on the 5th I did start some cutting in just water why I wait. as soon as they come I will start and take picture
Kim
update on my hydro hoya - it has been in the hydro pot for about 5 weeks now, I kept the water level a little higher at first because the cuttings were not heavily rooted. Last night I pulled the inner pot out to do the rinse-pellets-under-water thing for a few minutes, and I have the thickest, healthiest looking roots coming out the bottom holes of that pot, I couldn't believe it. I have never seen roots like that on hoya cuttings just rooted in plain water.
I should be seeing some new growth soon, there are a few little vines starting.
Bhavana34, I am so glad to see that the hydro pot is working. I know my hoyas love it.
Cynthia, where do you buy your supplies (pots etc) ? I have a link to the heart shaped ones made buy Doris in Canada, but I am shopping around a bit. I like the pots I got thru Interior Water Gardens (here in NJ, Surf City) but I am interested in pots that will be more hanger friendly in the future, since I like to hang my hoyas. I am not sure those heart shaped pots will balance right in a hanger. Have you come across any hydro hanging pots out there?
I am planning on going to Asiatica in Pennsylvania this fall, not sure if they sell hoya cuttings there, I know they sell rooted plants - but I am going to get some cuttings as well as rooted, and I would like to start the cuttings in hydro. Meadowbrook Farms outside Philadelphia sells hoya cuttings, so I may have to go back there, which I was planning on doing anyway. I am not really interested in converting any of my current hoyas to hydro, just starting some new ones.
I bought my hydro pots from a couple of people on Ebay. That was the only way I could afford them. If I need more in the future I may try and create something using net pots.
I think the place in Surf City starts their pots at $10 plus, for a 6" - not including the aggregate. If you have it shipped, then it is even more, usually more than the shipping itself actually does cost. I will probably take a ride down there sometime in the early fall, and see if I can get a better price if I buy several and get them right then, no shipping necessary - if I do and the price is right for you, I could send you a few at cost with the cheapest ground shipping.
I am also interested in getting a few of the heart shaped pots, just cause they are cute, but those I will have to have shipped.
Thanks for the offer, but I will pass on more. :>)