Does anyone here do this?
hoyas in hydroponic pots
What are they?
I'm not sure what hydroponic pots are but I have used a hydroponics "machine" to root hoyas but have never used it to actually grow a plant in though I know the machine is capale of doing so. Are the pots the same as the machine??
I bought my cloner for the sole purpose of being able to reproduce plant material in a short period of time. This time of year when the temps are just right,it's not unusual for me to have roots already forming on hoya cuttings in as little as 2-3 days.
dmichael
Hydroponics is when plants are grown soil-less, the pot I have requires a clay pellet medium (little balls of terracotta type rock) There is an outer pot, then an inner pot with holes in it and they plants are planted in the inner pot in the clay pellets. You pour the water mixed with nutrient solution in to the pot and a few inches is always present at the bottom - the roots of the plants grow in the pellets.
Years ago I bought orchids this way, supposedly a fail-proof way to grow them (not for me!!) I met someone a year or so ago on another forum who gave me some advice for removing a hoya from soil and putting it in a hydroponic pot, but I am trying now to start cuttings in water and transplant into one. Right now I have a carnosa growing this way, I bought it already in the hydroponic system, and have a few other empty pots (from the dead orchids) to start up some other hoyas.
I doubt the pots are the same as your system, David, but it is the same general idea. I was just wondering if anyone else here does this.
I read about it somewhere...was thinking of trying it myself....doesn't ewy grow a couple this way? Seems like it should work.....
I think a lot would depend on which hoyas you use.....
yes, I would agree it would depend on the hoyas - though the place where I bought my orchids and the tricolor hoya in this system, they had a very diverse selection of tropicals growing this way, huge palms, even rhipsalis. The owner told me any plant could grow in it.
I am going to experiment with the basic carnosa variegated and see how it works.
I've seen this done as well. I think it can be done with any plant. You can actually use glass containers filled with these clay balls and just add water to the bottom, and the roots (which turn into water roots I think) suck up the water through capillary action, as needed.
Well...I wouldn't try it with any of the more succulent hoyas...and I would keep the container dark as the light in clear glass with cause algae to grow. That is why pots are generally opaque.
Carol,
I see what you're saying about avoiding hydroponics/hydroculture with the more succulent hoyas, but the roots don't actually sit in water. The roots take in the water by the clay pellets only when needed. And by using glass pots, you are able to actually see the water level (I'm not talking about the hydroponics system with all the setup materials...just a pot and clay pellets is what I'm referring to). Also, with glass containers, the clay pellets actually make the glass dark, so that you can't actually see the roots. But I'm not sure if algae would still grow or not. Here's a pic of what I'm talking about. It's from www.waterroots.com, and that site also has a great explanation for anyone who is interested and some great pics.
Hmmmm. You have me there. I don't know how it would work but don't see why it wouldn't. There must be something they add to kill the algae...
I wonder if you added a very very small amount of bleach if that would hurt the plants. I wouldn't want to experiment, at least not with my plants, but I've heard it is ok (and safe) to use in birdbaths to keep algae from growing.
Uhh, istn't algae a type of plant? If bleach kills algae, wouln't it kill other green things? inquiring mind wants to know..... -joanne
HMmmmm. Algae is a mold which is a growing thing. I tried rooting hoyas in clear cups but in my greenhouse they just got all yucky. I tried opaque glass but they still died. Guess who does not root in water!!!!?
Physan is anti fungal and safe to use on/around plants/people/animals etc. I spray my greenhouse walls with it about ever 2-4 months. Fungi (molds) are easily controlled with fungicides but that is a lot of work. How do people grow things in those hydroponic dishes? Even when growing lettuce hydroponically we use totally opaque containers.
Carol
It is possible that they use those clear containers only for picture taking or advertising purposes, so that people can see the "inner workings" of the pot. Kind of like in tv commercials for toilet tank cleaners where they show you a clear toilet so that you can see what is happening inside while the cleaner is working....Not a nice analogy, I know, but that could be it!
Actually, that site that I linked to is made by a woman who is not selling anything. If you take a look at the site, you'll see that she discusses hydroculture, and then discusses how SHE does it (the one pot method). Those clear glass containers she uses are not for advertising purposes. I've seen her post many times on another forum, and she truly grows this way, and is very successful at it. Her plants are absolutely beautiful and healthy.
I sent an email to "waterroots" and she got back to me pretty fast, she said algae IS an issue for her, but only on the plants that get full sun or bright light during fertilizing months, and that the rest of the year there is no algae, even on plants sitting in the brighter places. So, it seems to be a problem for her only when feeding the plants and she doesn't mind just cleaning the containers. I have a few plants that I grow this way and it is recommended that you clean the outer pots and spend time flushing the inner pot with fresh water every few weeks anyway, so I guess that is when she does her cleaning. Mystery solved. The website is pretty interesting if anyone wants to check it out, thanks Gabi. There are alot of benefits to growing this way- especially for people with "watering issues".
Also, Doris from Canada from this site sent me a few emails explaining her system and she sells the supplies on her website. She also sent me some great pictures of her hoyas, some in bloom, growing in hydroponic pots....maybe she will post those pictures here too? I don't know if I would want to grow alll of my plants this way, I like the lack of maintainence part of it but then I also LIKE fussing with my plants, watering, repotting etc, so the work doesn't bother me. I just like new and interesting ways of doing things.
I have some regular old carnosa variegata (k princess) cuttings rooting right now, and I will let you all know how they do when I transplant them into the hydro pot.
Glad you got a response from her. And thanks for posting that info...you answered the algae question :-)
As for posting that site, no problem...I remember reading it awhile ago, and I really found it interesting, but it's not for me. Pretty much for the same reasons you said, Bhavana.
I hope that Doris posts pictures...I'd love to see them!
Good luck for anyone that tries growing this way.
Gabi
Hi, I heard that some of you wanted to see some pictures of my hoyas. And yes, I grow most of my plants in hydroponics, specially hoyas, even the one that you sent us last year Carol.
i prefer the planters that have an outer pot, a basket and a water level indicator, in case your plant is not feeling well, it is easy to have a look at the root system, and it is also nice when you want to give your plant a shower, just put the basket under the water, it is still light.
The only secret is to water the same manner you would if your plant was in soil. Make sure that the water level indicator is down before watering again.
I would love to post more pictures, can someone tell me if there is a place to do so?
Hope my english is not too bad....
Doris
Doris, you can only add one picture to a post, so just go to "post a reply" and add more. I want more!
Wow Doris....that seems pretty simple. I always saw hydro as a pretty detailed and complicated way to grow, and thought that the easiest way was to use glass containers. But you make it pretty clear that it is possible to use an inner and outer pot without that whole "system" with tubes and all. And what beautiful plants! Thanks for the pics. I agree though, I would love to see more!!
Gabi
Hi, that is my old carnosa, there are 2 plants, they are in hydro since 1995, I am not sure, it could be since 1993!
I will post a few more of that one,
Doris
the same hoya, this winter
spring 2005
one of the 2 hoya, in its planter, i have not change the pot yet. once a year, I take a very soft sponge, a recipient with luke warm water and some palmolive soap, and I wash leaf by leaf! I guess I love my hoya! It is been hook there for 7 years, and after a few weeks, in the middle of the night, I heard a very strange noise, sorry I cannot find words in english, I got up, my heart beatting, OH MY GOD! the whole thing came loose from the ceiling and fell on the first floor, I think it was 2 or 3 in the morning! I spent the next 30 minutes chasing my clay pellets all over the place in my jamies! yes, now when I think of it, I laught, imagine if it had been wet soil!!! Nothing was broken, just a few leaves, the next day my boyfriend find a more solid place to hook the plant and the next spring, she gave me beautiful flowers as if nothing had happen......
Doris
I'd really like to try hydroponics growing. It just takes time to research and set up, and that I don't have a lot of. I would have freaked if my gorgeous (yes, yours are really gorgeous) plant had taken a nosedive to the floor! Your story reminded me of a time in the '70s when a friend came to San Diego to visit and (unannounced) brought his 6-month-old Weimaraner, Pluto. The first night he chewed the corner off the coffee table I had just bought (my very, very first credit card purchase and I hadn't paid even one payment yet). The next evening we went to dinner and Rick (stated friend) put a wire muzzle on Pluto so he wouldn't chew. Wellll, when we came home it was to Pluto running frantically around the house, trying to get the huge fern basket unhooked from his muzzle. There was fern (rabbits foot) and soil from one end of the house to the other, floor-to-ceiling. The next day, while I was working, Rick thought Pluto would be safer out on the roof of the carport, which was fenced in and right outside the guestroom window. I knew something was awry when I came home and Rick immediately left the house on an errand. Pluto had destroyed hundreds of seedlings that were big enough to be ready for the garden. Needless to say, I don't have a big place in my heart for 6-month-old Weimaraners, nor for that matter, friends who show up unannounced to visit with same. Sorry, your story just brought back that fiasco and I couldn't resist sharing. Off to do a little more research on hydroponics.....
Doris that is an awesome looking hoya, just beautiful. And I loved both the stories! LOL The hydroponics growing looks very interesting. I want to try something too. Now to find those clay pellets.
On the topic of algae have any of you tried Grapefruit Seed Extract? Awhile back I had put an avocado seed into a small clear vase in my kitchen window and it didn't take long for the algae to turn the water green and attach to the avocado root etc. I had read about the GSE on another site and had ordered some. I put two drops into the water (the vase holds maybe one cup) and within a week there was no more green algae. I did not change the water nor scrub out the vase as I wanted to see what would happen and I was pleasantly surprised to see no more green. And there has continued to be no more green. I also had some powdery mildew on a couple of begonias and it too is no more after spraying with the GSE. Completely natural, no odor, I like it!
Doris, when rooting cuttings in water before transplanting them into a hydro pot, approximately how much roots should the cuttings have? Is there a certain length they should be? My carnosa cuttings have roots now, but the longest is about a quarter inch, I am wondering if that is long enough or if it would be better for them to be longer....
Also, when you first put the cuttings into the clay aggregate, do you keep the water level higher to help them along?
Merci... - and "merci" for posting all of your beautiful pictures!
Look at my cute little hydro hoya in it's new pot! The roots were not very long on the cuttings, but I figured I would try to transplant them and see what happened - after all, it isn't like there is a shortage of carnosa cuttings around here.
I will let you all know how it does. It sure as heck ain't gonna add to the fungus gnat problem!
Very cute! Good luck with it, and definitely update us on how it does.
Gabi
Can you share where you found the pots to do the hydroponic planting in? I found the clay pellets/hydroton but the guy in the store looked at me like I was nuts when I told him what I was going to do with them. He said they should be mixed with dirt and blah blah blah. I told him I had seen it done with just pellets and he wanted me to get on his computer and show him where. I told him my husband was waiting in the car and I couldn't be internet surfing right then : )) but to check out Dave's Garden. So all of this to say I'd like to know where I can get some pots that these pellets will work in. Thanks for your help.
~Brenda
Brenda, mine came from a place called Interior Water Gardens in Surf City NJ - they sell mostly hydroponic orchids in the shop, but regular tropicals as well. The pots I have came with orchids in them, which sadly are no longer with us....I am not sure how much they cost empty.
Since you are probably not likely to take a ride to New Jersey to shop for pots, you may be able to get them off of their website - I think it is just www.interiorwatergardens.com
Doris from this site recommended another online dealer of these pots, I think he gets them directly from her, he is in Kentucky. I will look up the address and post again later. I like the pots I have, there is an inner and outer pot and a little water gauge, kind of foolproof.
Bhavana thank you for your response! I appreciate your effort in finding the other address for me and I'll check both of these places out. Once I have a name for the pots then maybe I'll find them closer to home or just end up ordering online. I have a krimson princess that can spare some cuttings so I'll have a pot that looks like yours : ))
the kentucky site is
www.growinhydro.com
Hi,
Sorry I didn’t answer before, there is not enough hours in a day! And I was attending the Salon National de l’Environnement in Montreal’s old port. If you need a fast answer, please write me: doris@conceptslecault.com I check that address every day.
For the clay pebbles, thank you Bhavana34 for the address in Kentucky, they are very professional.
And Bhavana34, about the roots, I usually wait that the roots are about ½ inch, then I pot, and I water normally, that is the optimum, a suggestion: let your clay pebbles soak in water for 24 hrs, they will bring more humidity to the roots and help make new ones. In the picture, h ariadna is ready to be transplanted but h australis is not. But if you transplanted already your carnosa cutting with only ¼ in roots, I then suggest that you put water to maximum, and let the water level indicator go down, before adding water again, that is a must with all plants, that is when they get their oxygen and clean a few square inches of air around the pot! Big pot clean more....
Sorry Stellapathic about the mess that the 6-month-old Weimaraner did! Untrained dogs can make very bad messes, especially puppies. I was a dog groomer and trainer for 15 years, dogs are another passion of mine!
Take care,
Doris
h finlaysonii
h multiflora, this morning
Doris, I really like the heart shaped pots I got from you. I finally wrote about this experience in my blog : http://hoyas.ca/blog/2007/06/17/great-pots-for-my-sh-culture/
For the curious ones, there is a photo of the roots after couple of weeks of growing in S/H (semi-hydroponics), too. With those pots the algae don't even have a chance to grow.
All my Hoyas are in S/H for a year now, together with all orchids and succulents and even one cactus. So far, I am really happy I don't have to deal with dirt anymore, not mentioning other advantages.
Hi, I've been lurking on this thread, and now I've got to ask--ewdy, what kind of cactus, pray tell, are you growing in this medium? I'm fascinated by all this!