I have some plants in water culture. I use it mostly to save plants
that for one reason or other is dying. Water culture does not always
work to save dying plants. Some plants just insist on dying. BUT, as
a method of growing orchids, it no doubt works.

Is it "better" than Ray's semi hydroponic? I don't know. In fact, I
am about to start some plants on semi hydroponic. I will find out if
one method is better than the other. I THINK it is going to be a
matter of personal preference.

Personally, I don't like the way a plant flops around in water culture.
I find it hard to keep a plant supported in water culture. Water
culture does work, but under-water culture of orchid does not. Trying
to keep only the root zone submerged on different plants in different
containers requires quite a bit og attention to detail.

Hope this helps.

Yc

In article , J Fortuna
wrote:

I just re-discovered the Vengers Water Culture site (I had seen it a long
time ago, and I think that's where I got the idea that orchids must grow a
new set of roots to thrive in water?)

http://www.vengers.com/culture/water.htm

Anyway now I am wondering about "water culture" versus semi-hydro. Is
semi-hydro an improved version of water culture? How do they compare /
differ? If I understand correctly the vengers water culture site suggests
growing orchids just in water without any clay pallets or anything like
that. And then the algae growth is considered really beneficial in water
culture, but I don't see it in the semi-hydro basics
(http://www.firstrays.com/hydro.htm) from what I have read so far. But I
would like to know more.

Is anyone still growing in water culture? (The vengers site seems to be from
the 1990s, and I have not seen people refer to "water culture" recently, so
I ask.)

Joanna