Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

OK, so I may be stretching the AP idea too far but has anyone tried AP with orchids ? I would like to try orchids in gravel beds or maybe some sort a vertical drip. Any ideas ? Thanks.

Cappilary tables and/or wicking beds... seem to be the preferred method for Orchids...

Autopots would probably work well also...

Any orchid recipes?? do you sitr-fry them?

Thanks Rupert. I will keep that in mind. You got me there Chappo..LOL.. I will have to ask Popeye's Jeep to answer that. Cheerz

Interesting that you should ask.

My dad actually grows orchids in Singapore. Probably more like a small hobby farm. When he recently came over to Perth, I told him about AP, and how it could possibly be used to grow orchids. His response was that it has been tried in Singapore but not successful. But then again, I was not sure whether he truly understand the concepts of AP and might have confused it with hydroponics or similar.

Nevertheless, I actually got an orchid in one of my growbed for fun. Just to see how it goes. If it grows well, great. But with orchids, they grow and only flower once in a while, depending on climate and spieces. I doubt I will really be interested in growing orchids like my dad.

Yes, Ivan. Many applied technologies today started with "failures" that were eventually resolved with continuous development and better understanding of the problems. I am wondering if the FLOOD and DRAIN method with gravel beds will simulate the rain and shine environment of the rain forests, the natural habitat of orchids. Wish me luck.



"Some people see things and wonder how...I dream of things and ask 'WHY NOT' " - G.B.Shaw

Well I am not very good and geography but I believe you have got a tropical weather pattern there. So you probably have a good chance. Do let me know your progress. Good information for my dad.

My wife keeps orchids,
They are all buried in the ground, still in the pot!

Apparently there is something about needing to be potbound to flower properly

Maybe it could still be done AP if the pot was full of gravel and put in a GB...

I grew and orchid for a few moths untill my darlign daughter 'picked' it - and put itin her cubby house It never recovered

I also have an orchid in my AP system, it has been in there for about 3 months.
It is still alive but not doing anything spectacular. I also have 8 of them in pots and they flower every year so I will hopefully get some results in AP but maybe not until next year.

I was hoping the Orchid test would be successful because I was hoping to turn my Orchid garden into an AP system with the Orchids in a large raised grow bed above a deck with a Koi pond underneath. I will keep an eye on the progress on this thread.

if you search, maybe you'll find few using vanilla as a condiment

well worth a try in but will depend on species, cooler growing Cymbidiums and similar only during the growing period

I was looking at some orchid plants this afternoon. I noticed that unlike ordinary plants that grow roots downwards, orchids develop new roots upwards as the stems grow new leaves and the older, lower roots die. Well, I guess that presents a big problem. Gravel beds may not work. Maybe a vertical drip ala NFT might be worth a try.

Orchids are a parasite plant , need to be grown on something they can get there roots into ( another tree).
I know nothing about them , so wait to be corrected.

I remember my mom and brother doing well with potted bark, but you have to think about what gets back into the system.
So instead of flood 'n drain, sub-irrigation might be preferred. Put pots of bark media on a capillary mat fed with post-growbed water. 2nd choice bark in cups in NFT channels, either way you could keep a LOT of them and the averages get better. They do take their time and bloom when they are good and ready!