Phalaenopsis hydroponic acclimation tips and precautions for removing from pot and washing roots

Many flower lovers want to try growing Phalaenopsis (moth orchids) in water, thinking it is clean and easy to care for, but water culture is not simply moving a soil-grown plant into water. You first have to let the roots adapt to the water environment, which is what "acclimatisation" means. It is not hard to do, and the key lies in a few steps: removing the plant from its pot and washing the roots, trimming and disinfecting, and controlling water exposure for adaptation. Do these well, and the Phalaenopsis will root nicely in water and still bloom vigorously.

I. Preliminary Preparation

First, gently take the Phalaenopsis out of its original pot, and thoroughly clean off all the old sphagnum moss that was wrapped around it--if the moss is stuck tight, do not pull at it forcefully. Use running clean water to rinse it away slowly, keeping the flow gentle, just like giving the roots "a shower"

After rinsing clean, look carefully at the roots: use sterilised scissors to cut off the blackened, sticky rotten roots, the shrivelled, stringy dead roots, and any hollow, diseased roots, keeping only the plump, grey-green healthy roots. These roots are the "main force" of water culture.

After trimming the roots, do not rush to put them in water. Disinfect the wounds first: find a shallow basin, pour in a carbendazim solution, and soak the roots in it for 15 minutes. Take them out and let them dry in a ventilated, shady place for about 1-2 days, until the wounds become dry and wrinkled. This step prevents root rot after the plant enters the water, so don't skip it.

II. Acclimatisation Methods

Water-culture acclimatisation is like teaching a Phalaenopsis to "swim": you have to go step by step. Beginners can pick any of these three methods; they have been tested and work:

1.Alternating wet-and-dry method:

At the start, let the roots soak for only 2 hours a day, and leave the roots exposed to the air the rest of the time, just like "a little taste" after a few days of adaptation, gradually extend the soaking time, and finally settle at 8 hours a day. This process takes about 2-3 weeks. If you find new rotten roots during this time, cut them off and disinfect at once, and do not let the bad roots "infect" the healthy roots.

2.Shallow-water induction method: find a transparent container and fill it with just enough water to touch only the very bottom roots, just like giving the roots "a step to reach the water"

3.Quick lazy method:  

If you find the first two methods troublesome, just put the roots directly in water (be careful not to soak the leaves and the root crown, or they will rot easily), change the water once a week, and cut off any rotten roots promptly. After about 2 weeks, you will see fine new roots emerging from the old roots, so even the lazy gardener can manage it easily.

III. Do Not Overlook These Details

Whichever method you use, the water level should be 0.5 cm below the root crown, just like giving the root crown "a breathing hole"

The frequency of changing the water depends on the season: in spring and autumn, when the weather is comfortable, change it once every 7 days; in winter, when it is cold and water evaporates slowly, once every 14 days is fine. For water, cooled boiled water or rainwater is best; for tap water, remember to let it sit for 1 day before use, so the chlorine does not harm the roots.

During acclimatisation, place the pot somewhere with bright indirect light and good ventilation, just like finding it a "shady viewing platform" if the leaves suddenly turn red, it means the light is too strong, so shade them at once; once the shiny crystal roots appear, you can lower the water level a little more, so the roots can breathe more fresh air.

Do not worry if a root occasionally rots during acclimatisation; this is normal, and as long as there are enough healthy roots, there is no big problem; sturdy seedlings with well-developed roots in particular have a higher success rate in water culture, so beginners can choose this kind first.

In fact, growing Phalaenopsis in water is not that hard: just clean the roots thoroughly beforehand and be patient during acclimatisation. Watching the roots slowly grow new ones gives a sense of achievement no less than soil culture, and placed on a table it is perfectly clean, and when it blooms it is just as ethereal and graceful!