There’s nothing quite like the delicate beauty of an orchid. Whether you prefer a vibrant pink or a cheerful yellow, a line of tiny blooms or a large commanding cluster, there’s something for you among orchids, the earth’s largest flowering plant family. It’s an even more beautiful sight, not to mention a way to save yourself a messy potting process, when the orchids are in a vase of water that gives them all the nutrients they need. Orchids are a beautiful flower you can grow indoors without any soil, especially epiphytic varieties like the phalaenopsis.
It’s actually natural for many orchids to thrive without soil. Many types of this alluring flower are epiphytes that naturally get their nutrients from other plants they grow on top of, or by stretching their roots into the humid air. Growing orchids hydroponically lets the roots stay moist while also keeping them safe from root rot as opposed to growing them in soil, where moisture can be trapped and air flow around the roots is reduced. And just like orchids themselves, the options for growing them without any soil are varied. You’ll brush the soil off their roots and get them situated in a container with water, nutrients, or material that’s more conducive to the air flow their roots need than soil.
Choosing the right orchid and growing method
With so many options to choose from, you may be wondering which have the best chance of thriving in a hydroponic setup, especially if you’re new to growing orchids or to hydroponics. Moth orchids (Phalaenopsis) are a readily available and inexpensive choice with strong roots and an epiphytic growing style that takes well to the method. This is the most popular orchid variety, and one of the types that make the easiest houseplants. For something different, look to the vanda orchid (scientific name Vanda) with a dappled pattern on the blooms and aerial roots that spill out of a typical pot. Orchids that belong to the Dendrobium genus can also be good candidates to grow in water. Some types have a bulb-like structure attached to a branch of the plant that can produce baby orchids, and these are the best dendrobium to try growing hydroponically.
If you’re new to growing plants this way, we recommend you start with techniques where the plant’s roots aren’t submerged in water the whole time. Techniques like water culture, where the roots are in water full-time, are more advanced. In semi-water culture, the orchid roots will stay in the water for a portion of the time but they will also get periods where they dry out, just as they do in nature. There’s also a technique called semi-hydroponics, involving clay pebbles. No matter which method you choose, using some (but not too much) fertilizer is an important part of successfully caring for indoor orchids. Choose a powder fertilizer that can dissolve in the water and contains equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Most orchids only need weak fertilizer, and it’s a good practice to use ¼ of the recommended dose.
How to grow orchids in water
Most likely, your orchid will be in soil when you pick it up from the nursery, so your first step will be to remove it from the pot and rinse away the soil away. Meanwhile, mix a liquid nutrient solution into the water it will be placed in. This can be fertilizer, or a homemade solution with nourishing elements like aloe leaves. With sanitized shears, snip off any roots that have been rotted or damaged. When only healthy green, silver, or ivory-colored roots remain, gently lower them into your vase containing water (start with a low level of water and adjust as you go along). Leave the orchids to soak up the water from two to five days, then remove them from the water and let them dry for one to three days.
This method is true to nature for the species of orchid that grow best in water and great for those who want to get started right away, as you won’t need any specialized growing media. Keep in mind, though, that the roots will be right in the path of sunlight and, depending on their specific needs, may need protection. It also means there’s a schedule to keep up with. If your orchid’s roots need less exposure to light and you don’t want to worry about cycling it in and out of water, you can try using a combination of water and pebbles made from lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA). One option is Riare 4 LBS Organic Expanded Clay Pebbles. This material helps the roots stay hydrated but are designed to maintain good air flow around them. You can place the pebbles above an inch of water in the container and the roots will grow downward.
