Wait, so there's no reservoir of water or anything? You just treat it like a plant growing in regular potting mix? Why can't I use a regular orchid pot instead of the plastic water bottle thing-y? As usual, I'm confused...

There is a reservoir. You cut a water bottle in half and poke holes in the sides of it, 1.5 inches from the bottom. The holes allow excess water to drain out, but still leave that 1.5 inches of water at the bottom.

I do semi-hydro one of two ways - with small cuttings/plants, I use small net pots (I'd guess about 3" in diameter and about 3.5" tall or so) that look like this:

Fill it with the clay balls (and yes, do rinse and soak them) filling in around the roots or cutting. Then I plop the whole thing down in a coffee mug (perfect size cache pot) and keep about 1/4 to 1/3 water in the bottom. Or you can also buy these really nice specialty pots for them... follow this link

If you just need a few, they're great. It would be cost prohibitive to have to buy a lot of them! What I like about these is the little meter tells you when to add water, whereas the net pot & coffee mug method, you have to pull the pot from the cup now and then to check to see if it needs more water.

I have had nothing but good luck with this method of growing. Have fun with it!

Denise in Omaha

Hoya undulata in semi-hydro plastic bottle:

Close up of holes on the side of the bottle (NO holes in bottom):

I see now...after thinking about if for a few minutes I figured out the reservoir on my own....I panicked and everything went black for awhile, but I'm okay now :-)

Thank you both very much--Denise, I will use that link for sure....I'm not very good with cutting, sawing and poking...