Debs,
Hi. I checked my old invoice this evening and the rocks that I ordered were the 1" rocks, not the 1/4 inch.
I definitely think the black lava rock looks better than the red. I even went on ebay and bought polished black lava rocks in 10mm diameter to repot my rupiculous laelias in. The beads look like aliflor but in black!! I plan on slowly switching all my plants to black.
I just checked a division that I bought and repotted in January. It has 2 new big fat roots, and it has a teensy, tiny new growth forming.
I hear you about watering. I'm never sure wether I'm watering too much or too litte.