Mixing LECA and Bark?

[rbarata]

It all depends on environmental conditions and pot size (as well as medium degradation, which is not the case). What you describe is a typical issue with too large pots. Use root color instead and water according the above criteria.

I have a Pahl that was in a too large pot and had the same problem but, as I'm a lazy guy, I used to water it every 3 weeks, sometimes more. When I repoted it, in the same pot, the simple change of old to new medium, made me water it once/week.

[spinrah]

Originally Posted by rbarata

It all depends on environmental conditions and pot size (as well as medium degradation, which is not the case). What you describe is a typical issue with too large pots. Use root color instead and water according the above criteria.

I have a Pahl that was in a too large pot and had the same problem but, as I'm a lazy guy, I used to water it every 3 weeks, sometimes more. When I repoted it, in the same pot, the simple change of old to new medium, made me water it once/week.

Okay, thanks. Do the roots looks dehydrated to you? I wonder if moving them from sphagnum moss to bark was a bad idea. Maybe I should have tried semi-hydro instead, but I guess it wouldn't be a smart to move them again so soon?

[rbarata]

Those roots in the photo looK great. Judging by their color, one more day and I would water it.

[spinrah]

Thank you for your help!

[Ray]

Originally Posted by spinrah

I have my phals planted in a bark/perlite/charcoal mix right now and have noticed that I get a sort of "layering" effect where the bottoms of my pots remain wet but the middle and top dry out quickly.

Evaporation from a potting medium occurs from the top and along the pot/medium interface to a lesser degree. Any perforations in the pot wall will increase the latter. That means there will always be a moisture gradient in the mix, to one degree or another.

To overcome that, you can add a moisture-holding phase, such as sphagnum, but you have to be careful to avoid densifying the mix, suffocating the roots.

Another approach is to “top dress” with something that will hold moisture, so slow the evaporation rate from the medium.

[spinrah]

Originally Posted by Ray

Evaporation from a potting medium occurs from the top and along the pot/medium interface to a lesser degree. Any perforations in the pot wall will increase the latter. That means there will always be a moisture gradient in the mix, to one degree or another.

To overcome that, you can add a moisture-holding phase, such as sphagnum, but you have to be careful to avoid densifying the mix, suffocating the roots.

Another approach is to “top dress” with something that will hold moisture, so slow the evaporation rate from the medium.

That makes sense, thanks.

I wish I had known about semi-hydro a month ago when I re-potted these. I guess it wouldn’t be a good idea to repot them again now and disturb their roots. So maybe the best option is top-dressing for now? If I were to top-dress with sphagnum moss would I also have to change how I water? I’m currently soaking the whole pot in water for 5 mins.