Suitable for potting phals?

[Nita M]

Would the rock pictured below be suitable for my phals? Bought it from a grower in FL who told me that the little round clay pellets (can't remember what they're called) are very expensive and hard to get.

Nita

[betwixtimes]

What sort of rock is this? It doesn't look like blue stone.

The round rock-like marbles are actually like lava rock, and are very light weight and porous so that they can hold moisture.

It depends on the planting mediums, method and culture you are looking for.

[Nita M]

Originally Posted by betwixtimes

What sort of rock is this? It doesn't look like blue stone.

The round rock-like marbles are actually like lava rock, and are very light weight and porous so that they can hold moisture.

It depends on the planting mediums, method and culture you are looking for.

Heck if I know what kind of rock. If I remember right, she said it came from North Carolina. It seems very porous - as you can see in the picture there are lots of holes in them. Well, my phals are now in mostly bark and probably sphag moss and I was hoping to just repot them in the rock since I have a tendency to over water.

Nita M

[Lagoon]

Not sure what those are either. If you we're game to try them, I would place them in a small pot, stick a BBQ skewer and water it to see how long the dry out would take before potting your orchids in this unknown rock.

[Ray]

If I'm guessing correctly, that stuff is marketed as "Stalite", and it is expanded slate that is typically used to loosen up heavy soil.

I have tried it, but it had too little air space for my watering habits and conditions.

The little balls are not lava rock at all, they are manufactured clay pellets, collectively known as lightweight expended clay aggregate - LECA - of which there are many brands.

[Nita M]

Originally Posted by Lagoon

Not sure what those are either. If you we're game to try them, I would place them in a small pot, stick a BBQ skewer and water it to see how long the dry out would take before potting your orchids in this unknown rock.

That sounds like a good idea Lagoon. I have any number of chopsticks that I've borrowed from all the Chinese restaurants we've been to. Now I wish I had some empty clear plastic cups - guess I'll just use what I've got and see what happens.

Nita M

[Nita M]

Originally Posted by Ray

If I'm guessing correctly, that stuff is marketed as "Stalite", and it is expanded slate that is typically used to loosen up heavy soil.

I have tried it, but it had too little air space for my watering habits and conditions.

The little balls are not lava rock at all, they are manufactured clay pellets, collectively known as lightweight expended clay aggregate - LECA - of which there are many brands.

Well, think I'll try what Lagoon suggested. I suppose you sell LECA??? I looked at your site and you've got PrimeAgra which I suppose is the same stuff? I'd like to buy some, but will wait until I get back to Florida unless I find some somewhere in Illinois.

Nita M