Watering question when using LECA

[peeweelovesbooks]

I don't grow cymbidiums or paphs.

All of my Phals (not to many) are inside. I grow those in a combination of moss, tree fern fiber, and aerolite. It's too hot for them outside.

If you all are interested, I can post some pics of the root development in some of my plants sometime this week.

Just let me know.

Edited to add: for the top-heavy orchids, Especially dendrobium and epidendrum, I mix the LECA with river rock to weigh the pots down. Thus far they've stayed up.

[pedidiva]

I do love pics.
Pedi

[cherylsultzer]

I am new to Leca and have most of mine in terra cotta pots with Leca, , about 100, different varieties, the pots are sitting in bowls of water. How high up on the pot should the water be? The top of the Leca seems to be staying dry. It has been 5 weeks since I switched. Thanks in advance.

[Ray]

To answer this question, you have to consider - foremost - that "water" does no harm to plants. In fact, it is the driving force for growth.

The issue isn't with "water", it's with the medium.

When we water our plants, most of the solution pours right through. Some is absorbed immediately by the plant and some by the medium, and some is held in between the particles by surface tension.

If the medium is too dense, a large proportion of the open space can be filled, cutting off the gas exchange pathways to the roots, suffocating and killing them - with root rot following closely.

The nearly spherical shape of LECA particles means the voids are relatively large, precluding surface tension from keeping them totally blocked, and coupled with its high absorption capacity, even small blockages are quickly sucked up by the LECA, so you may water as often as you want, with impunity.

[cherylsultzer]

Thank you, Ray, so if the terra cotta pots have holes in the sides, can they sit in a bowl of water above the holes? I just ordered several additives from you, so eventually I will switch to a more conventional s/h program, but for now it’s Leca with terra cotta in bowls, I just don’t want the water level to get too high in the pot, thank you so much for your time 💚💜

[Ray]

Originally Posted by cherylsultzer

Thank you, Ray, so if the terra cotta pots have holes in the sides, can they sit in a bowl of water above the holes? I just ordered several additives from you, so eventually I will switch to a more conventional s/h program, but for now it’s Leca with terra cotta in bowls, I just don’t want the water level to get too high in the pot, thank you so much for your time 💚💜

In my opinion, using LECA in a slotted pot precludes the benefit of the wicking - the evaporation rate is just too great for the wicking to do any good.

Flood the hell out of them from above, without a reservoir.