using LECA as a potting medium ( not s/h)

[anemone]

Does anyone have experience of using LECA (Hydroton) as a regular potting medium- growing in a normal pot and watering in the normal way. (ie NOT SEMI_HYDRO).I would be interested to know how often to water and if the orchids would immediatly adapt to this medium after the switch from bark. I have tried S/H in the past but it has been a failure

[Tindomul]

I have not used it for orchids, but I have used it for epiphytic anthuriums. I didn't just use the leca though, I mixed it with chopped sphag and bark/charcoal mix. I only have to water 1 every two weeks as the media stays moist that long. How well is the anthurium doing? It has not rotted, but I believe my conditions are not humid enough to keep it happy.

[Bradfo69]

I have a number of plants that I have put in various brands of LECA. Aliflor, Primeagra etc. (whatever is around) and they are in semi-hydro style pots (like Ray's). I probably don't treat them as religiously as some S/H growers do. I just water and fertilize as I would any other plant. I do try and make sure there is water in the reservoir of the pot at all times but, sometimes it does dry out. For the most part, they've grown just like any other plant.

I also throw a little LECA into mixes from time to time for it's moisture holding capacity.

I like the idea of semi-hydro and the air circulation around the root system it provides. It's just throwing them in a bark mix is old habit. Sometimes I'll decide to do it based on the plant and it's existing root system.

I've heard Ray Barkalow give his talk on semi-hyro a few times and just like listening to a motivational speaker, go home all charged up to put stuff in LECA and do it with a few plants but then tend to not stick with it. It's a logical, sensable way of growing so, like most people, I've ended up with a collection with a few S/H plants mixed in.

[Bradfo69]

P.S. - I think the failure some people experience is in their choice of plant to put in S/H. Many take readily to it but many don't. Even Ray admits that. It's a try it and see approach. Paphs, brassias and many oncidium types seem to be good candidates.

[Gin]

Hi , I use it straight for a lot of my Catts . watering depends on the Temps. hydroton picks up more heat then a bark mix if receiving direct sun , the top will appear dry but still be moist in the center . I water them at least once a week sometimes 2 times depending again on the Temps. I like it does not rot easy to re pot . Gin

[Becca]

I use s/h...but I thought Sue uses LECA medium without using the s/h culture....so hopefully she will pop-in and giver her experience!

[cb977]

Straight aliflor is the only thing I use for the majority of my 'chids. Frequency of watering would depend more on location and conditions. Haven't had any problems and the 'chids all love it. Yes, there has been some root loss but it's fine because while the older roots die off, plenty of new ones are going strong.

[Sandy4453]

Hi anemone. I use straight Hydroton as a potting medium for some of my catts. Excellent! As long as your orchids are receiving the other conditions and depending on what kind of orchids, Hydroton works well.

I know of an orchid nursery here in South Florida where they use only Hydroton on all their catts. As well, they pot all their phals in Hydroton and add only on top, a thin layer of coir, perlite and charcoal.

I have a phal that became very sluggish and when I unpotted it, I almost hyperventilated when I noticed complete root rot, maybe 1/2" of good root left. This nursery told me to pot it up in straight Hydroton and water every 3 days. Additionally, I added some sphag. just around the parameter of the pot for added humidity. It's now a month and the plant has shot up 2 new leaves and so far, one nice big, fat healthy new root. I lost 2 of the 3 leaves but it's well on it's way to recovering.

Best of luck and happy growing!

[khill]

Can I ask, what does LECA stand for? Does that kind of medium compare to lava rock? Is alifor a brand name? Sorry--just trying to clarilfy.

All my catts and dendrobiums are in lava rock and do very well. Just wondering.

[cb977]

LECA - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Aliflor and Prime Agra are two types that I know of.