watering cattleyas in leca - Orchid Board

azredsand · #1 06-01-2013, 09:14 PM

Hello,

A couple of months ago I planted a cattleya in straight leca. It is non s/h. My question is how often should I be watering? I live in Phoenix, AZ and the plant is indoors at around 79 degrees. Right now I've been watering 2 times a week. Is this enough? I've read about all the great results of growing cattleya's in leca so I thought I'd give it a try. Can you please give me some tips? The plant is in a clear pot so I can see the roots. Most of the roots start start to go and then stop. What am I doing wrong? Please help.

Thanks,

DavidCampen · #2 06-01-2013, 09:42 PM

If the water drains through the pot and does not stand in the pot then you can water every day.

james mickelso · #3 06-01-2013, 11:03 PM

Is it as dry as outside? I know where you live it is usually around 10% or less humidity so I agree that you can water every day. But I also know what your water is like there. I would get some RO water to water with. I believe that your municipal water carries around 400 TDS. And a lot of that is salt. That may be why your roots stop growing and probably get black or brown on the ends. There is an old orchid grower called Gublers up in Landers, Calif that has the same heat as you do. Usually around 100+ during summer. They have been growing in that heat for years. Look them up on the net. They are very helpful and have answered my questions promptly.

ALToronto · #4 06-02-2013, 01:02 AM

You should be watering every day if not twice a day. Straight LECA is for those who would overwater plants in sphagnum. In your climate, you might be better off with sphagnum in a clay pot.

clusty · #5 06-02-2013, 09:28 AM

Doesn't LECA hold more water than bark?
And as such you can water less frequent ?

tucker85 · #6 06-02-2013, 09:29 AM

I would water at least 3 times a week. If you water every day, as some members have suggested, you should have two consecutive days each week when you don't water at all. If you're looking for improved root growth try useing Maxicrop Liquid Seaweed (1 oz./gal) once or twice a month and Bloom Booster fertilizer once a month. Maxicrop has growth hormones that encourage root growth and Bloom Booster fertilizers have lots of phosphorus that's required for good roots.

ALToronto · #7 06-02-2013, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clusty

Doesn't LECA hold more water than bark?
And as such you can water less frequent ?

It holds more water, but it also gives it up much faster. Also depends on the age of the bark. When it starts decomposing, it holds a lot of water.

RosieC · #8 06-03-2013, 09:17 AM

I water mine every 1 to 2 days in straight lecca. It get's watered with the mounts and so like those I aim to water every day but it doesn't always happen.

As said above, lecca can hold a lot of water but it also dries pretty quickly. If it's straight lecca rather than S/H then you want to water pretty often. I have several phals in this as well and I water those every couple of days, the catt seems to like more.

Silje · #9 06-03-2013, 10:05 AM

I agree with Rosie. I've got catts in LECA in the greenhouse, and although I'm trying to dry them out a bit (because I had some problems with root rot. The misting system was spraying in their direction and kept them too wet for a period of time), I still find that I have to water them every 2-3 days. And then they are crisp dry. Sounds like rough treatment perhaps, but they do make loads of new roots and bulbs at the moment so it is working.

This is in an environment with 50% or higher humidity. In drier surroundings and in a well-draining pot I'm guessing they'll prefer a daily flushing.

If you water in the morning, you can of course try to poke a bit with your finger (or a bamboo stick) in the LECA in the late afternoon to see if there is still some moisture in the pot, and perhaps again the next morning before you water. Just to get an idea. If it is dry, then water. If not, then definitely leave it for a day.

azredsand · #10 06-05-2013, 10:32 PM

Thanks everyone for your input. I really appreciate the help. I am going to increase my watering and I'll see what happens. Thanks.