Lechuza Pon for Orchids

[boxster1990]

Some of you have asked about the media that I’ve been growing my orchids in. It’s a gravel like product called Pon, made by the German company Lechuza. It’s very fast draining, but also helps maintain humidity at the roots. I’ve found that my phals love it. I am currently experimenting with an oncidium to see how it does. I’d add that the Pon supposedly has a time release fertilizer in it.

I’d also add that the plants that are in it are also in lechuza’s self watering planters. They have a reservoir at the bottom that works kind of like a humidity tray - the water evaporates through the substrate and gets absorbed by the roots. During the cold season (they are in my windowsill), I put them on top of a seedling heating mat, which helps facilitate the evaporation.

Happy to post photos if you guys want a visual.

[Ray]

"Pon" is a mixture of pumice, zeolites, and lava rock. It contains no fertilizer.

I feel that, while it may be great for terrestrials, it is too fine for the majority of orchids, and considering the minerals used, it will trap nutrients and waste products rapidly, building up to a level of toxicity much more quickly than other inert media.

Lechuza pots are another take on the 3-part semi-hydro concept - inner, mesh pot to contain the plant and medium, outer container to hide that and form the reservoir, and a gauge so you can see the liquid depth in that reservoir. Leni is another brand.

They are "OK", but proper watering involves lifting the culture pot out of the outer pot, flushing it thoroughly, dumping the reservoir, reassembling the thing, and then watering to the correct depth. Failure to do that, and just "topping up" the reservoir using the gauge as a guide, results in the fairly rapid concentration of mineral residues and plant wastes, leading to bad smells and plant death.

I have used such a setup for tropical houseplants, but found them to pet a PITA for orchids.

[Optimist]

How many years have you been using this? I find that Orchids may "seem" to do well, but then go downhill rapidly if there is a problem. I always think you cannot say new cultures are good until you have gone through a year or two of use.

[boxster1990]

Originally Posted by Ray

"Pon" is a mixture of pumice, zeolites, and lava rock. It contains no fertilizer.

I feel that, while it may be great for terrestrials, it is too fine for the majority of orchids, and considering the minerals used, it will trap nutrients and waste products rapidly, building up to a level of toxicity much more quickly than other inert media.

Lechuza pots are another take on the 3-part semi-hydro concept - inner, mesh pot to contain the plant and medium, outer container to hide that and form the reservoir, and a gauge so you can see the liquid depth in that reservoir. Leni is another brand.

They are "OK", but proper watering involves lifting the culture pot out of the outer pot, flushing it thoroughly, dumping the reservoir, reassembling the thing, and then watering to the correct depth. Failure to do that, and just "topping up" the reservoir using the gauge as a guide, results in the fairly rapid concentration of mineral residues and plant wastes, leading to bad smells and plant death.

I have used such a setup for tropical houseplants, but found them to pet a PITA for orchids.

Ray -

I’ve been doing some reading on this site and yours, and think that S/H may be the natural progression for me to shift over to. The Pon setup has been working, but I’m thinking I should use something a little more tried and true.

Where can I buy the plastic pots for the S/H set up? It seems they don’t have holes on the bottom - only a couple on the side about an inch up. Not sure how tall/wide they should be.

Do you have any suggestions? Also, what are your thoughts on the LECA from a company called GrowIt?

Thanks,
Brian

[katrina]

Originally Posted by Optimist

I always think you cannot say new cultures are good until you have gone through a year or two of use.

You got that right! You can't properly gauge any aspect until you've taken the plant through an entire grow cycle, at the very least. Well said.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by boxster1990

Ray -

I’ve been doing some reading on this site and yours, and think that S/H may be the natural progression for me to shift over to. The Pon setup has been working, but I’m thinking I should use something a little more tried and true.

Where can I buy the plastic pots for the S/H set up? It seems they don’t have holes on the bottom - only a couple on the side about an inch up. Not sure how tall/wide they should be.

Do you have any suggestions? Also, what are your thoughts on the LECA from a company called GrowIt?

Thanks,
Brian

Brian, to the best of my knowledge, no one is productions those any longer. You might try theorchidhouse.org, but the last time I tried that site, it was gone, so either Tom went out of business, or is having web host issues.

It's really no problem to make your own, though. Start with any plastic container- those I used were deli containers, and they are available in a lot of places, but I've also use daily trash cans, Tupperware, etc.

Get a 1/4" drill bit made for plastics (usplastics.com has them), and drill two holes close together, but not intersecting, in the sidewall about an inch or so up from the bottom. Done!

[fishmom]

Deli containers work beautifully. If you are looking for something a little more decorative, I have found inexpensive plastic vases and storage containers at my local Dollar Store.

[Leafmite]

At my OS, I have seen everything from plastic soda bottles to storage containers used for semi-hydroponics. Good luck!

[greenpassion]

When I grew semi-hydroponically, I used glass containers and drilled holes in them using diamond drill bits. It was very simple to do. I submerged the glass vase under water, and drilled the hole slowly as to not break the glass. I put two holes in, one on each side of the vase, about 2" up from the bottom. I used Leca, and watered with RO water I made at home with the counter top system from Ray's. I found the appearance of the glass was more attractive than the plastic, but both work fine.