Put my Bulbophyllum Vaginatum in leca

[Cooper baby]

Been having some issues with my bulb. Vaginatum so decided to repot in leca.

[estación seca]

I would repot into sphagnum, and water every day. Bulbo roots must stay moist to wet. That won't happen in LECA.

If you let them dry out even once, you are likely to lose every new growth. When this happens the developing growths turn black. The grower thinks the problem is fungus, and waters less. The plant dies rapidly.

[SaraJean]

What kind of issues were you having with it?

[Ray]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Bulbo roots must stay moist to wet. That won't happen in LECA.

BRRAAPPP (insert obnoxious buzzer sound here) Wrong answer!

With the warmth and high humidity that bulbo's love, and a reservoir - a la semi-hydro culture - the LECA will stay moist and airy, and the plants will thrive.

[estación seca]

Hi Ray, unless people have extremely high relative humidity, the top of the LECA isn't wet enough for Bulbos and their short roots. I don't think most houses are humid enough for that. Maybe it could work if the distance from reservoir to surface is much smaller than with most S/H setups.

It doesn't look to me as though the original poster is using S/H.

[Cooper baby]

Originally Posted by SaraJean

What kind of issues were you having with it?

After it flowered I had a few bacterial issues, then leaves fell off. It needed repotting , this is sort of an experiment.

[Fredmax]

I'd love to know how the result went?

[DirtyCoconuts]

I use leca in my baskets around some of my bulbos. I keep everything wet so I have success

[Fredmax]

Ah how wonderful it must be growing orchids in tropical Florida, I'm in the driest state in the driest continent.