Hello from Idaho! - experimenting with Leca/Styrofoam/Moss

[shelleymom]

I was very happy to find this forum, I am a recent orchid addict, I started with just one and now find myself with ten. In my enthusiasm I repotted my first and favorite chartreuse phal in a store-bought mix, which I proceeded to overwater and nearly kill with root-rot. Perhaps over-reacting, I have switched to a mix of styrofoam, leca, and sphagnum moss in the hopes of improving root health and protecting my plants from overwatering. I've gone a step further and maybe overboard by making tons of holes in the pots to ensure aeration. Hopefully I haven't made a huge mistake, time will soon tell. I'm glad I found this resource and hope I can learn from others' experiences!